Reading rate shouldn’t be the end-all-be-all when it comes to determining improvement in reading performance, especially for children with Irlen Syndrome, and here’s why…
Good Reading Is More Than Speed
Many people believe that faster reading means better reading, and many experts will use a measure of reading rate (or speed) to evaluate reading performance. At it’s core, this type of evaluation makes a lot of sense – better readers read faster, and poorer readers read slower. However, reading isn’t just about speed, and that’s why most comprehensive reading assessments take into account comprehension, fluency, and accuracy in addition to reading rate.
Comprehension: How well you understand what you read
Fluency: The ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression, phrasing, and intonation
Accuracy: Reading the words in a selection correctly
People With Irlen Syndrome May Not Show An Immediate Improvement in Reading Rate
Many people have tried to use reading rate as a measure to assess whether Irlen Spectral Filters and Overlays successfully enhance reading performance in individuals with Irlen Syndrome, and sometimes researchers are very disappointed to find that not only is there not an improvement in reading rate, but some readers actually slow down when using their preferred Irlen Colored Overlay. There are several factors that can determine whether reading speed will increase immediately with the use of color:
Age of child: Young children who lack foundational reading skills will not be able to read faster just because they can now see the words clearly, especially if they do not have a fully developed sight word vocabulary or phonemic awareness.
Comprehension: Sometimes, when people can finally see what they are reading, they actually will slow down to enjoy and ingest the words on the page, where previously, they were trying to race through the page as fast as possible before the onset of physical symptoms. It is not unusual to see a decrease in reading speed associated with an increase in comprehension scores for individuals with Irlen Syndrome when they use their Irlen Spectral Filters.
Reading takes practice: Reading is a skill that requires an individual to acquire a core set of skills through reading instruction and practice. Irlen Spectral Filters and Colored Overlays are not a replacement for either reading instruction or practice. They simply remove the barrier preventing Irlen sufferers from acquiring the necessary skills to excel at reading. It can require additional reading instruction, practice, and remediation to become fast and fluent reader.
Reading aloud is a performance skill: Tests of reading rate require the reader to read aloud; however, when someone has spent years with reading difficulties, learning to read aloud well takes practice, even if the person can read fine silently. Improvements in reading may not be accurately captured by requiring the individual to read aloud.
Other Factors Can Contribute to Improvements in Reading Performance and Skill
There are also several things related to reading that many people fail to consider when determining the extent to which Irlen Spectral Filters and Colored Overlays impact reading, such as comfort and duration. Increased comfort when reading not only has a whole host of physical benefits (e.g., no more eye strain, headaches, or fatigue), but it also means that people are able to read for longer periods of time, and that they are able to read a complete selection or assignment without having to take a break. Eliminating the need for breaks during reading makes reading more efficient – there is no need to reread portions from the previous sitting to pick up where one left off. And, an overall extension in reading time (duration), has been shown to have long-term positive effects on students’ achievement (Allington, 2001).
So, don’t be discouraged just because your little reader didn’t magically become a speed reader when putting on his Irlen Spectral Filters or using her Irlen Colored Overlay for the first time. The benefits of using color for individuals with Irlen Syndrome extend well beyond being able to read fast – but watch out, for some of you, that might just happen anyway.
References
Allington, R. L. (2001). What really matters for struggling readers: Designing research-based programs. New York: Longman.
Irlen Welcomes Cornell University’s Adam Anderson, PhD
to the Irlen International Professional Advisory Board
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Photo credit: Cornell University
The newest addition to Irlen’s International Professional Advisory Board is Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Adam Anderson, PhD from Cornell University. Professor Anderson is the Director of the Affect and Cognition Lab, Cornell’s premier Functional MRI facility on campus, where his research interests are rooted in human emotions, cognition, affective, social, and cognitive neuroscience.
Prof. Anderson will lend his neuroscience expertise as Irlen moves forward in its quest to better understand and document how Irlen Syndrome and Irlen Spectral Filters impact brain function.
Prof. Anderson has served on the editorial boards of Psychological Science, the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Emotion, Cognitive Affective and Behavioral Neuroscience, and is on the founding editorial board of SCAN, Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, a journal dedicated to the new, rapidly growing field of social cognitive neuroscience. He presently serves as Associate editor for the journal Emotion.
In 2009, Prof. Anderson was awarded with the APA Early Career Award for Distinguished Scientific Contributions in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. In 2010, he received the Young Investigator Award by the Cognitive Neuroscience Society.
Professor Anderson received his B.A. in cognitive science from Vassar College, a PhD in cognitive psychology from Yale University, and post-doctoral training in cognitive and affective neuroscience at Stanford University. Before coming to Cornell University to continue his groundbreaking work in the area of human neuroscience, Professor Anderson was at the University of Toronto for 10 years.
Attention deficit disorders are running rampant among today’s youth (at least according to the media). Children who can’t seem to sit still, have trouble focusing and concentrating, and who are easily distracted are being labeled and given medication left and right. Yet, for as many as 50% the prescribed ADHD medication doesn’t work, symptoms don’t get better, and kids continue to struggle1. There isn’t any definitive test for diagnosing ADHD, and mental health practitioners often must rely on a combination of observed and reported behavior as well as family history, and connections with other conditions. ADHD can look different in different kids, in boys and girls, and even in the same kid in different kinds of environments. And, to add to the complication, ADHD isn’t a deficit, it is often coupled with desirable characteristics of highly successful people, such as intuition, creativity, thinking outside-the-box, and the ability to hyperfocus when interested in the topic. But, what looks like ADHD may not always be ADHD. Parents should be aware of other conditions that can cause similar symptoms. One such condition is Irlen Syndrome.
