Dear Abby dedicated an entire column this week to Convergence Insufficiency Disorder which is a legitimate, problematic binocular dysfunction. It is a reading disorder where the eyes drift too much inward or outward when trying to focus to read, which in turn causes eye strain making it very difficult to study. Apparently people with this disorder have to reread the same line of words and frequently loose their place because the words seem to jump or float across the page while they are trying to read. The psychological results of this disorder can be decreased self-esteem and confidence because the child may be reading well below grade level and feel “dumb.” The child may act out at school or whenever required to do homework.

The symptoms along with eyestrain can be periocular headaches, blurred vision or double vision after beginning an episode of reading, sleepiness and difficulty retaining information when reading. If you notice your child repeatedly squinting, closing or rubbing one eye while reading you may want to have your child tested for this disorder as these are typical signs. Other indicators that your child may have this disorder are frequently misspelling words on paper that you know your child can spell verbally or copying words incorrectly. If your child frequently asks you to read the school work out loud, and tries to avoid doing any type of close or visual work you may want to have your child tested.

Usually Convergence Insufficiency Disorder is diagnosed in children age ten and older when the reading involved in schoolwork really begins to increase because the symptoms occur during prolonged close work and not when focusing at a distance. The child may have 20/20 vision as this disorder is a problem with focusing during reading not eyesight. The article in Dear Abby indicated that this disorder isn’t routinely checked for during eye exams so don’t assume that your child would have been diagnosed at the yearly eye exam.

The cause of this disorder isn’t really known. Fortunately this disorder can be treated successfully most of the time with vision therapy, a noninvasive set of eye exercises that can be learned with a vision therapist and then practiced at home. Apparently it cannot be treated with medication, tutoring or special education services and may be misdiagnosed as ADHD or ADD. Misdiagnosis can occur because the symptoms are so similar and apparently the same part of the brain is responsible for both disorders. The symptoms of ADHD are inattentiveness, impulsive behavior and hyperactivity (i.e. kids who have it have trouble sitting, focusing and controlling their impulses.)
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