In the recent decades, ADHD has been a condition which an increasing number of children and adults alike are being diagnosed with.
Standing for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD is a chronic condition which has symptoms such as hyperactivity, poor attention span, impulsiveness, and increasing anxiety, among others.
Although ADHD is widely considered a brain-based condition, there is now an increasing amount of evidence that suggests that poor vision, or vision-related issues can trigger ADHD. (This is either only partially so, or it is even possible that in some cases – someone’s ADHD is entirely linked to poor vision.)
In this article, we’re going to talk about ADHD and how a common vision-related condition called binocular vision dysfunction can be mistaken for it. As you will see, many of the symptoms of these two overlap, which is why they are so commonly mixed up in the first place.
Read on to learn more.
What are ADHD Symptoms?
ADHD, as opposed to ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), is a common condition where an individual can’t keep still, and cannot concentrate on a single subject for long. With ADD, the physical restlessness component is typically not present.
Children and adults with ADHD often have issues with reading and learning. That said, this is not because the ADHD makes them less intelligent, but because the condition itself is making them hyperactive. Thus, with correct treatment, individuals with ADHD can perform well at school or at work.
Here are some of the most common ADHD symptoms in school kids that are connected to poor vision, in particular:
- Skipping lines while reading (although the kid can read)
- Covering one eye while reading
- Trouble sitting still in classes
- Is able to focus only a couple of minutes at a time
- Poor test performance
Overall, anxiety and tiredness while at school or studying tend to be the predominant feelings of kids who have ADHD. On the other hand, adults struggle at work, or meetings, have poor organizational skills, losing objects such as keyrings, phones, etc, as well as being restless and fidgety, in general.
What are BVD Symptoms?
The trouble with differentiating between BVD and ADHD is the sheer number of symptoms that overlap.
The trouble with this is that a person suffering from BVD can be treated as if they have a problem with ADHD. As a result, the person can receive a number of pills that they don’t really need, when all they needed was vision-correcting therapy.
Here are some common symptoms of BVD in young adults from 14 and up:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light
- Motion sickness
- Pain in the neck
- Difficulties with keeping your balance while walking
- Problems with focusing on tasks at school and at home
- Nausea
- Anxiety
In children, some of the symptoms of BVD typically include:
- Bumping into objects while walking
- Sensitivity to bright lights
- Having difficulties completing homework due to headaches
- Blurred vision while using a computer
- Frequent blinking
- Poor reading skills but normal verbal skills
The good news for both BVD is that there are treatments available regardless of the age of the patient, so seeking treatment is always an option. Of course, if you suspect you, or someone you know suffers from this or a similar vision-related condition, consulting an optician first can be the best course of action.
What Causes BVD?
BVD is a fairly common vision problem that affects children and adults alike.
Often, the cause of BVD is a simple misalignment between one eye and the other, which leads to the brain receiving not a complete image, so to speak. This then causes headaches, anxiety, and the other symptoms we talked about above.
On the other hand, BVD can be caused by other factors such as an injury, stroke, concussion, as well as certain inner ear abnormalities.
The reason why it’s important to diagnose and treat BVD as soon as possible is that it tends to get worse with age, as the eyes can become gradually more and more strained trying to realign the images they send to the brain.
How Can BVD be Treated?
If you or someone you know are diagnosed with BVD, the good news is there are plenty of treatments. Typically, special glasses that treat this condition are prescribed, but there are other ways to tackle this problem, too.
There is now a mobile app for binocular vision that can be helpful for ameliorating this problem. That said, before you undertake any sort of treatment that isn’t prescribed by a professional, be sure to consult your physician or optician.
Conclusion
Binocular vision dysfunction is a common disorder that affects many children and adults worldwide. Getting proper treatment is essential for preventing the condition from getting worse, which can cause more strain on your eyes and even give you headaches.
Before you undertake any treatment for this condition, be sure to always consult your doctor beforehand, so you have some idea of what the best course of action may be.
Author bio
Travis Dillard is a business consultant and an organizational psychologist based in Arlington, Texas. Passionate about marketing, social networks, and business in general. In his spare time, he writes a lot about new business strategies and digital marketing for SEO Thugs.