At Irlen, we see lots of individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD (as kids or adults), who struggle with attention, concentration, focus, and memory, but whose attention issues are actually caused by lighting. These individuals may look like they have ADHD, but in reality they don’t. The medications don’t seem to help, they tend to have most of their attention issues when under fluorescent lighting (when at school or at work), and can often perform without difficulty in other environments. Irlen Syndrome can result in ADHD-like symptoms in some individuals, but unlike individuals with true ADHD, the environment and lighting conditions are what create over-activity in the brain that leads to difficulties in focus and concentration and even physical symptoms like feeling jittery or anxious. In fact, researchers in Australia determined that symptomology didn’t differ significantly between individuals with Irlen Syndrome who had not been diagnosed with ADHD and those who had been diagnosed with ADHD by a qualified health professional, suggesting that there is a large amount of overlap in symptoms between ADHD and Irlen Syndrome2. Other sources suggest as many as 50% of children with ADHD also have a reading disorder3, and we suspect that at least some of that 50% may actually suffer from Irlen Syndrome instead of ADHD. Of course, it’s also possible that a child has both Irlen Syndrome and ADHD, as research shows that in nearly 70% of kids with ADHD there are also other co-existing conditions4. In either case, it can make a lot of sense to screen for and address Irlen Syndrome first, then re-asses for ADHD to determine if attention issues are still present.
At the Irlen International Conference in 2015, researchers from Israel shared their work on distinguishing Irlen Syndrome from ADHD. Preliminary results from their ongoing study suggest that it may be possible to determine whether someone’s attention issues are caused by ADHD or Irlen Syndrome simply by looking at their scores on standardized ADHD diagnostic tools such as the T.O.V.A. or CPT-d test (MOXO). In their study, individuals diagnosed with both ADHD and Irlen Syndrome had different profiles on the test than individuals who were only diagnosed with ADHD (and did not have Irlen Syndrome). Furthermore, when the individuals with Irlen Syndrome put on their Irlen Spectral Filters, their results profile no longer looked like someone with ADHD5.
References
Riddle, M. A., Yershova, K., Lazzaretto, D., Paykina, N., Yenokyan, G., Greenhill, L., … Posner, K. (2013). The Preschool Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Study (PATS) 6-Year Follow-up. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(3), 264–278.e2. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2012.12.007
Loew, S. J., & Watson, K. (2013). The prevalence of symptoms of scotopic sensitivity/Meares-Irlen syndrome in subjects diagnosed with ADHD: Does misdiagnosis play a significant role?. Hrvatska revija za rehabilitacijska istraživanja, 49(Supplement), 64-72.
Yoshimasu, K., Barbaresi, W. J., Colligan, R. C., Killian, J. M., Voigt, R. G., Weaver, A. L., & Katusic, S. K. (2010). Gender, ADHD, and Reading Disability in a Population-Based Birth Cohort. Pediatrics, 126(4), e788–e795. http://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-1187
Patel, N., Patel, H., & Patel, M. (2012). ADHD and comorbid conditions. INTECH Open Access Publisher.
Elad, S. (2015). Spectral filters or medication? Can spectral filters replace Ritalin? Presentation at the 12th Irlen International Conference, July 8-12, 2015, Houston, TX, USA.
We all love technology. Cell phones, computers, tablets, video games, streaming media, Fitbits, Apple watches, Google Glass, smartboards, Siri – the list could go on and on. Unless you’re living under a rock in the middle of nowhere (can you even find “nowhere” these days?), you’re probably interacting with technology on a regular basis, either by choice or necessity… and you might even like it. After all, why would you want to drive to the library, scour through a card catalog, search endlessly for the right book, and take handwritten notes for your research paper, when you could just go into the other room, jump on the Internet, type in a few words, have thousands of resources at your fingertips, and copy and paste the information you want to save for later? Technology saves us time, gives us access to things, experiences, and opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have, and helps us solve world problems. Technology makes us smarter (or at least it can seem that way – ask Siri!), entertains us (thank you Netflix), and keeps us connected in our business and our personal lives (call me anytime, email me, Skype me, ping me, friend me, add me, follow me… yikes! Maybe just leave me alone sometimes). Technology is great, right? Technology makes us more efficient, right? Technology makes our lives easier…right?
Mostly, yes. But, the constant barrage of technology is taking its toll on even the heartiest of human beings. In the United States, people spend an average 7.4 hours every day looking at screens – TV, computer, smartphone, tablet. All that screen time is leaving its mark on our health and well-being. From newly coined medical conditions (i.e., computer vision syndrome) to insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome, obesity, hearing loss, and anxiety – being surrounded by technology may not be as great as it’s cracked up to be. And that’s just for the average Joe. What if you happen to be one of the 840 million people in this world who suffers from Irlen Syndrome, a condition where bright and fluorescent lighting, high contrast, glare, and reading off screens and pages with bright white backgrounds creates a host of symptoms ranging from physical discomfort like headaches, eyestrain, and fatigue to reading difficulties and other academic challenges. For people with Irlen Syndrome, today’s high tech world can pose even bigger challenges to both health and productivity. Backlit LED screens used for computers, tablets, phones and TVs can be unbearable to look at, create unnecessary strain and fatigue, and cause headaches, migraines, and nausea. And screens are EVERYWHERE! Our kids spend hours staring at screens at school and at home. The old, green chalkboard has been replaced by interactive whiteboards (also known as smartboards). Textbooks are being replaced by tablets. Assignments are being completed on the computer. Couple all that with the push towards energy-efficient lighting that has fluorescent and LED lighting not just surrounding us in schools and at work, but also in our homes in many cases. It becomes a toxic environment for someone with Irlen Syndrome, and there’s nowhere to escape.
Unfortunately, all that screen time doesn’t just make us physically sick or uncomfortable, it can also affect our productivity. Doing work on a computer or tablet can actually decrease productivity for people with Irlen Syndrome because it makes it more difficult to see, attend to, and comprehend the information being presented. It can impact how long we’re able to focus and attend, and how often we need to stop, look away from the screen, and take a break. This can be pretty inefficient. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to make your screen time less painful and more productive.
Colored Overlays and Clings(TM): Many people find relief through the use of colored overlays placed directly over the screen to reduce contrast and glare and improve print clarity and stability. Get Overlays and Clings(TM) here.
Colored Overlay App for Android Phones and Tablets: This app allows you to select from 10 Irlen® Overlay colors, or create your own custom color, and then apply your color to the screen of your device. Your chosen color will overlay your screen no matter what other application you are using, reducing eyestrain and discomfort whenever you are using your device. Get the App.
Turn Off Fluorescent Lights: Natural, dim and incandescent lighting can all cause less discomfort than working under fluorescent lights for individuals with Irlen Syndrome.
Change Background Color on Smartboards: Using an alternative background colors like grey or beige can make it easier for students to read off of a whiteboard or smartboard at the front of the class.
