Her ADHD is taking over

[WendyGirl1]

DD struggles with ADHD, which we found because of her eye troubles when she was 9 (struggles to focus, can't concentrate on work and myopia). Sometimes when she gets angry or upset she takes it out on things around her including her glasses, or even just when fidgeting she plays with her glasses, in the last 6 months we have got her 3 pairs, she has either snapped them or cracked her old pairs! I spoke to her about it and she told me when she struggles with her sight, it makes he more agitated and understandingly frustrated, resulting in her ADHD to become more prominent.and she says because she always wears her glasses they are something she can always fiddle with which ultimately makes them loose so DH or I take them to get tightened, but I am worried it is becoming too much of a habit and I am afraid her vision effects her ADHD a worrying amount- She is a teenager now and her ADHD had worsened over the last year or two- as has her vision, I wonder if anyone can give me tips or help on coping with her ADHD and vision problems, or if any of you have experienced something similar?

If she's a teenager, have you looked into contact lenses?

My daughter has very poor eyesight and so she started wearing contact lenses when she turned 11.
If you think your daughter can manage cleaning and storing them, unless they’re dailies, then you should consider.

If you can't get contact lenses, do you tighten the glasses yourselves or take them back to the opticians? Mine have a little screw that holds the frame closed and the lens in place and I just tighten it myself with a tiny screwdriver.

How about flexible/indestructible glasses: www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/ultra-flex

There are lots of different kinds about, these are just an example. It's probably unrealistic to think she can stop fidgetting with the glasses, and the constant need for tightening seems impractical.

@FireBelliedToad @Twospaniels Thank you both, this is something we have discussed but she really isn't keen, she is very clumsy and gets very flustered at time pressures, its already a struggle getting her out the house in the morning, I am a contact lens wearer myself and know it can be effortless but presently she is standing firm to say its not an option

@TwoZeroTwoZero Thank you, that's something worth knowing! @SylvanianFrenemies You're absolutely right about the fidgeting, I don't want to always respond negatively to it because I know its part of who she is, they sound great I will look into it, thank you for the advice

Have you looked at fidget toys or sensory jewellery you can fiddle with or chew? My daughter has a key ring that is like bubble wrap to fiddle with and pop. It might redirect the need to be doing something. Sensory direct website is usually good and if you search for chewellery chew jewellery there’s some chunky necklaces etc.

I actually do this myself, its a terrible habit. I've taken to wearing beaded bracelets (cheap ones) to fiddle with, I'm breaking the breaking glasses habit. Maybe you could try similar?

If she feels the need to keep her fingers busy can you substitute something else so she leaves the glasses alone? Bracelets maybe? You could get ones with different textures etc

@AutisticID Thank you very much, that's a really good recommendation I will go and look at it now!

@LuxuryWoman2020 @Aurelia1313 I am so pleased I started this thread, you have all been so helpful, and its reassuring that my daughter isn't the only one! Thank you

Amazon sells cheap bubble wrap type key rings. If you search dimple key rings they should come up and are cheap and strangely satisfying!

[quote WendyGirl1]**@LuxuryWoman2020* @Aurelia1313* I am so pleased I started this thread, you have all been so helpful, and its reassuring that my daughter isn't the only one! Thank you[/quote]
Definitely not the only one. Mine is a stress tic, I have a cuticle pushing tic that's driving me mad actually, I push them against my spectacle arms which loosens the screws, the bracelets are helping

Is she on medication for her ADHD - as she has grown recently, has the medication changed? Also if she is starting puberty, then the hormones can make the symptoms of adhd worse - if there is a cyclical pattern, worse before her period, she may benefit from a small top up just before her period.

Fidget toys!

I have some interlocking rings that I can wind round my fingers and jiggle in my hand. I used to have a fidget ring which might also suit your daughter - I loved it.

Finger tubes are cheap and might suit the bending / twisting feedback she's after. I think they're sold as "boinks".

@SylvanianFrenemies

How about flexible/indestructible glasses: www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/ultra-flex

There are lots of different kinds about, these are just an example. It's probably unrealistic to think she can stop fidgetting with the glasses, and the constant need for tightening seems impractical.

I was also going to suggest these.

Also look at fiddle cubes or those plastic fashion bands for the wrist.

My ds is autistic and has a need to fiddle and also wears glasses. They are a convenient fiddle toy unfortunately 🤦‍♀️

I found having something else helped because he couldn't fight the need and I think specsavers thought it was my second home!

I'd agree with trying a sensory item such as a twiddle toy.

Look up convergence insufficiency and vertical heterophoria.

Neither are usually found in normal eye tests.

Very helpful to get some feedback and I will look into everyones suggestions. Thank you all!

dd wears a hairband on her wrist to fiddle with. it is sort of a normal thing to have but usefull as well.