What is Irlen Syndrome?
By Pat Everatt, Penticton, BC

A PIECE OF THE PUZZLE FOR
READING PROBLEMS, LEARNING DIFFICULTIES, AD/HD, DYSLEXIA, HEADACHES AND OTHER PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
THROUGH THE USE OF COLOUR.

Irlen Syndrome, also known as, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) is a type of visual perceptual problem. It is not an optical problem. It is a problem with how the nervous system encodes and decodes visual information. Academic and work performance, behavior, attention, ability to sit still and concentration can be affected. Individuals with this problem see the printed page differently, although they may not realize that they do. Having Irlen Syndrome keeps many people from reading effectively, efficiently, or even at all. Until now, it has baffled educators and medical scientists because it is undetected by standard visual, educational and medical tests.

Individuals with Irlen Syndrome see the printed page differently from those with normal vision and must constantly adapt to distortions appearing on the printed page. They may be slow or inefficient readers, exhibit poor comprehension, suffer from strain, fatigue or headaches. It can affect their attention-span, energy-level, motivation, handwriting, depth-perception and, ultimately, self-esteem. Irlen syndrome sufferers may be labeled as underachievers with behavioural, attitudinal, or motivational problems. It is a complex and variable condition sometimes found to co-exist with other learning-disabilities.

THE IRLEN METHOD OF TREATMENT  Irlen Syndrome was first identified by Educational Psychologist, Helen Irlen, while she was working with adult-learners in California in the early 1980s. She observed that some of her students read with greater ease when they covered a page of print with a Coloured overlay. The patented treatment-method uses specially formulated, coloured overlays or coloured lenses worn as glasses or contact lenses to reduce or eliminate perception-difficulties.  In a comfortable and informal setting, professionals work to identify key factors which are affecting learning progress. Family members participate in the evaluation process and a multidisciplinary assessment helps to find all the pieces of the puzzle. The program is designed to serve the needs of individuals with learning difficulties, attention deficit, autism, and other problems which interfere with adequate functioning in the classroom, workplace, and socially.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

A variety of problems can result from seeing a distorted page of words, numbers or musical notes or perceiving your environment in a distorted fashion. It can affect reading, writing, spelling, math, copying, reading music, working on a computer, night driving, driving, sports performance, comfort under fluorescent lights, and other areas of a person’s life.

LIGHT SENSITIVITY  Bothered by glare, sunlight, headlights or streetlights. Discomfort or difficulty concentrating or working under bright lights or fluorescent lights. Some individuals become tired, others experience headaches, mood change, fidgety or an inability to stay focused with bright or fluorescent lights.

PROBLEMS WITH WHITE HIGH GLOSS MATERIAL Some individuals find that they cannot read as long or with as good comprehension when material is on white paper. The white may be glarey or compete with the black print, making the letters less readable. The same problems can occur with numbers on math pages and musical pages.

INEFFICIENT READING  Difficulty reading print, numbers or musical notes. Problems may include print that shifts, shakes, blurs, moves, runs together, disappears or becomes difficult to perceive.

SLOW READING RATE  Inability to read groups of letters, number or words at the same time. This results in problems tracking, slow reading rate, word-by-word reading, or an inability to skim and speed-read. Individuals often use their finger or a marker when reading.

ATTENTION DEFICIT  Problems in concentration while reading ,writing,or working on the computer. May have difficulty staying on task, take frequent breaks, become restless, fidgety or tired.

STRAIN OR FATIGUE  Feeling strain, tension, tired, sleepy, or even getting headaches with reading and other perceptual activities. Strain can interfere with the ease of reading, studying, or even listening.

POOR DEPTH-PERCEPTION  Problem judging distance and spatial relationships accurately. May be unsure or have difficulty with such things as escalators, stairs, ball sports, or driving.

Submitted by Pat Everatt,

Penticton 250-809-8098 pat_everatt@okanaganessences.co