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Irlen Syndrome
Or Another Reason Johnny Can't Read
Though many states don’t consider a processing problem a learning disability, to my way of thinking, processing problems
are the epitome of a learning disability. Because of the brain’s inability to process information in a “normal”
fashion, the learner is forced to use a different method to learn. In other words, “they learn differently.”
There are some processing problems that are readily diagnosed. One of the most common is Scotopic Sensitivity or Irlen Syndrome.
IT is an input problems that can impact a child’s leaning dramatically, and is not obvious to most teachers. It is,
however easily diagnosed.
Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) commonly know as Irlen Syndrome is not a problem with visual accuity. In fact, a person
with SSS may well have perfect vision. It is a processing problem where the brain has difficulty interpreting what the eyes
see. People with Irlen Syndrome may see a variety of distortions when trying to read. Some report blurring of print, flashes
of light or color, words moving, disappearing, or running together, weird spacing between words, lines flowing off the side
of the page, and letters and words reversing themselves, (b for d, and saw for was). Others complain of headaches, light
sensitivity, tired eyes, falling asleep when they try to read, poor night vision, and problems with depth perception.
So what exactly is Irlen Syndrome? The syndrome was discovered in the early eighties by Helen Irlen, a school psychologist.
She found that some people with moderate to severe reading problems were helped by placing a colored plastic overlay over
the text. During the subsequent years her research has shown that approximately one in five people has some degree of the
syndrome. Ms. Irlen developed a screening procedure to identify those individuals and find the appropriate overlays for them
to use. She has also developed a diagnostic test to prescribe tinted glasses.
The treatment for Irlen Syndrome is so simple, detractors don’t believe it could really help. For most people it is
a sheet of colored plastic laid over the print or wearing a pair of tinted glasses. The screening process determines what
color or colors of overlays work best. The diagnostics for glasses is more complex but essentially uses the same principle.
For some reason not yet understood, reading through the colored plastic sheets cuts down the distortions making it possible
to read. You can see why many teachers scoff at the idea. If it’s that easy why haven’t we been doing it? I’ll
admit I was a bit skeptical myself when I first heard of it. Then an Irlen diagnostician came to my hometown to train Irlen
screeners. They needed volunteers to practice on, so my husband Richard and our son Paul went to be screened. When they came
home, Paul had three purple overlays and Richard had one blue/gray and two turquoise overlays.
I might not totally trust a child who told me reading through a piece of blue plastic was easier because kids are so impressionable,
but my husband is a natural skeptic. He went into the test thinking he read just like everyone else. His whole perception
changed when the screener laid the turquoise overlay on the page and he suddenly saw something he’d never seen before.
All the words on the page were in focus at the same time! He says what he normally sees is like smearing butter over a sheet
of glass and leaving a one inch circle of clear glass in the middle then laying it over the page. That’s the way he
had always read. Until he saw the page through the overlay he had no idea that what he saw was any different than what others
saw. Not surprisingly, he reads only for short periods of time and tires quickly.
Richard’s testimonial made a believer out of me. Right then and there, I decided to learn how to identify Irlen Syndrome.
Statistics say about 20% of the population is Scotopic, and I had the feeling many of my L.D. students were in that 20%.
As it turned out, about 90% of my students tested positive for Irlen syndrome, though not all chose to use the overlays.
Some people, including my son Paul, get a glare on the overlays from overhead lighting and are unable to use them to read.
There are different degrees of involvement, of course and what each person experiences is different. My daughter is light
sensitive and sees some minor blurring on the page. Another young woman’s whole world was so distorted, she thought
doorways were shaped like a set of parentheses..
David was the first client I ever screened for Irlen Syndrome. At the time, he was a twenty-year old college student, so
I wasn’t expecting anything unusual when I asked him what happened when he read.
“Well,” he said. “The page looks like a big round bowl with the lines of print moving around it in a circular
motion. After a few seconds the middle of each word glows and disappears. Then when I begin to read, the line below gets
bright and gobbles up the words that I’m trying to read.”
I was stunned. “How in the world did you ever learn to read with all that going on?”
He shrugged. “When I was a sophomore in high school I had Mononucleosis and had to stay in bed for six weeks. I got
tired of watching T.V. so I worked at reading until I finally figured it out.”
The most amazing part of this story is that none of David’s high school teachers knew he couldn’t read. Many
of them didn’t even know he had a learning problem. He is one of the most gifted people I have ever known, he is also
one of the most L.D. Did the overlays cure David’s learning disabilities? Of course not, but they did make it easier
for him to read.
At the end of 4th grade, my son Paul tested at a beginning 3rd grade level in reading, which was almost two years behind.
Since he couldn’t use the overlays, we decided to try the tinted glassed. Paul was fitted with Irlen filters at the
beginning of 5th grade. I admit I was hoping he’d immediately be able to read, but it didn’t happen. The glasses
didn’t cure his Scotopic Sensitivity; they didn’t even cure his reading problems. However, they get the distortions
out of his way so he could learn to read.
