ADHD and Vision: How the Disorder Impacts What Children See

DHD Symptoms in Children: They Perceive the World Differently

ADHD in children is often associated with concentration problems and impulsive behavior—they find it hard to sit still and are easily distracted. However, the latest research indicates that this is only the tip of the iceberg. Experts from Mexico have discovered that ADHD can also affect vision. It turns out that visual processing issues may be one of the less obvious, yet significant, ADHD symptoms in children.

The study compared children and adolescents with ADHD to their peers without the disorder. The tests involved evaluating optical illusions—a task that requires both attention and the ability to correctly process visual information. The results were unambiguous: individuals with ADHD had greater difficulty interpreting the images than their neurotypical peers.

Visual Issues as a Key ADHD Symptom

Children with ADHD clearly interpreted images differently, though not all of them. They especially struggled with determining the length of lines in an image that had arrow-like endings. Furthermore, in another illusion, the central circle appeared larger or smaller depending on the size of the surrounding circles. In children with the neurodevelopmental disorder, this effect was weaker—they were less “fooled” by the illusion.

Visual processing issues were also apparent when the children were shown an image that looked incomplete. In neurotypical peers, the brain automatically “filled in” the missing elements—a normal reflex. However, this did not happen in children with ADHD. This is yet another manifestation of the disorder. The conclusion is simple:

Children with ADHD perceived images, especially those with optical illusions, differently—and literally so. These differences in perception can affect their daily lives. Interestingly, researchers did not find such differences in adolescents, suggesting that this effect diminishes with maturation.

“The main message coming from this study is that children with ADHD may perceive the world differently—and this can impact their daily lives. For example, when trying to understand a complex visual scene, they might miss some details or, conversely, focus too heavily on trivialities, overlooking the broader context,” explained Oxana Bánszegi, one of the study’s authors from the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in an interview with PsyPost.

Changing Your Mindset Changes Your Approach

Studies published in the scientific journal Sage Journals showed that visual processing issues in children with ADHD do not stem from a lack of willingness or distraction. They simply see the world differently because their brains operate on a different principle. Examples include an altered perception of shapes, proportions, and even the relationships between objects.

Ostensibly, these are just details—lines, circles, missing image fragments. But these details translate into something bigger: the way the child sees reality. This can affect daily tasks they perform:

• Understanding instructions
• Learning from a textbook
• Reading a map
• Recognizing emotions on other people’s faces
• Navigating a new environment

This is an important cue for their parents and teachers. Instead of judging the young, it is worthwhile to try to understand them. Stop for a moment and consider whether a given sight or command is as easily understood by adults as it is by children with ADHD.

ADHD symptoms in children are not just about hyperactivity or concentration difficulties. They also include visual processing challenges that, fortunately, fade with age. Until that happens, the differences in perceiving the world are clear and can become a cause of misunderstanding. Therefore, the task of adults is to learn to look at the world as children with ADHD see it.

FAQs on ADHD

An estimated 2–5% of the world’s population suspects they have ADHD. In the US, the official diagnosis is often missed. That’s why it is important to learn as much as possible about it.

Do children with ADHD truly see the world differently? Research shows that children with ADHD interpret optical illusions differently, meaning their brain processes visual stimuli differently than their neurotypical peers.

Are visual issues a symptom of ADHD? It is not a vision defect in the traditional sense, but rather an issue with how the brain processes images. Children with ADHD may have difficulty judging proportions, shapes, or relationships between objects.

Do these differences in perception fade with age? The studies found that these differences no longer appeared in adolescents with ADHD, suggesting that the brain “matures” and eventually compensates for these functions.

How does this affect a child’s daily life? A child may struggle with understanding instructions, learning from textbooks, or recognizing emotions. This does not imply a lack of effort—they simply see reality differently.

Read this article in Polish: ADHD i wzrok: tak zaburzenie wpływa na to, co widzą dzieci