Some eye conditions are more common in people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These include refractive errors, such as astigmatism, and convergence insufficiency, which makes it difficult for the eyes to remain aligned when looking at nearby objects.
The eyes can tell us a lot about our overall health – an eye exam can detect diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, among other conditions. And now, new research has found that recordings from the retina may help identify attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Appearance: Most often, appointments are difficult to structure and maintain due to hyperactivity and distractibility. Children with ADHD may present as fidgety, impulsive, and unable to sit still, or they may actively run around the office. Adults with ADHD may be distractible, fidgety, and forgetful.
In addition to direction errors, a higher number of anticipatory eye movements (i.e., gaze shifts occurring before the peripheral stimulus is shown) have been reported in individuals with ADHD (Rommelse et al., 2008).
ADHD and Light Sensitivity, Photophobia
In fact, a 2014 study found that nearly 70% of individuals self-identified as photophobic—more than twice the number of people without ADHD symptoms. Those with ADHD who were also light-sensitive reported several related complications from light exposure too, such as: eye pain.
Eye contact is supposed to mean something, and for some of us, it means too much – so we avoid it. It is considered to be a way of communicating that a person is listening, but for some of us, it's impossible to look and listen at the same time. It can cause a sensory overload.
ADHD and Light Sensitivity
Some individuals with ADHD experience extreme sensitivity to light. Known as photophobia, light sensitivity can include being sensitive to light from the sun and also indoor lighting, specifically fluorescent lighting.
A study has revealed strong evidence that involuntary eye movement could be a sign of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It has also reinforced what we've known for a long time: If kids can control their eye movements, it will improve their attention span.
Many people with ADHD experience a physical hypersensitivity to a variety of things, including touch. Being hypersensitive may mean that stimulation of their genitals might be uncomfortable or even painful in someone with ADHD. This sensitivity may also extend to other senses as well.
A student with inattentive ADHD may quietly stare out the window while her work goes unfinished; this 'spacey' or 'daydreamy' behavior is overlooked or mischaracterized as laziness or apathy.
Children with ADHD show specific signs of the three major ADHD symptoms: hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and inattention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 core behaviors could indicate that your child has ADHD.
Atypical Presentation of ADHD Symptoms
Sleep disturbances (has trouble with sleep initiation, sleep deprived, can't wake up easily, etc.) Weak executive function (poor recall of information, internalizing language, controlling emotions, problem-solving, etc.)
Though it manifests in disparate and dichotomous ways, ADHD is often associated with only a handful of stereotypical behaviors and presentations. So when not-so-obvious ADHD symptoms show up in broad daylight, they may go ignored or misdiagnosed.
Vision problems aren't official symptoms of ADHD, but there is still a strong association between the two. People with ADHD may have abnormal eye movements, relocation, and visual perception, which can lead to challenges with visual tracking.
4. Daydreaming. Although ADHD tends to cause hyperactivity, your child might display a quiet, calm disposition while staring off into space and ignoring what's happening around them, lacking the ability to be emotionally present with others.
Similarly, people with ADHD can also experience 'meltdowns' more commonly than others, which is where emotions build up so extremely that someone acts out, often crying, angering, laughing, yelling and moving all at once, driven by many different emotions at once – this essentially resembles a child tantrum and can ...
Often girls with ADHD have a physiological sensitivity that results in their not wanting to be touched or feeling really sensitive to physical affection, such as hugs. e best thing to do is to nd out what type of interaction will work for them, because they do want affection.
Support and/or service swapping is a common way of showing love for people with ADHD. Maybe you struggle with your laundry but you're great at taxes (wait, who is?), offer this trade up with your loved one, or offer to do it outright!
People with autism, engineers, and those with ADHD tend to say they think in pictures; teachers, in words, and when a word-thinker hears that there are those who think not in words, but pictures, they often are flabbergasted, taken aback, and have a hard time bending their mind around this alien thought form.
Most people with ADHD are hyperactive only some of the time, even if hyperactivity is their main symptom. Acting before thinking (impulsivity). People with ADHD may talk too loud, laugh too loud, or become angrier than the situation calls for.
Our circadian rhythms and sleep patterns can also be regulated better when we are exposed to darkness more often. Many people with ADHD find comfort in the darkness because it provides a state of calmness and peace 🕊️.
Sound: Many people with ADHD are hypersensitive to auditory stimulants such as multiple simultaneous conversations, loud music, fireworks, or grating noises. For these individuals, such sounds could result in a stress reaction.
Problems Staying Organized – Problems with organizations are one of the telltale signs of children struggling with ADHD. These children can have a hard time keeping track of required tasks and activities. This can pose a problem with successful performance in school or with self-help/adaptive requirements.