Link between ADHD, vision impairment in children

Posted on March 2, 2016

Photo: flickr

A new study sheds light on a link between non-correctable vision problems and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) in children. Results from a large survey of 75,000 children suggest an increased risk of ADHD among children with vision problems that are not correctable with glasses or contacts, such as color blindness or lazy eye, relative to other children. This finding suggests that children with vision impairment should be monitored for signs and symptoms of ADHD so that this dual impairment of vision and attention can best be addressed.

The study included children ages 4 to 17 with data from the National Survey of Children's Health. More than 15 percent of children with vision impairment also had an ADHD diagnosis, compared with 8.3 percent of children with normal vision.

"If a child seems to have attention problems in addition to vision problems, his or her parents may wish to discuss their child's vision with their pediatrician and consider an eye examination as well as discussing the attention difficulties," DeCarlo said.


Category(s):Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Source material from University of Alabama at Birmingham