Vision Therapy for ADHD & Attention
Attention Problems: Are They Due to Vision, ADHD, or Both?
At Cook Vision Therapy Center, many of the children and adults we see suffer with attention problems. Vision problems can masquerade as attention problems or make true attention problems worse.
“Zach finished therapy 5 months ago. Since then he has had straight A’s twice. I can’t go into the classroom without the teacher telling me how great Zack is. This situation in contrast to last year where the teachers were telling my how lazy Zack was, how he was simply not trying, while I was seeing a child at home struggling for hours with his homework. What a fantastic change!
If you have a child who enjoys being read to, who will sit and listen for long periods of time, but who demonstrates attention problems when using eyes for reading, deskwork, or homework, there is an excellent chance that the child’s attention problem is caused by an inability to use his eyes (vision). There is no “biochemical imbalance” which allows children to attend when information comes in through the ears, but distracts children when information comes in through the eyes. Problems with any or all of the 7 Visual Abilities could be masquerading as ADHD.
Similarly, if a child can pay attention for math, but not pay attention for reading, there is probably no “biochemical imbalance,” triggered by words but not numbers.
However, if when you read to your child, his attention is better, but still a problem, then any number of causes—along with vision—could be contributing to the attention problem. For instance, your child might not understand the words, or there could be some other health problem making attention difficult.
Whatever the reason for your child’s struggle with attention, or behavior, untreated vision problems will only increase frustration, trigger behavior problems, and make things worse.
At Cook Vision Therapy we work with children whose attention problems are caused by vision. We also work with the vision problems of children who have attention problems caused by other reasons. It is not, uncommon, for instance, to encounter children with ADHD who struggle with reading, whether or not they are on medication. Handling the vision problems may help solve the reading problem even though a general attention problem remains for other reasons.
Free Internet Screening and Phone Consultation
If you or your child struggles with reading, call for a Free Phone Consultation. End the struggle!
Check Out Our Resources
Dr. Cook’s Publications:
- Authored books VISUAL FITNESS and WHEN YOUR CHILD STRUGGLES.
- Published articles in top optometric journals.
- His article “Eyesight, infinity and the human heart” was voted “Best Non-Technical Article” by the Association of Optometric Editors.
When Your Child Struggles
Visual Fitness
