See Things in a Whole New Light
Do You or Your Child:
- Avoid reading? Avoid reading aloud?
- Dislike reading, prefer reading under dim light?
- The print seems to move or even disappear?
- Get stomachaches and/or feel dizzy?
- Become restless and lose your concentration?
- Does your child beg not to go to school anymore?
It may be Irlen Syndrome, a perceptual processing difference.
[Irlen is pronounced Er-lynn]
Listen to audio description. (1 minute)From Irlen Institute:
About 15% of the general population suffers with a visual/perceptual problem which can cause a wide array of symptoms. This hereditary condition may affect one family member with reading skills while another family member might be affected with depth perception issues. One family member might be extremely light-sensitive while another might experience severe headaches or migraines because of Scotopic Sensitivity (SSS) also known as Irlen Syndrome. It is often difficult to see the common thread of SSS in all these various symptoms. SSS is also variable in other ways: the symptoms may be mild with one family member and severe in another.
SSS is a perceptual problem affecting the visual system. It is not an eye problem. Thus it is often missed in eye exams.
Approximately 46% of those diagnosed with a learning disability have SSS as one of the issues with which they must deal. It is estimated that 1/3 of those labeled with dyslexia or ADHD have SSS as well. Correct it and the person can move quickly to address learning issues.
Helen Irlen, the educational psychologist who first identified SSS, has developed a short questionnaire which can identify those who are good candidates for testing to correct the affects of SSS.
© 1998-2006 by Perceptual Development Corp/Helen Irlen. All rights reserved. Irlen Institute.