There were many questions on Irlen Syndrome during our Elluminate session on Dyslexia last month, and Ruth has take the time to do a quick report on this condition that effects more than half of people with Dyslexia. HCOS has about a dozen teachers who are able to identify Irlen, so if you would like to be assessed, please contact your LS consultant via your teacher or visit www.Irlen.ca. Thanks again, Ruth, for taking the time to do this research! Carmen
Facts:
1.
Many
people with Irlen Syndrome have been misdiagnosed as dyslexic, having ADD/ADHD,
or as slow learners.
2.
They are
often seen as underachievers, or as having attitudinal, behavioral, or
motivational problems.
3.
Reading
may be slow and inefficient, or there may be poor comprehension, strain, or
fatigue.
4.
Irlen
Syndrome can affect attention span, listening, energy level, work production,
and mental health.
5.
Individuals
with Irlen Syndrome are often unaware that they perceive the printed page
and/or their environment differently and that they are putting extra energy and
effort into reading and perception.
6.
Irlen
Syndrome occurs on a continuum from mild to extremely severe.
7.
Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual disorder
that is caused by sensitivity to light.
8.
Incidence
studies suggest that 46% of those identified with reading problems, dyslexia,
attention deficit disorder, or learning difficulties suffer from Ilren
Syndrome.
9.
Irlen Syndrome
is a visual-perceptual problem which, most likely originates either in the
retina of the eye or in the visual cortex in the brain.
Symptoms:
1.
Light
sensitivity i.e. bothered by glare, florescent lights, bright lights, and
sunlight.
2.
Physical
symptoms such as feeling tired, sleepy, restlessness, dizzy, or having
difficulty staying focused, especially with bright or fluorescent lights.
3.
Reading
problems such as poor comprehension, misreads words, problems tracking from
line to line, loses place, and skips words or line.
4.
Discomfort
such as strain or fatigue, headaches or nausea, fidgety or restless, eyes that
hurt or become watery.
5.
Depth
perception such as clumsiness, difficulty catching a ball, difficulty judging
distances.
6.
Distortions
i.e. words on a page lack clarity or stability.
What
Helps:
1.
Reduce
glare: use dull coloured paper for reading and writing. Never read in bright light, florescent
or sunlight.
2.
Wear
tinted lenses to reduce some of the visual distortions and to make the eyes
“calmer”.
3.
Use LCD
computer screen as opposed to CRT screens, which flicker.
4.
Adjust
website text size using the Internet Browser settings.
5.
Use a
bookmark when reading.
6.
Read for
short periods with breaks rather than trying to read continuously over a long
period.
Treatment
and Results:
1.
The
screening for Irlen Syndrome involves challenging the visual system to
determine the severity of the symptoms.
Colour overlays are used to alter the contrast between the words and the
page. Once the proper colour
combination has been determined, overlays of that colour are placed over the
page while reading. Tinted Irlen
filters are recommended for most people.
2.
Although
the treatment is simple, the results are often dramatic. The use of colour
filters will allow a person with Irlen Syndrome to see the words on a page
clearly. This allows for quick and
dramatic improvement of reading skills, and will enhance academic performance
and self esteem.