Dim It Down: If all else fails, try dimming down your screen.
If you get headaches, eye-strain, fatigue, or feel ill after a day on the computer, you’re not alone. Below are some signs that Irlen Syndrome might be the culprit making it extra-uncomfortable for you to use technology!
Bothered by the brightness of the screen or white background
Bothered by glare off the screen
Difficulty reading or comprhending what you read
Need to take breaks often
Blink or squint
Prefer dim lighting
To find out more about Irlen Syndrome and available solutions, visit: www.irlen.com
The third annual Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week was a huge success, drawing participation from around the world in variety of in-person and digital awareness events. Below are brief summaries from just some of the awareness events and activities that took place. Thank you to everyone who participated in helping educate others about Irlen Syndrome during ISAW. Everyone’s efforts generated a huge overall impact!
Facebook Profile Pictures Got Brighter with the ISAW Filter
Nearly 500 people changed their Facebook profile pictures to show their support and draw attention to Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Thousands of People Turned Out the Lights!
This year’s Turn Out the Lights event was a huge success with participation from thousands of locations in 103 different countries! Fantastic! Check out the final results here: https://irlen.com/world-map-results/.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Cornell University Releases Research Results on Color and the Brain
Cornell University neuroscientists get closer to understanding the mechanisms behind why color helps Irlen Syndrome. Read about their latest research results here:http://www.irlensyndrome.org/the-isf-blog/
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The Irlen Syndrome Infographic is Viewed by Over 42,000 people
The Irlen Syndrome Infographic made its way into the Facebook timelines of over 42,000 people around the Internet during awareness week, encouraging thousands of people to venture to www.irlensyndrome.org to learn more.
Here’s a Sampling of More Irlen Awareness from Around the World…
TEXAS, USA: Laura Woefel and the Texas Irlen Association
The Texas Irlen Association offered free mini screenings to the Austin community at Milwood Public Library. A flyer promoting the event was emailed to over 2,500 parents in 5 schools (elementary to high school) that were within 8 miles of this library’s location. Two TIA members, Laura Woelfel, Irlen Diagnostician, and Angela Eaton, Irlen Screener, were very busy. In four hours, the two ladies screened over 30 children (ages 6 to 18) and 5 adults. Parents were armed with Irlen information to take back to their schools and the children were given an overlay. www.TexasIrlenAssociation.org
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ALBERTA, CANADA: Nola Stigings and Team
30 new schools participated in the ‘Turn Out The Lights’ campaign
15 elementary and high school Irlen kids did presentations at their schools
Irlen screeners did presentations to parent groups across the province
Three mayoral proclamations were obtained for the cities of Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat
Irlen screener training in Calgary
ONTARIO, CANADA: Adel Francis, Stacey Cantor and Team
The province of Ontario was all a-buzz during Awareness Week, with presentations and gatherings of Irlen clients and supporters happening in various cities and towns, including one with the Eastern Star organization in the Barrie community, an organization that has provided over $2500 to assist students with the cost of their Irlen Filters. Amazing!!! They also got a great interview with Monique Hyatt in the Lakeshore News, a community newspaper, in Windsor, Ontario. Below are a few pictures from those events.
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Presentation in Huntsville
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Huntsville presentation team
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With members of the Eastern Star organization
DAUPHIN, MANITOBA, CANADA: Val Rizok
Val Rizok kept busy during ISAW by presenting to the local community college adult learning group, parent councils at two schools, and staff meetings for two different groups. One of Val’s screeners also presented at a private school in the area.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: Tracy Bowman and Team
Our Bostonians lobbied the Massachusetts government during Irlen Awareness Week. Distributing 200 Toolkits to Congress members, Tracy Bowman and her team worked to gain traction with the Massachusetts Bill for Irlen testing in schools.
GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO: Jeannie Dunn and Team
Folks in Grand Junction were extremely busy during Awareness Week, hosting a 5K walk on October 15, at the Colorado Mesa University campus, an Irlen Syndrome Book Group meeting at Barnes & Noble, October 17, free mini-screenings and informational session at West Books on October 19, informational session at the Mesa County Public Library Downtown Branch on October 19, exhibit at the Senior Health Fair at Two Rivers Convention Center on October 21, and free mini-screenings and information booth at the Mesa Mall on October 22. To top it off, Mayor Phyllis Norris proclaimed it ISAW in the city of Grand Junction, and Irlen representatives got to speak to City Council!
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
CHANNEL ISLANDS, UNITED KINGDOM: Jean Felton
Irlen Diagnostician, Jean Felton, kicked off ISAW by presenting at the Jersey Skills show on the 14th and 15th of October, sharing Irlen with 4,000 attendees. About 40 Irlen-ites attended the annual Irlen Awareness Pizza Party on October 19, and then Jean and Irlen students made awareness presentations at Grouville School, St. George’s School, and Beaulieu School, addressing nearly 150 people. ISAW in Jersey was capped off with an appearance on BBC Radio Jersey with Charlie McArdle to discuss Irlen Syndrome! Have a listen, and share! The piece begins at 1:12:10 (one hour, twelve minutes, and ten seconds into the segment):http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0495mf8#play
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: Shoshana Shamberg
Diagnostician, Shoshana Shamber, provided free Irlen Syndrome Awareness presentations, professional development for CEUs, and free screening the entire month of October. Below is a list of the events that took place in Baltimore and the surrounding DC and Virginia areas:
Baltimore City and vicinity
Oct 7 – Visionary Art Museum. Talk in courtyard with free giveaways!
Oct 9 – Ruscombe Community Health Center
Oct 16 – Mount Washington Festival
Oct 16 – TBA WOAMTEC Woman’s Business Networking Group
Oct 20 – Meyerberg Senior Center
Baltimore County
Oct 6 – Hunt Valley Business Forum HVBF
Oct 6 – Owings Mills Business Networking Group
Oct 6 – Torah Homeschool of Baltimore
Oct 6 – Pikesville Plaza
Maryland, DC, North Virginia Areas
Amen Clinic events with Lunch and Learn, Screenings, and Professional Development Events
Oct 26 – Irlen PreAssessment Training and consumer awareness
Archdiocese Catholic Day Schools of Fairfax County
WICHITA, KANSAS: Cathryn Hay, PhD
The City Council of Wichita, Kansas, issued a proclamation for Irlen Awareness Week for the second year in a row. It was well received and presented at the same time as United Way Day, so there were many more attendees at the meeting and possibly more people will watch it on TV.
