“I had to have it.” says PSC Student Philip. He is talking about a gray, transparent overlay he lays on top of his reading materials. Philip experiences Irlen Syndrome, which distorts letters on a page, making reading difficult. The overlay counteracts this experience, allowing an easier and more fulfilling reading experience.
About 4-5% of PSC students report symptoms that could be related to Irlen syndrome when they enroll. Students are told about it, and if they decide they would like to be screened, PSC staff can do so. Few actually decide to pursue a screening, although they may use the filters even without the screening.
There are many barriers to reading, including some familiar learning disabilities like dyslexia. Another, less well-known barrier, is Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, also referred to as “Irlen Syndrome” after its leading expert, Helen Irlen. According to information on the website Irlen.com, “Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual problem that can affect achievement, learning, and performance for struggling readers.”
When someone has this syndrome, their brain has trouble processing what they are seeing. Words on a page are distorted, blurry, or faded. The person may see flashes of light or text may seem to be floating. One student described it as “the page was breathing.” Symptoms of Irlen Syndrome include light sensitivity, difficulty reading, diminished concentration, low achievement, illegible handwriting, discomfort, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and poor depth perception.
The Irlen Method is a patented technique which uses transparent colored overlays or specially tinted filters that can be worn as glasses. Their website, www.irlen.com, has a questionnaire which may help someone determine if they want to pursue a diagnosis.
PSC has been offering overlays for many years. Use is simple and requires only an explanation of the syndrome to our tutors and availability of a colored overly for the student to place over his or her reading materials.
Click here [Lucy Lawless on Youtube] to watch a video of celebrity Lucy Lawless, who has Irlen Syndrome, using the glasses and describing her experience.