In "A Quiet Eye," Alan meets scientist Joan Vickers, whose work tracking athletes' eye gaze has helped many competitors- from pro-ball players to weekend warriors- improve their game. Now, with her latest research, Vickers is turning her attention to a different group of would-be athletes.
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most common childhood neurobehavioral disorder. Affecting between 4 and 12 percent of American children, ADHD- also commonly known as ADD- is well known to hamper a child's academic performance. Affected kids, who have difficulty reading social cues and who are given to hyperactivity and impulsiveness, also can have a tough time making friends. But there is one often overlooked arena in which ADHD adversely affects school-aged kids- sports.

Given the social nature of competitive sports, it's not surprising that many ADHD kids find gym class equally unpleasant as math class, but according to Vickers, there's more to it than that.

In her recent study, Vickers' data reveals exactly how ADHD adversely affects a person's ability to take in and process the visual information needed for good eye-hand coordination. This information, Vickers hopes will contribute to a better overall understanding of ADHD's affect on the brain. Her results should also help clinicians develop improved therapies to quiet the minds of kids who suffer from the disorder.
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