Seeing Attention Differently: The Overlap Between Visual and Attentional Disorders

About the presentation: Attention Differently: The Overlap Between Visual and Attentional Disorders” explores how vision problems can mimic or worsen ADHD-like symptoms. Dr. Justin Chelette will highlight key visual factors, share practical screening strategies, and discuss when referral to a behavioral optometrist is appropriate. Attendees will leave with tools to better distinguish attention difficulties rooted in vision and collaborate more effectively across disciplines.

About the speaker: Dr. Justin Chelette is a behavioral optometrist in Houston specializing in pediatric vision therapy and developmental vision care. A former faculty member at the Kentucky College of Optometry, he partners with families, educators, and healthcare providers to address visual factors affecting learning and attention. He also hosts the See It Differently podcast, exploring vision through neuroscience, education, and child development.

Who will get the most from this training? This training will be most valuable for psychologists in private practice who see children and adolescents, early-career clinicians seeking practical tools for differential diagnosis, and seasoned practitioners interested in strengthening interprofessional collaboration. School psychologists, clinical psychologists focused on ADHD or learning disorders, and those who regularly conduct psychoeducational testing will especially benefit from the insights on how vision and attention interact.

What are 3-4 actionable lessons that attendees will take away from your presentation?

Attendees will learn to recognize red flags when inattention may stem from vision issues, apply quick screening strategies to identify visual concerns, and know when and how to refer to a behavioral optometrist.

They will also gain a new framework for understanding ADHD-like symptoms through both psychological and visual lenses.

What new skills or knowledge will attendees be able to apply to their clinical work/practice after your training? After this training, attendees will be able to more confidently distinguish visual-driven attention problems from primary attentional disorders, integrate quick vision-related screenings into their assessments, and know when and how to refer to a behavioral optometrist. They will also gain a broader framework for incorporating visual function into case formulation, allowing for more accurate diagnoses and tailored treatment plans.