Flicker Vertigo may be the cause to your child’s fussiness
The holidays are a time of magic. Experiencing excellent light shows at the zoo, taking evening strolls with the family down Christmas Tree Lane to see what holiday electronic delights will enchant. To quote Andy Williams, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” or a total nightmare if you suffer from photosensitivity or are one of the 3% of people with epilepsy who suffer from Flicker Vertigo, which can trigger seizures, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.
Flicker Vertigo can hit suddenly, causing headaches, migraines, eye strain, or nausea. Flicker vertigo also called the Bucha effect, was named after Dr. Bucha, who identified this phenomenon of helicopter pilots, causing confusion and crashes in the 1950s. Airplane pilots are also known to get triggered, causing pilots to misjudge altitude when flying.
With the increased use of LED lights for holiday decorations, primarily LED lights set to a low light setting, causing the lights to flicker slowly, people with photosensitivity issues may experience flicker vertigo, taking with it the joy of the holidays. According to a recent article from NPR, lower-quality LED lights may be more prone to causing flicker vertigo. If you bought a strand causing problems, it is essential to return LED lights to the place of purchase so manufacturers learn which products people are unhappy with. With the US Department of Energy’s promotion of LED lights to reduce carbon emissions and utility bills, the LED market is growing, creating more possibilities for people affected by flicker vertigo.
If you and your family are enjoying the beautiful holiday lights, yet you notice your child is getting fussy and showing signs of flicker vertigo, remove him from the situation as soon as possible to avoid further complications.