CHICO, CALIFORNIA: Susan Hughes
Susan Hughes and her team of Irlen Ambassadors in Chico, California meet at least once a month, planning activities for awareness and fundraising. They have given 12 scholarships to local clients so far this year and 12 last year. They ran a Breakfast and Bargains yard sale for two days and raised $1,400.00, and Wildflower School had another Readathon in April, raising $1,100.00 for scholarships at their school. They also just ended a two-month fundraising drive with Annie B’s and the North Valley Community Foundation. For Irlen Awareness, her team ran a booth with mini-screenings and a raffle at the annual Fun Run for the local alternative high school ‘Inspire’, and had a Purple Pizza party at a local pizza parlor with a bake sale and free raffle tickets for prizes for anyone wearing purple or their Irlen Spectral Filters.
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Julie Yaxley
Diagnostician, Julie Yaxley hosted an awareness event at Krist Samaritan Center, Houston, TX. This event, targeting those interested in learning more about Irlen Syndrome as well as current Irlen Spectral Filter wearers, provided an opportunity for the community to come together, share their own stories, and find out more. Attendees also received $50 off any future Irlen services, and a free lens cleaner refill.
PUNE, INDIA: Tehnaz Ragi
In India, Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week 2016 was part of the ISAW INDIA Rainbow Project 2015, 2016 & Beyond, and went like this:
17 October: IrlenIndia Facebook Online Event – We will start off with an online event on Facebook, as that is where I get the most questions and requests for information.
20 October: Meeting with the Head of The Symbiosis Early Years Education Teacher Training College to discuss doing an initial presentation and, perhaps later, a module of sensory perception, vision, vps and learning.
22 October: “Do you see what I see?” An introductory presentation on sensory perception, vision, vps, and learning to the teaching staff and parents of Harmony Tree Preschool, which is open to the community.
23 October: A Story Night: “All About Light!” Diwali is the Festival of Light in India. We are hosting an evening of storytelling to drums, surrounded by Diwali Lamps and Rangoli making (ornate coloured mandalas)
24-29 October: Diwali Camp. Part of the ISAW India Rainbow Project 2016 and Beyond. Including daily activities involving Language Arts, Science, Play, etc., which will include an exploration of light and color.
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EGYPT: Rasha Anwar
As always, Rasha and her team were extremely busy during Awareness Week. Irlen is alive and well in Egypt!
October 13, presentation to all staff in one of the leading reputable American schools in Egypt.
October 15, “Irlen Unifies Us” gathering for clients in Irlen Egypt Center. This event allowed clients to connect and create a real Irlen commuinty in Egypt. Parents shared experience, and most importantly, kids get peer support from each other.
October 15, on the radio being interviewed on one of the oldest and most popular radio channels in Egypt, “Middle East Channel.” It was a live broadcast, and definitely an important awareness window.
October 17, presentation for students, faculty, parents, and some residents in the neighbourhood in Education College, 6 October University, a well recognized private university in Egypt.
October 19, screener Duaa Sobhy, presented in Tomouh Academy for special needs, Dokki, Giza branch.
October 20, presentation in the National Research Center, the prominent research governmental body in Egypt. Rasha also finally obtained their official approval on a pilot research study on Irlen Syndrome.
October 20, screener Duaa Sobhy presented in Early Intervention & Child Abilities Development Center in Alexandria.
October 21, screener Duaa Sobhy presented in Wogood Academy for special needs, Shebeen El Kom city, Menofya Governorate.
October 22, screener Duaa Sobhy presented in Tomouh Academy for special needs, Tanta city, Gharbya Governorate.
October 27, a big awareness event in Ismailia Governarate was organized in cooperation with a leading special needs NGO there.
In addition, Rasha got final approval to present in the oldest education college in the Arab region, in Ain Shams University- a leading governmental university.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA: Gloria Thomas
Screener, Christine Phillips, ran a stand at an Education Expo in Ballarat. Below is an article from the local newspaper in Ballarat about a local Irlen client:
EMPOWERMENT: Isla Matthews, who has dyslexia, is raising awareness. She will be part of a gathering at Ballarat Town Hall on Saturday night.
On Saturday night, Isla Matthews, 12, will stand outside Ballarat Town Hall with her family and friends as its clock face turns red. The Ballarat landmark will join buildings across Australia in lighting up to raise awareness for Dyslexia Empowerment Week. Isla said she was seven when she found out she had dyslexia, which is a specific learning difficulty (SLD) that affects a person’s skills in reading, spelling and writing. She has since made many adjustments in her life including using special glasses and different coloured pens and paper. “My teachers (at Mount Clear College) do cater for me at school,” she said. “If I have white paper, I can’t read it because all the words jumble up so I need yellow paper and the teachers have to use blue whiteboard markers not black or else I won’t be able to read the whiteboard.” Isla has taken part in a research project at Monash University in the hope of helping experts discover more about the condition. “(As part of the project) I had to look at the screen and notice things change and I had electrodes on my head that track my brain,” she said. “It’s just to work out more about dyslexia so in the future they can hopefully find other ways that will help.” The budding photographer noted many celebrities also have the condition and would not allow herself to be limited by the learning difficulty, but said awareness would help. Isla’s mother Kirsty Matthews has organised a gathering outside the Town Hall for when the clock face turns red. They will meet from 6.30pm on Saturday. She said it would be an opportunity to meet and support other people in the community who had dyslexia as well as raise awareness.
KUWAIT: Dr. Sameera Abdulwahab
In Kuwait they extended awareness days for Irlen syndrome until the end of October. On October 24, Dr. Sameera Abdulwahab and her team gave a lecture at Kuwait university/ collage of education for teachers’ stuff and students, and on October 26 they had live interview on Kuwait TV (good morning Kuwait at 7am)! Later that same night, the team gave another lecture at Kuwait teachers’ society.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Check out their interview on “Good Morning Kuwait”/ Kuwait TV, Channel 1 (the interview begins at minute 34): https://youtu.be/7R1UwNuNWZI.
