Many children with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia and autistic spectrum disorders have obvious difficulties with reading and writing that impair their performance in the classroom. These disabilities are often, and correctly, attributed to the processing problems that have been identified as part of their condition. However there are many cases when a child who has been identified as, say, dyslexic, experiences reading problems that are not in fact a consequence of those “dyslexic” difficulties that are usually identified with reference to a phonological processing deficit, but which result from an entirely separate (although often co-morbid) condition which, because it exists alongside the dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD/HD or autism, can either be masked by it and therefore not addressed as a separate issue, or confused with it with the result that other aspects of the disability may be neglected. This condition is a visual-perceptual disorder variously called Meares-Irlen Syndrome (or just Irlen Syndrome), Scotopic Sensitivity, or simply Visual Stress. In many cases, unlike dyslexia or autism, it can be remedied by a very simple and inexpensive intervention: reading through a coloured overlay that changes the colour of the page.
“It was the most important moment of my life. For the first time in my life I could see text clear as glass. I was astounded…. All I could think to say was 'How did they do that?'”
The above quotation (from “Reading Through Colour”, by
Professor Arnold Wilkins, Wiley 2003) of the transformation of one teenage boy's
experience through the simple procedure of changing the background colour of the
text he was attempting to read is in itself startling; but perhaps more
significant still is the fact that this is not an exceptionally unusual
experience. According to Wilkins, up to 20% of the population of the
One sufferer remembers how, as a child, she used to try and
physically pin down the words with her hand as they kept appearing to jump off
the page. What is consistent across the spectrum of people, especially children,
who experience undiagnosed Visual Stress or Irlen Syndrome is that THEY ASSUME
THAT THIS IS THE NORMAL READING EXPERIENCE. “
A Possible Explanation
There is as yet no proven scientific explanation for Visual Stress or Irlen Syndrome, although many experts agree that the problem is visual-perceptual in nature, most probably originating in the visual cortex of the brain, arising from a deficiency in one of the visual pathways. There are two pathways: magnocellular (fast) and parvocellular (slow). One of the functions of the fast pathway is to inhibit the slow pathway when the eyes are moved, so that the image of what was previously looked at does not persist. Some scientists believe that in cases of visual stress, the fast pathway may be disabled to varying degrees, thus allowing an after-image to remain and interfere with perception, blurring letters, causing them to “move” etc. Bright, and especially fluorescent lights, and glossy white paper, exacerbate the problem. It would seem that filtering out some of the reflected white light by reading through a tinted transparent overlay has the effect of slowing down the nerve cells of the slow pathway and removing the disturbing after-images from the text .
Unlike Dyslexia, which is a distinct neurobiological difference and for which there is no “quick fix”, the effects of Visual Stress (Irlen Syndrome) can often be easily and inexpensively remedied by the use of coloured overlays or lenses. However, although colour can often be the key, not any colour will do. For each individual there is a specific hue (tint) and saturation (depth of colour) that will “work” best, so it is important that a sufficiently wide selection of colours is provided so that everybody's needs are met. In some cases individuals requiring a deeper saturation “double up” two overlays of the same colour to achieve the desired effect. Recent research by Professor Wilkins showed that an insufficient choice of colours reduces the effectiveness of the intervention as measured by increased reading speed in a significant number of cases. In response to this research, the number of tints in the Crossbow range was increased from five to ten. The correct colour is arrived at by a simple process of elimination, whereby each colour is compared in turn with a white page. If it is not apparent that a particular colour makes the text clearer all the combined hues should be tried, as well as the deeper saturation arrived at by doubling up two overlays of the same colour.
Although research and classroom experience has proved conclusively that the use of a coloured overlay of the correct colour can do much to increase the reading speed, comprehension and comfort of many children, a significant problem still remains: a sheet of coloured acetate (or similar material) covering the page is a fairly obvious and intrusive intervention that make it clear to the rest of the class that the child in question is experiencing difficulties. The older the student, the less welcome this is going to be.
With this in mind, Crossbow
Education have also developed and patented a more user-friendly
application of the coloured overlay principal called the Eye Level Reading
Ruler. The Eye Level Reading Ruler is a 2.5” deep plastic strip with tinted
transparent edges and an opaque central area that allows the reader to read
through the colour of their choice while tracking the line with the edge of the
central opaque strip. (see photo). Because the Reading Ruler can slip into a
pocket or pencil case, or even remain inside the book as a bookmark, it does not
carry the “Special Needs” stigma of a full size coloured overlay. In many
schools teachers keep a selection of reading rulers on their desk or in a common
resource area, and children - not always those with reading difficulties,
either- just help themselves to
“their” colour at will. About 40% of schools in
In some cases, the use of tinted lenses may be preferable to intervention with coloured overlays. For example, overlays may reduce or eliminate the effects of glare on a printed page in a classroom, but the writing on the whiteboard at the front or the posters on the wall may still be causing significant problems. In some cases it may be appropriate for coloured lenses to be prescribed, although as children get older they often become increasingly self-conscious about their lenses and may “forget” to wear them.
It is often the case that one person will benefit from overlays of one colour, and lenses of another colour. If lenses are to be worn, it is important that a separate professional assessment is carried out. There are essentially two approaches to testing for coloured lenses. One is carried out by a specialist optometrist using the “Intuitive colorimeter”, a piece of equipment designed by Professor Arnold Wilkins in conjunction with the Medical Research Council and marketed by Cerium Visual Technologies, which will identify precisely the chromaticity of the illumination of a piece of text most effective in increasing reading speed, giving a measurement that is then used in prescribing tinted lenses. A list of recommended optometrists who test for coloured lenses with the Intuitive Colorimeter is included in the appendix
A different approach is used by the Irlen Institute,
working through a selection of lenses combining different coloured layers to
arrive at an optimum tint. The Irlen system was developed by Helen Irlen under a
Irlen Syndrome is a reality for about 20% of the population. It can cause headaches, migraines, reading discomfort and distortion of text that can vary from mild to so severe that reading is seriously impaired or even prevented.
Irlen Syndrome needs to be objectively observed. Most sufferers are not aware that their experience of reading differs from that of other people. Fortunately, behaviour associated with visual stress can be quite easy to spot.
While coloured lenses, prescribed following professional assessment using the Wilkins (colorimeter) or Irlen methods, can be more suitable for some people, it remains true that a significant proportion of the population would benefit from the use of a correctly selected coloured overlay.