Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) And Vision
by Dr. Michael Siebert

Some children with learning difficulties exhibit specific behaviors of impulsivity, hyperactivity, and distractibility. A common term used to describe children who exhibit such behaviors is "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" (ADHD). Typically patients are diagnosed according to a list of behaviors and no real evaluation is ever completed. In addition, Ritalin (also known as methamphetamine) is a stimulant, which can alter a child’s biochemistry and neurological development.

Undetected and untreated vision problems can elicit some of the very same signs and symptoms that are commonly attributed to ADHD. Due to these similarities, some children with vision problems are mislabeled as having ADHD.

A recent study by researchers at the Children's Eye Center, University of San Diego, uncovered a relationship between a common vision disorder, convergence insufficiency, and ADHD. The study "showed that children with convergence insufficiency are three times as likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than children without the disorder."

This new research appears to support what doctors have known for some time -- a significant percentage of children with learning disabilities have some type of vision problem. One study found that 13% of children between nine and thirteen years of age suffer from moderate to marked convergence insufficiency, and as many as one in four, or 25%, of school age children may have a vision problem that can affect learning.

Vision problems can have a huge impact on academic performance and behavior in the classroom. Ritalin and similar drugs affect the ability of the eyes to accommodate (focus), further complicating a child’s ability to perform. Parents who suspect a vision problem may be contributing to their child's learning or behavioral issues by place them on medication and may want to consider alternatives to medicating their child.