JORDAN: Taline Najjar and Irlen Team at Ahliyyah School for Girls
Awareness on Irlen Syndrome was be held at a nearby school: the Bishop’s school, for grades 1 to 5 during their morning assembly, and more awareness presentations were be held for staff, parents and the rest of the classes.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMERITS: Mona Kazim
Presentation at UAE University
Oct 12 – Radio interview
A number of important departments, centers, and schools participated in the global “TURN OUT THE LIGHTS” event
Seminar about “The effect of light waves on the brain and how the Irlen method rectifies them” (Arabic)
Distributing the ISAW bracelets and leaflets about Irlen Syndrome (in both languages Arabic & English)
Corner about Irlen Syndrome (Arabic)
TV interview about the results of Irlen Method. Before the interview, I reviewed with them about what is lrlen Syndrome (Arabic).
A presentation on 28 October about Irlen Syndrome and reading & writing disabilities in Dubai Children City (in both languages Arabic & English).
Newspaper Interview about Irlen Syndrome
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GREECE: Evangelos Sp. Bochatziar and Team
Evangelos Sp. Bochatziar and the Irlen Greece team offered free mini-screenings and promoted the global Turn Out the Lights event across the country.
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Proclamations
Local governments once again recognized Irlen Syndrome and helped to raise awareness by officially declaring October 17-21, 2016 “Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week” in their city, province, or state. Thank you to all of the mayors, governors and other government officials who helped make that happen!
State of Mississippi: Governor Phil Bryant
For the second year in a row, it was officially proclaimed Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week in the entire state of Mississippi!!!
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Long Beach, California: Mayor Robert Garcia
Long Beach, California, the 36th largest city in the United States with a population of nearly half a million people, and the city where the Irlen Institute International Headquarters is located, has officially proclaimed the week of October 17 “Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week.” Thank you to Mayor Garcia for your support in helping to raise awareness for this important cause.
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Baltimore, Maryland: Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake
Irlen Diagnostician, Shoshana Shamberg, offers a huge thanks to her local Mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and the entire city of Baltimore for recognizing Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week in Baltimore, MD.
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Grand Junction, Colorado: Mayor Phyllis Norris
It’s official, October 17 – 22, 2016 has been declared Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week in Grand Junction, Colorado! Irlen Diagnostician, Jeannie Dunn, Ed.D., and her team spoke at the October City Council meeting to share with city officials about Irlen Syndrome and the activities taking place in Grand Junction during Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week.
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Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
The mayors in Alberta Canada cities were very busy proclaiming it Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week in the cities of Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat! Way to go Alberta for making it official!
WALES, UNITED KINGDOM: Jennifer Owen
Irlen Ambassador, Jennifer Owen, addressed the Welsh Labour Assembly with the sponsorship and support of assembly member, Dawn Bowden, to share her personal experience of Irlen syndrome with those present at the meeting. You can read more about this major accomplishment by clicking here. Jennifer continues to raise awareness year-round through her personal blog.
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Brazil, Screener Marcia Dias
Invited people to send her emails with questions about the Irlen syndrome; The first six received a 50-minute call to discuss the Irlen syndrome.
Irlen recommends annual filter checks to stay on top of any changes in the color property of your lenses and any changes in brain or body chemistry that might affect your optimal color. If you haven’t seen your Irlen diagnostician in a while, here are a few reasons why you might want to call and schedule an appointment asap:
Colors change over time: As with any other material, repeated exposure to light, air, and ultraviolet rays can change the color property in the lenses or fade color over time. Annual filter checks stay on top of any change in color that might have occurred as a result of this environmental exposure.
Your brain and body chemistry changes : Brain and body chemistry can change, and changes in brain and body chemistry can affect what color you need for maximum benefit. Hormone changes that accompany puberty, hormonal birth control, pregnancy, and menopause are all significant factors that can contribute to changing color needs.
Injury or illness: Head injury and serious illnesses such as Lyme’s Disease, viral infections, and auto-immune disorders have all been linked to changing color needs. If you’ve been sick, or in an accident, and your Irlen Spectral Filters don’t seem to be working as well as they used to, this might be why.
Medications and medical procedures: Certain medical procedures such as anesthesia, chemotherapy, and Lasik can all affect your color needs. In fact, increased light-sensitivity after Lasik is one of the most common side-effects of the procedure. Medications, or changes in medications or dosage, can also impact your color needs.
How do you know if your color isn’t quite right? Well, some signs, like the words are moving on the page again, are obvious, but other signs can be more subtle, like if your child doesn’t seem to want to wear her lenses. If it hasn’t been a year yet, and you’re experiencing any of the following signs, don’t wait, call your Irlen Diagnostician and schedule a filter check – there’s no need to suffer!
5 Signs You Need A Filter Check
Wearing your Irlen Spectral Filters causes pain or discomfort, such as eye-strain or headaches
Symptoms have returned, such as print distortions or physical symptoms
You’re more tired or fatigued than usual
You find yourself not wanting to put on your Spectral Filters, but aren’t sure why
In children, you may notice behavior changes, such as the return of tantrums, hyperactivity, or resistance to read or do homework
Many times clients aren’t even aware how much symptoms have come back or how much harder they’re working until they come in for a filter check and get their new color. The changes can happen slowly over time, so they can be difficult to notice. This is why regular filter checks are so important.
Apple now offers a color filter for iPhones and iPads
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We’ve got good news for all you Apple users out there: iOS 10 for mobile devices now includes a Color Screen Filter you can customize to make your device Irlen-friendly! We know you have been begging for a digital colored overlay for your iPhones and iPads, and now you can have one – simply by adjusting the built-in accessibility settings on your device.
WHY WE LOVE THIS TECHNOLOGY:
If you struggle with glare, discomfort, or blurry words when you use your iPhones and iPads, this might be just what you’ve been waiting for. Like the Irlen Colored Overlay App for Android devices, once you set your Apple’s Color Screen Filter, it covers your entire screen all the time, no matter what App you’re using. This allows you to get maximum benefit from the feature the entire time you use your device. You won’t find any preset Irlen Overlay colors here (yet!), but you can use the feature’s two simple sliders to adjust the color and intensity and create a filter that works for you. As you already know, having the right color filter increases your comfort, fluency and accuracy when reading; this new feature means you may be able to read and work on your device for longer periods of time without strain or fatigue.
How To Turn On the Color Screen Filter And Find Your Color
Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Display Accommodations and select Color Filters.
