Have you ever felt dizzy, queasy, or even downright miserable on a road trip or amusement park ride? Maybe you thought it was just typical motion sickness, but what if it had something to do with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Sit tight—I’m about to take you on a ride through a surprising connection (ADHD and motion sickness) that’s been hiding in plain sight.
A Dizzying Day at the Amusement Park
Picture this: You’re at an amusement park, ready for a fun-filled day. But as soon as the roller coaster takes off, your stomach flips, your head spins, and you clutch those plastic bags you hopefully grabbed at the entrance. It’s motion sickness, right?
I struggle not only with impulse control and focus but also with a difficult time handling motion sickness. I didn’t realize my ADHD could be a contributing factor until my healthcare provider suggested it might be tied to my inner ears, visual system, and even my eye muscles.
Then I got a flashback of vertigo lessons in physical therapy school. Ah! Yes, the connection makes sense.
ADHD and Motion Sickness: The Science
People with ADHD often experience a wide range of symptoms, from sensory overload to problems with focus and impulse control. Surprisingly, motion sickness symptoms—like dizziness, nausea, and blurred vision—are much more common among individuals with ADHD. Why?
It all comes down to a lack of synchronicity between your vestibular system (the part of your inner ears that controls balance), your visual system, and your brain’s ability to process incoming light and visual input.
When these systems don’t work in harmony, it’s like trying to watch a movie with the sound out of sync. This miscommunication can cause symptoms of motion sickness, sensory overload, and even behavioral problems.
ADHD or Binocular Vision Dysfunction? The Overlap You Need to Know
Most people are familiar with ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It’s a neurological condition that affects behavior, often marked by restlessness, impulsive behavior, and a difficult time focusing on a single task. While ADHD can impact people of all ages and genders, diagnosing it isn’t always straightforward. That’s because many of its hallmark traits—like trouble concentrating or avoiding tasks that require extended focus—overlap with other medical conditions. One of the most commonly mistaken disorders? Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD).
BVD is a functional vision problem where the eyes don’t align properly, forcing the eye muscles to work overtime to create a single clear image.
This strain can lead to a wide range of symptoms, including some that mimic ADHD symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, and poor reading comprehension.
But BVD brings its own set of challenges, too, like blurred vision, motion sickness symptoms, and neck and shoulder strain.
If you experience symptoms of ADHD alongside issues like dizziness, nausea, or problems with driving, it’s worth exploring whether BVD might be the underlying cause. A specialized eye exam by a vision specialist, along with tools like prism glasses, can make a significant difference in your quality of life.
Proper diagnosis and treatment are crucial, whether you’re dealing with ADHD, BVD, or both. Taking a minute self-test or consulting a healthcare provider could uncover answers that change your day-to-day experience for the better.
How to Improve Your Quality of Life
The good news is there are effective treatments to address this tricky connection between ADHD and motion sickness. Here are some options:
Prismatic Lenses and Prism Glasses
These specialized glasses help your eyes work together to form a single image. By improving eye movements and reducing eye muscle strain, prism lenses can trick the brain into syncing up with your eyes, alleviating symptoms of binocular vision dysfunction.
Customized Vision Therapy
A customized program of vision therapy can strengthen weak eye muscles and improve your brain’s ability to process visual input. Over time, this can make a significant difference in your ability to focus and balance.
Anti-Motion Sickness Medications & Remedies
Prescription medications can help alleviate motion sickness symptoms and social settings anxiety that often comes with them.
Or if you prefer natural remedies, like myself, here are some solutions for motion sickness that can help ease symptoms.
- Ginger is a well-known remedy for nausea and motion sickness. You can consume it as ginger tea, ginger candy, or ginger capsules.
- Peppermint, often in the form of tea or essential oil, can help soothe an upset stomach and reduce nausea.
- Chamomile tea is calming and may reduce nausea and stomach discomfort.
- The scent of fresh lemon or sipping lemon water can have a soothing effect on the stomach. Personally, I love sour candies.
Early Diagnosis Matters
If you or someone you know is struggling with ADHD, motion sickness, and a variety of symptoms like light sensitivity, sinus headaches, or even impulsive behavior, don’t brush it off. Seeking professional help for both ADHD and potential vision conditions could uncover a direct correlation that changes everything.
A visit to a vision specialists of Michigan or a mayo clinic could open the door to solutions you never imagined, from prism glasses to addressing symptoms of BVD.
The Takeaway
Life is too short to sit in the front seat of a car with your eyes squeezed shut or to avoid roller coasters because of poor eye coordination. The best way to conquer these challenges is by addressing the root of the problem.
Whether it’s a medical condition like ADHD, binocular vision disorder, or simply sensory issues, there are treatment options that can bring relief. So, next time you’re scrolling TikTok for solutions, remember there’s hope beyond the quick fixes.
Let’s raise awareness of the connection between ADHD and motion sickness and improve the quality of life for everyone dealing with these challenges.
Do you or someone you love struggle with motion sickness and ADHD? Share your story in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
References
- Bradley A, Barrett BT, Saunders KJ. Linking binocular vision neuroscience with clinical practice. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. 2014 Mar;34(2):125-8. doi: 10.1111/opo.12125. PMID: 24588530.
- Finlay AL. Binocular vision and refractive surgery. Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2007 May;30(2):76-83. doi: 10.1016/j.clae.2007.02.009. PMID: 17448926.
- Houck Z, Asken B, Bauer R, Clugston J. Predictors of post-concussion symptom severity in a university-based concussion clinic. Brain Inj. 2019;33(4):480-489. doi: 10.1080/02699052.2019.1565897. Epub 2019 Jan 9. PMID: 30626213.
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