Paul’s reading gradually improved until he took the standardized test at the end of his fifth grade year. This time
he tested out at 5.8, (5th grade 8th month) a dramatic growth of nearly three years in nine months! It wasn’t only
the glasses; he also had excellent teachers. Still, since the school was departmentalized and he’d had those same teachers
in 4th grade, I’d say the glasses made a significant contribution to his growth.
So how do you know if your child has Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome? The only way to be certain is to have your child screened
by a certified Irlen Screener. Some school districts have such a person on staff, and some districts even screen all children
when they start school. However, because knowledge of Irlen Syndrome is relatively new, many professionals have never heard
of it. Luckily, there are a steadily increasing number of Irlen clinics around the country. The Irlen website at www.Irlen.com
has a list of them. If you contact a clinic near you, they should be able to provide you with the name of a screener in your
area.
Follow is a list of symptoms that may indicate Irlen Syndrome. No one has all the symptoms. If your child has five or more
you may wish to have him or her screened for Irlen Syndrome :
___ Is sensitive to bright light
___ Prefers to read in dim light
___ Avoids reading books, prefers magazines or newspapers
___ Avoids reading magazines or books with white glossy pages
___ Avoids reading of any kind
___ Complains of headaches
___ Eyes get red and watery when reading
___ Eyes get dry and sandy when reading
___ Eyes hurt, ache or burn when reading
___ Tires easily when reading
___ Has a difficult time reading under fluorescent lights
___ Squints or blinks frequently when reading
___ Gets nauseated or sick to the stomach when reading
___ Skip lines or words when reading
___ Rereads lines
___ Inserts words from line above or below
___ Frequently loses place when reading
___ Easily distracted when reading
___ Uses a finger or other marker to keep place while reading
___ Moves reading material closer and farther away while reading
___ Has difficulty lining up numbers in math problems
___ Has difficulty staying on the line when writing
___ Has difficulty reading certain colors of ink on white boards
___ Doesn’t understand what is read (poor comprehension)
___ Doesn’t remember what is read
___ Takes frequent breaks when reading
___ Gets restless or fidgety when reading
___ Words blur, move, or change, when reading
___ Sees bright lights or flashes of color when reading
If you suspect Irlen Syndrome, you should get your child screened as soon as possible. The overlays or tinted lenses are
the best accommodation for the problem, but there are things that you can do at home to help. The following list of accommodations
are similar to those suggested at the Irlen website at Irlen.com. A list of accommodations for teachers may be downloaded
from the site.
Colored Plastic Overlays- An Irlen plastic overlay can be used over reading material, especially with white, or high gloss
paper, under fluorescent lights. As mentioned earlier, a screening for Irlen Syndrome will identify the appropriate color
or colors. You may also wish to check into Irlen filters (tinted lenses).
Paper Color- Experiment with different paper colors. Often a student with Irlen Syndrome has difficulty with worksheets printed
on white paper. You may wish to investigate the color of ink which is most readable with colored paper as well. If you discover
a paper that works well for your child, tell the teacher so he/ she can print all your child’s worksheets on that color.
You may even want to buy a ream of paper for the teacher to use. It is a small expense and makes a nice gesture, especially
since school budgets are tight and many teachers don’t have access to colored paper. If you make such an arrangement,
be aware that the teacher may not be able to use the special paper all the time.
Lighting Conditions: Experiment and find the area in your home where the lighting conditions are most comfortable for your
child to read and work. Avoid fluorescent lighting if possible. Indirect natural lighting and incandescent lighting are the
best. Dim lighting is usually better than bright lights, though not for all. Some individuals with Irlen Syndrome actually
prefer bright working lights.
Breaks. Incorporate breaks into reading, writing, or other homework tasks.
Bookstands. A bookstand is often helpful to a student with Irlen Syndrome. Sometimes the position of the reading material
affects glare and distortions caused by bright lighting. Some people find if useful when copying from one place to another
as well
Markers- Some students like to use a ruler or book marker when reading. It may be used in a variety of ways. Students find
it helpful to place a marker under the line; others place it on top of the line; or after the word being read to block off
the rest of the sentence. By isolating the words, a student is able to cut down interference from the line above, the line
below or the words that come after. Sometimes the color of the marker makes a difference too. If possible the marker should
be the same color as the plastic overlay. Many teachers try to discourage the use of markers or fingers. If your child needs
this accommodation, tell the teacher your child has a tracking problem and needs the marker to keep his/her place while reading.
Brimmed Hat or a Visor. Many students benefit from wearing a visor or hat with a brim when reading. The brim shades the eyes
from bright lighting.
To me, a processing problem is the epitome of a learning disability. It makes learning through normal channels downright difficult
if not impossible. In some states, a processing problem automatically qualifies a youngster as Learning Disabled, and in others,
a processing problem must be identified for a student to be labeled L.D. Ironically, not all states recognize processing
problems as learning disabilities. In fact, in my home state of Wyoming, processing isn’t even mentioned in the rules
and regulations.
Whether or not your school provides services, it is important to recognize if your child has difficulty processing information.
Though there is no cure for processing problems, knowing about them goes a long way toward understanding your child’s
learning disability.
Click here for more information on the Irlen syndrome.
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