When you turn on Color Filters, you’ll want to ignore the four preset color schemes they offer and instead select the last option, “Color Tint,” to create your own color filter. “Color Tint” will then give you two sliders (hue and intensity) to manipulate until you reach the filter that works best for you.
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Watch our step-by-step video for turning on and setting up your color screen filter:
PROS:
It’s customizable. Apple had Irlen sufferers in mind when they developed their Color Screen Filter. The inclusion of the Color Tint option, which allows you to customize your own color filter, is perfect for people with Irlen Syndrome. We know everyone’s brains are different, and as such, everyone’s optimal color is unique. The sliders in Apple’s Color Screen Filter allow you slide through the color spectrum until you find a color that feels good, AND it lets you adjust the density of that color, making it one of the most custom digital overlays available.
It’s easy to use. Go into your settings, adjust the sliders, and you’re done! No downloads, no incompatibility issues, no clunky applications. The hardest thing about using this feature is finding it in your settings.
It’s always on. Because the color filter is built right into your device’s settings, once you turn it on and set your color, it will stay on until you go back into your settings and turn it off again. You can change applications, it’s still on. You can turn off your device and reboot, it’s still on. We’re not sure why you’d ever want to turn it off once you find a color that works for you, but if you do, Apple’s even given you a shortcut for that. Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and select Color Filters (just a note, the Accessibility Shortcut option is all the way at the bottom of the menu, so scroll down!). Once you have Color Filters set up, you can quickly turn them on or off, by triple-clicking the Home button on your device. Alternatively, you can go back into your accessibility settings and turn it on and off from there.
It remembers your color. As you might expect, once you set your color filter, your device will remember your color even if you turn off the color filter and turn it back on later. You won’t have to set up your color again.
Print stays clear and black. The clarity and color of the text on your screen isn’t affected by the color filter, no matter what intensity you select. Words on the screen will remain crisp and easy to see, even if you have a dark color filter.
CONS:
There are no preset Irlen Overlay colors. While it may be a bit unfair for us to wish there was an easy way to identify the 10 Irlen Overlay colors, we do! For those of you who already know your Irlen color, it might take you a few minutes to find a color that matches (or comes close). And, unfortunately, those of you who use a gray overlay won’t find that option in this color screen filter (although you should be able to get a similar effect by dimming the screen).
You can’t combine colors. We know some of you need to combine multiple Irlen Overlay colors to achieve your optimal color, and this color screen filter won’t let you do that. As a result, some of you may not be able to find the perfect overlay color, but we still think you’ll find something that makes it easier and more comfortable to use your device.
Colors on the screen may change. This isn’t necessarily something we’d change, it’s more like something we want you to be aware of: as you increase the intensity of a color, you may notice that some colors on the screen change. For example, a dark magenta filter makes green turn black. A dark red filter makes red images disappear. A dark turquoise filter makes red turn black. Just know that’s going to happen.
Tips on Selecting Your Apple Color Screen Filter:
The images are NOT clickable; you must use the sliders to select a color filter. You’ll see an image of rainbow colored pencils (and can scroll through 2 other images intended to give you an idea of how to select your color) that you’ll want to click on, but theseimages are just there for reference, to show you how colors might change when you apply your color filter to your device. To actually adjust the color of the filter, you will need to use the sliders and set the hue/intensity yourself.
It helps to choose your filter against the maximum intensity. When the intensity setting was lower, it was more difficult to distinguish between colors, and we weren’t sure what color we were looking at. So, move the intensity slider all the way to the right before selecting a hue, then adjust to find the perfect filter for you. Stronger intensity as a starting point made it easier for us to identify and choose a color option.
Focus on comfort before clarity. When setting up your color filter, you should pick the color that is most comfortable – one that is soothing, calming, and relaxing. Some colors may make you feel invigorated or energized, or may make the text look extra crisp or sharp, but trust us, that’s not your goal. People with Irlen Syndrome need a color that calms their brain, and your optimal color screen filter will feel calm and soothing.
Our Final Thoughts
This is a needed, exciting feature for our daily tech devices.
We think Apple’s new Color Screen Filter is a great feature of new iPhones and iPads. For Irlen Syndrome sufferers who are devoted to their Apple products, it will make you love your devices even more! After thoroughly testing it, we think Apple’s Color Screen Filter may significantly improve your ability to use these devices more comfortably, more effectively, and for longer periods of time without strain and fatigue.
This is a great additional resource for Irlen sufferers.
Without a doubt, the optimal solution for Irlen Syndrome continues to be Irlen Spectral Filters, because those filters are individualized, tuned specifically for your brain, and protect your brain all the time (not just when you read a device screen). As a result, Irlen Spectral Filters can result in dramatic changes in behavior, autonomic nervous system function, sleep patterns, depth perception, sports performance, driving, physical symptoms, and emotional stability that really can’t be achieved any other way. However, sometimes Irlen Spectral Filters just aren’t an option, and that is when this Apple Color Screen Filter is a compelling option. So, at the moment, Apple’s Color Screen Filter is not a substitute for your Irlen Spectral Filters, but can be a shortcut to reducing some of the difficulty Irlen audiences have with screens. The color filter Apple has created is likely to increase how much you enjoy your device and how much you can use it. For all of these reasons, we love that Apple has made their device more Irlen-friendly! At a time when over 15% of the general population is suffering from Irlen Syndrome, this feature is going to make a lot of people very happy!
If you’re using the Apple Colored Filter, we’d love to hear about your experience with it!
For the first time, Irlen technology is now available to individuals in Russia. This past month, Helen Irlen was invited to Russia by the International Autism Institute to train professionals at this facility in the Irlen Method. The International Autism Institute is part of Krasnoyarsky State Pedagogical University in Siberia, and the 16 newly trained Irlen Diagnosticians will service the autistic population in Russia.
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On her first day in the country, Mrs. Irlen visited classrooms at a local school where she got to talk with the older students in their English classes. The students were excited to ask questions and learn more about the United States, and Helen was excited to ask the students questions about themselves and their studies. The younger children spent their recess breaks looking for Helen in order to sing songs to her.
