Behavioral and Emotional Problems Associated With Convergence Insufficiency in Children: An Open Trial. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borsting, Eric; Mitchell, G. Lynn; Arnold, L. Eugene; Scheiman, Mitchell; Chase, Christopher; Kulp, Marjean; Cotter, Susan
• Is Part Of: Journal of attention disorders. Volume 20:Number 10(2016)
• Page Start: 836
• Page End: 844
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: ADHD -- symptomatology -- sustained attention -- convergence insufficiency -- vergence; Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder -- Periodicals; Attention -- Periodicals; 616.8589
• DOI: 10.1177/1087054713511528
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1087-0547

Abstract

Objective: This study investigated behavioral and emotional characteristics of children with convergence insufficiency (CI), before and after treatment with office-based vergence accommodative therapy (OBVAT).Method: Parents of 44 children ages 9 to 17 years with symptomatic CI completed the Conners 3 ADHD Index and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) before and after OBVAT. Pre-treatment scores were compared with normative data and post-treatment scores were compared with baseline using the Wilcoxon sign rank test.Results: Following OBVAT, CI children showed a significant mean improvement ( p < .0001, effect size of 0.58) on the Conners 3 ADHD Index with the largest changes occurring in the 23 children who scored the highest at baseline. On the CBCL, anxious/depressed, somatic, and internalizing problems improved significantly ( p < .001, effect sizes of −0.36, −1.15, and −0.67, respectively).Conclusion: In an open trial, attention and internalizing problems improved significantly following treatment for CI.