Visual processing differences
Visual sensitivity is very common in neurodivergent children.
Some children experience difficulty with:
- bright lights
- fluorescent lighting
- cluttered visual environments
- fast moving visual information
Busy classrooms, supermarkets or screens can become overwhelming.
Signs of visual sensory overload
Children may:
- squint or cover their eyes
- avoid eye contact
- struggle to focus on written work
- become tired or irritable quickly
Irlen syndrome
Some children experience visual stress, sometimes referred to as Irlen syndrome.
This can cause:
- words appearing to move or blur
- headaches while reading
- difficulty tracking text
- fatigue when reading
Some children benefit from:
- coloured overlays
- tinted lenses
- softer lighting
- larger text spacing
Helpful strategies for parents
- Reduce visual clutter where possible
- Provide calm spaces for homework
- Use visual schedules and simple layouts
- Allow breaks from screens and reading