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On her second day, Helen was honored to have tea with the President of the University. Krasnoyarsky State Pedagogical University is considered one of the most progressive and dynamic universities in the region. The President welcomed Helen and presented her with a gold key, a symbolic key to the university. This was followed by a key-note speech at the International Autism Institute conference where 550 people from various cities of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Tuva, Kemerovo region, Moscow took part. Participants included parents, teachers, psychologists, speech therapists, physicians, occupational and physical therapy specialists and other interested specialists in getting more detailed information on how the modulation of sensory processes affects the perception and behavior of people with autism.
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The rest of Helen’s time in Siberia was spent training 16 professionals as Irlen Diagnosticians. These new Irlen Diagnosticians are leading experts in the field of ophthalmology, psychology, speech therapy, defectology. This interdepartmental team will work at the International Institute of Autism and the Clinic of Modern Correction and Development Technologies of KSPU.
During the training everyone got a chance to see the immediate changes that occurred in the brain of one student with Irlen Syndrome, using a whole head visual evoke potential. As part of the training, a study of the influence of Irlen lenses on brain activity under the control of neuroenergic mapping was carried out at the Clinic of Modern Correction Technologies. Visual evidence of changes in brain function before and after (10 minutes) using Irlen Spectral Filters was presented and showed the difference in electrical brain signals in the visual cortex of the brain when wearing and not wearing Irlen Spectral Filters. Each image below shows the subject’s brain (on the left) as compared to a normal control (the green brain on the right). With Irlen Spectral Filters, the subject’s brain showed more normal function than it did without Irlen Spectral Filters.
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Helen really enjoyed her time in Siberia, as she found the people extremely warm, enthusiastic, and very giving. She left with a suitcase filled with gifts from the people of Siberia. Her gift to them was the Irlen Method.
ISAW 2017 Mobilizes a Worldwide Surge in Awareness
The 4th annual Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week was nothing short of a massive success, generating a buzz about the condition and its available solution all over the world. This group effort benefited from participation by national and local media, like the BBC, but was mostly fueled by the thousands of individuals each doing their part to help spread the word. Below are just a sampling of some of the awareness week efforts that took place during the week of October 16-20, 2017. If you have an ISAW event you’d like to share with us, we’d love to hear about it. Let us know what you did for ISAW by posting in the Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week Facebook Group, or emailing us at irleninstitute@irlen.com.
The Irlen Institute and the Irlen Syndrome Foundation Disseminate New Information
THE NEW IRLEN SYNDROME VS. DYSLEXIA INFOGRAPHIC WAS RELEASED ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 16
A huge thank you to our friends at the Irlen Syndrome Foundation for successfully explaining the difference between Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome! Find out which condition is the cause of your reading struggles. Click on the image below to see the full-size graphic (this is best viewed on a computer, not a cell phone).
THOUSANDS TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17
As with last year’s Turn Out the Lights event, we had record-breaking participation from around the world. This year, the lights went out in 81 countries! Well done everyone!
CORNELL NEUROSCIENTISTS EXPLAIN HOW COLOR CHANGES THE WAY YOUR BRAIN WORKS
In their live talk, Drs. Adam Anderson and Eve De Rosa, Directors of the Cognition and Affect Lab and fMRI facility at Cornell University, discuss their breakthrough research on color and the brain. They explain why the Irlen solution requires individualized color and give viewers a peek at the brain scans of Irlen clients that went into their fMRI scanner this summer!
HELEN IRLEN DISCUSSES TOXIC BRAIN ENVIRONMENTS IN A FACEBOOK LIVE EVENT
Viewers got to interact live with Helen Irlen during the Q&A portion of this must see talk about how your environment might be making you sick. Irlen Syndrome is much more than just a reading problem, and in this talk, Helen Irlen explains how and why Irlen Syndrome manifests itself beyond the printed page. IF you missed the live event, don’t worry, you can watch the whole thing here!
Irlen supporters everywhere took to social media to share their personal stories and ask their social media networks to help spread the word. We even got a few shoutouts from our favorite celebrity supporters.
Thanks for the week-long tweets, Lucy Lawless, and for passing along the word, Paddy Considine!
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Events Around the World
AUSTRALIA
Brisbane and Ipswich offered discounts on Irlen testing during the entire month of October, while the Irlen clinic in Taree, NSW was open to the public for afternoon teas and information sessions. Folks in the Sunshine Coast were offered an informational session on October 16th in Cairns at the Brothers Leagues Club, Anderson Street.
CANADA
Ontario hosted their annual fall Irlen Information Meeting on October 18th in Barrie, Ontario. Ontario also launched a social media blitz. Screeners and clients posted the ISAW posters on their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, and some posted their stories about Irlen. Family and friends were asked to share the posts and pass them along to their friends and family. Some screeners created a different post every day, telling people about the signs and symptoms of Irlen Syndrome, and who is affected, and with each post, they attached a different ISAW poster each day. They ended the week posting testimonials from clients whose lives have been changed because of Irlen. Joanne Potts, Irlen Screener, did a public presentation in Barrie, Ontario as well as a presentation to students in that area. Kim Garland did a presentation for her local Occupational Therapists Association in Whitby, Ontario. Janet McCormack, another screener, did a student awareness presentation in Huntsville, Ontario. Additional presentations were given in classrooms around the province, and for a local church group in Ottawa.
In Toronto, Irlen Screener, Whitney Johnstone’s two children with Irlen Syndrome made presentations to their Grade 3 and 5 classes this week. They also delivered flyers and stickers throughout their neighborhood, informing their neighbors about Irlen Syndrome.
EGYPT
Irlen Diagnostician, Rasha Anwar, and her team in Egypt were busy during awareness week, hosting awareness events in Cairo and Governorates, in cooperation with Cultural Enabling for Persons with Special Needs Department in the Ministry of Culture.
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IRLEN SYNDROME GAINS OFFICIAL RECOGNITION BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IN EGYPT
After long 4 years of raising awareness efforts in the Egyptian community whether public, official, academia, or professional groups, Irlen syndrome finally has gained official recognition from the Ministry of Education and has become one of the disabilities that entitles the students for inclusive education. Thus, giving them the appropriate accommodations and modifications they need.
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GHANA
Irlen Syndrome awareness efforts were alive and well in Ghana during awareness week. As the representatives from the nonprofit, Campaign For Learning Disabilities, await the arrival of Irlen Diagnostician, Dr. Jeri LaVigne, in November to get trained as Irlen Screeners, this exceptional group used their energy to help spread the word at 13 schools across the country.
