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What
Is Irlen Syndrome?
Sandra Steele, M. Ed., LPC
Certified Scotopic Screener
Educational Consultant
Irlen Syndrome
is a perceptual dysfunction due to a sensory overload. It impacts reading
and writing based activities and can also create environmental perceptual
distortions, which impair depth perception and night vision. Light sensitivity,
including problems with sunlight, glare and fluorescent lighting are
characteristics.
What Are the Symptoms of Irlen Syndrome?
- Light sensitivity:
A sensitivity to glare, sunlight, headlights or streetlights. Fluorescent
lighting may increase distortion and strain creating fatigue and/or
headache.
- Difficulty with Background Accommodation:
Discomfort or problems concentrating or working with bright and/or
high contrast background, such as textbooks and magazines. Bright
sunlight, fluorescent lighting and glossy paper may increase eyestrain
and discomfort.
- Difficulty with Print Resolution:
Problems reading print, numbers or music because of distortion. Symptoms
can include print that shifts, shakes, blurs, doubles or disappears,
despite normal or corrected vision.
- Restricted Span of Recognition:
Inability to read groups of letters, numbers or words at the same
time. Reading speed is reduced; tracking is difficult.
- Sustained Attention:
Problems concentrating while reading or doing academic work. May have
difficulty staying on task, becoming restless, fidgety or fatigued,
requiring frequent breaks. May appear to have symptoms of attention
deficit.
- Impaired Depth Perception:
Inability or difficulty judging distance and spatial relationships
affecting areas such as driving, sports, handling machinery, using
escalators, or stairs. May seem fearful of heights.
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