Dr. Julie Steinhauer Warns Parents Not To Mistake ADHD With Vision Problems
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GLEN CARBON, Ill. - illiNews -- Dr. Julie Steinhauer, OD, FCOVD, owner of Vision For Life and Success, and one of a select group of functional vision doctors in the nation, says parents should have their children thoroughly tested for a vision condition before embarking on a regimen to treat ADHD.

October is ADHD Awareness Month, and, according to a 2016 parent survey by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some 9.4% of children age 2-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Dr. Steinhauer wants to emphasize the symptoms of ADHD can be very similar to those found in children who have a problem with their vision. A vision exam can reveal if the condition is solely ADHD, or a combination of both.

According to Dr. Steinhauer, as a schoolchild exhibits overactive behaviors, the inability to sit still, decreased focused on homework and short attention spans, may not only be attributed to ADHD but also a visual processing disorder.

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"Convergence insufficiency is a visual disorder diagnosed in about 90% of patients, both children and adults, with ADHD. This includes problems with reading or school work where a child sees moving images as materials are held close to the eyes," said Dr. Steinhauer.

"The two eyes will not line-up or cross in together accurately as a team. In the case of a child, he or she may veer away from anything to do with near-work but still wish to participate in video games or puzzles. This indicates a condition with their vision probably exists."

As discussed in her YouTube video, Is It ADHD? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXq4EfmmCgA&t=4s) Dr. Steinhauer said practices like Vision For Life and Success can treat children with this type of visual condition utilizing syntonics or light therapy to help improve the visual signals between the eyes and brain, and with therapies dealing with related motor skills.



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"In many cases, we have found reducing or eliminating convergence insufficiency will help rid the behavioral issue altogether. This can include a therapy program, glasses or both. If not, additional courses of treatment, both holistic and with medication, may be necessary. A visual exam is a great first step to help diagnose ADHD and create a proper path of treatment for both children and adults."

For more information visit https://visionforlifeworks.com

ABOUT DR. JULIE STEINHAUER

Dr. Steinhauer, now in her 20^th year of practice, is a developmental optometrist specializing in vision-related learning problems, sports vision, and rehabilitative optometry. She is board certified in vision development as a Fellow of the College of Optometrists in Vision Development. Dr. Steinhauer is a member of the Illinois Optometric Association, American Optometric Association, College of Optometrists in Vision Development, Optometric Extension Program, the College of Syntonic Optometry, and the Neuro-Optometric Rehabilitation Association.