Autism & ADHD

Autism and ADHD

When families hear a diagnosis like Autism or ADHD, their minds often jump to challenges related to communication, attention, and behavior. But what many don’t realize is that vision plays a critical role in how children perceive and interact with the world around them. At Carolina Vision Rehabilitation, we believe in looking beyond 20/20 eyesight to uncover the full picture of how vision affects a child’s learning, development, and behavior.

Vision Is More Than 20/20

Most routine eye exams focus on whether a child can read letters on a chart from 20 feet away. While this is important, it only tells us how clearly a child sees. It does not show how well their eyes work together, how they move across a page, or how they communicate with the brain. These abilities are part of functional vision, and problems in these areas can mimic or even add to the symptoms of Autism and ADHD.

Understanding Functional Vision Problems

Functional vision encompasses a range of visual skills, including:

• Eye teaming (how well the eyes work together)

• Tracking (how smoothly the eyes move across a page)

• Focusing (how well the eyes adjust between distances)

• Visual processing (how the brain interprets what the eyes see)

When any of these areas are impaired, a child may experience symptoms like poor attention, difficulty with reading, clumsiness, or frustration with schoolwork - all of which can look like ADHD or fall within the behavioral patterns seen in children with Autism.

Why Misdiagnosis Occurs

It’s not uncommon for children with functional vision problems to be misdiagnosed with behavioral or developmental conditions. That’s because many visual issues don’t show up during standard vision screenings. Without a comprehensive functional vision exam, a child may be placed on medication, enter special education programs, or receive therapies that don’t address the root cause of their challenges.

Recognizing Visual Integration Issues

Children with functional vision problems often have difficulty integrating visual information with other senses or motor responses. This can manifest as:

• Avoidance of eye contact

• Poor hand-eye coordination

• Sensitivity to visual stimuli

• Difficulty with visual memory or sequencing tasks

• Delayed reading or writing development

These signs may go unnoticed or be attributed to other diagnoses unless a functional vision problem is specifically assessed.

What Is Vision Therapy?

Vision therapy is a doctor-supervised, non-invasive program designed to improve the way the eyes and brain work together. Each program is tailored to the patient and may include exercises to strengthen eye tracking, teaming, focusing, and visual processing skills.

Vision therapy is particularly effective for children, helping them:

• Improve attention and focus

• Enhance reading comprehension

• Reduce visual fatigue and frustration

• Gain confidence in academic and social settings

Most importantly, it empowers children to process visual information more effectively, which is an essential skill for learning and everyday life.

Supporting Families in Charlotte and Beyond

Functional vision problems can contribute to or even be mistaken for behavioral and learning challenges. By identifying and addressing these visual issues, we can help children improve their ability to focus, learn, and engage with the world around them. At Carolina Vision Rehabilitation, we are committed to supporting families navigating complex developmental and behavioral diagnoses. Whether you live in Charlotte or surrounding communities, Dr. Angela Bergin and her team are here to provide clarity, compassion, and customized care.

If your child has been diagnosed with Autism or ADHD, or is showing signs of difficulty with attention, reading, or coordination, schedule a functional vision exam with Dr. Angela Bergin at Carolina Vision Rehabilitation today.