Sensory Processing Disorder
Authored by: The DrSensory Editorial Team
Reviewed by: 🛡️ DrSensory Clinical Review Board
Last updated: June 2026
Key Takeaways
- Visual Processing Disorder (VPD), also called Visual Perceptual Disorder, is a neurological condition that affects how the brain interprets visual information, not how well the eyes see.
- A child can have normal vision yet still struggle with reading, writing, copying from a board, or understanding spatial relationships because of how the brain processes what the eyes see.
- VPD includes several types of difficulty, such as visual discrimination, visual memory, visual spatial relations, visual motor integration, figure-ground discrimination, visual closure, and visual sequencing, and a person may experience one or more.
- Because its signs overlap with academic and behavioral challenges, many children with VPD are misdiagnosed with ADHD or learning disabilities when the real issue is with visual perception.
- Diagnosis typically uses a team-based evaluation, including a developmental or neuro-optometrist and an occupational therapist, along with standardized assessments like the TVPS and the Beery-Buktenica VMI test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is visual processing disorder the same as having bad eyesight?
No. VPD is not about how well the eyes see, like nearsightedness or astigmatism; it is about how the brain interprets what the eyes see. A child can have normal vision and still struggle with reading, writing, and spatial tasks.
What are common signs of visual processing disorder in my child?
Signs may include avoiding reading or writing, reversing letters or numbers, difficulty copying from the board, poor spelling and reading comprehension, clumsiness or bumping into things, getting lost easily, and tracking issues when reading.
What causes visual processing disorder?
VPD is believed to be caused by differences in brain development, particularly in how the visual cortex and related areas process sensory information. Potential risk factors include genetic predisposition, premature birth or birth trauma, developmental delays or co-occurring conditions like autism and ADHD, and in rare cases brain injuries.
Who can diagnose visual processing disorder?
Diagnosis usually involves a team, including a developmental optometrist or neuro-optometrist to assess visual efficiency and an occupational therapist to evaluate visual motor integration, along with standardized assessments such as the TVPS and the Beery-Buktenica VMI test.
Could my child's reading struggles be VPD instead of ADHD or a learning disability?
Possibly. Many children with VPD are misdiagnosed with ADHD or learning disabilities when the real issue is with visual perception, so a proper evaluation can help distinguish VPD from those conditions.