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GREECE
As a part of a global Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week initiative, the Special Education Clinic Patras – Irlen Institute of Greece organized the 6th Panhellenic Conference on Learning Disabilities dedicating to Irlen Syndrome and invited all schools and universities to show their support for students with Irlen Syndrome by turning off their fluorescent lights for one minute on Thursday, October 25 at 10:00 am.
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INDIA
Irlen Diagnostician, Tehnaz Ragi, and other Irlen supporters in India were excited to share The Blue Rupee Project with us during awareness week.
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The Blue Rupee Project celebrates the Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week 2017. IRLEN – Insights Through Colour. The Herald featured The Blue Rupee Project’s event at MOG – Museum of Goa.
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KUWAIT
Dr. Sameera Abdulwahab started off Irlen Awareness Week at Kuwait University, Faculty of Education. The students raised awareness among teachers and their colleagues using booths, banners and brochures, explaining the symptoms of Irlen syndrome, its causes, impact on the individual life and the treatment by using Irlen filters.
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Irlen Diagnostician, Mona Kazim, and her team of Irlen experts in the UAE hosted an impressive ISAW effort in their country. Mona presented at the Vision X Conference and had an exhibitor booth throughout the conference at the Dubai World Trade Center. Her team also presented at the Down Syndrome Center, Zayed University, and Emirates University. They participated as presenters in two government events hosted by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, Living Arabic and What Works, and the team visited and presented to a host of school principals as well.
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UNITED KINGDOM
As expected, our friends in the United Kingdom and Channel Islands worked hard during awareness week, with a variety of on-site presentations and local gatherings taking place. Among other events, in Gloucestershire, Irlen Diagnostician, Stephanie Jamison, spoke at the Heading Off Headaches workshop at the Cheltenham Headache Clinic, and on the Channel Islands, Jean Felton brought Irlen-ites together for her annual pizza party.
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UNITED STATES
Californians had a lot of opportunities to learn about Irlen Syndrome, beginning with Irlen Ambassadors in Chico giving free-mini screenings at the Touch of Chico. A few days later, 17 children and adults, most wearing Irlen glasses and covered in purple lights, walked in Chico’s Parade of Lights, pulling a flotilla of 6 purple and lighted, decorated, Costco, wagons, with painted book covers inside them. Some walkers held banners, One rode his scooter, we handed out information, and all were really excited. They were interviewed by Local Action News Live, and at three places during the parade the Judges read out a full description of Irlen syndrome over loudspeakers. One announcer even sharing that he had worn Irlen lenses as a child and they had really made a difference in his life.
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Helen Irlen and her team (David Garcia, Sandra Tosta, Jeri LaVigne, Nancy and Sandy Rache) gave hundreds of mini-screenings at the Bulletproof conference over the course of the 3-day event.
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Colorado
Jeanie Dunn and her team in Grand Junction were out in force, beginning with an awareness event on October 16th at Outwest Books and an informational session at Colorado Mesa University. Her team also secured a mayoral proclamation officially declaring it Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week in Grand Junction, Colorado!
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Maryland
Baltimore, MD officially recognized it as Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week, with a proclamation from the city’s mayor.
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Massachusetts
Members of the Irlen Syndrome Association of Massachusetts kicked off awareness week with a family friendly event at Morse Institute Library. Attendees learned about Irlen Syndrome, enjoyed face painting and fun games, and a silent and live auction that included a pair of Patriots Tickets! It shaped up to be a fun event that helped raise funds for scholarships for Irlen testing for Massachusetts residents. To join ISAM, visit the Irlen Syndrome Association of Massachusetts.
I had a rewarding day today in Redding CA. I was very well received at the Disability Action Center where I gave a presentation to clients with many visual and other forms of disabilities.
After the presentation I was allowed to use an office in the building to test and recheck several clients, saving them the two hour drive to Chico. A good end to Irlen Awareness week.
When it comes to the brain, it’s not just about grey matter. In fact, the latest research suggests that color can have a really big impact on how the brain functions. Color influences brain activity patterns in areas of the brain that support perception, thought, language, and emotions. That means, that as our brain figures out what color we’re looking at, color, in turn is changing the way our brain is working. In particular, looking through a colored lens can actually change the way different parts of the brain communicate with each other. And even more importantly, the effect of color on the brain isn’t uniform. Instead researchers have found that individual brains are uniquely tuned to color, meaning that brains can be very different from one another in terms of their color sensitivity. In a study of 30 people at Cornell University, researchers found that there wasn’t a single color that influenced brain activity in specific ways for all people. Instead, some brains were tuned more toward one wavelength of color to impact brain activity, and other brains were tuned towards other wavelengths. Brains are uniquely tuned to different colors. This answers a lot of the questions about why the Irlen Method requires unique colors for each individual – because brain responses to colors are unique!
In a second study, where researchers showed participants two different colors on a screen and asked them which color appeared first, the color that the individual’s brain was tuned to always appeared first for that individual, even though in reality, both colors were presented on screen at the same time. So, in other words, the color that the individual’s brain was tuned to actually had an advantage in time.
Current understanding of how Irlen Spectral Filters work, is by altering the speed of the information reaching the brain. Let’s say, for example, you have one individual where the brain is tuned toward blue, so blue reaches the brain really quickly, this will disregulate the information going to the brain and how parts of the image are put together because one wavelength is sped up. Irlen Spectral Filters realign these differences in brain processing speed across the spectrum.
To put this theory to the test, researchers put individuals with severe symptoms of Irlen Syndrome into the functional MRI scanner at Cornell University to map the visual system. Subjects were reading words in the center of a screen while a variety of visual distractions were displayed in the background and periphery of the screen. What they found is that when these individuals were asked to read while wearing a blank lens, there was significant over-activity in the brain. For all subjects, this overactivity was prominent in the visual centers of the brain (visual cortex), but in some subjects, the overactivity extended to other areas of the brain as well, with some having overactivity across the entire brain. When the blank lens was replaced with the individual’s specific Irlen Spectral Filter color, the over-activity disappeared and normal brain activity returned.
This ongoing research at Cornell University is not the first to show overactivity in the brain that resolves with the proper Irlen Spectral Filter color, but with continued data collection, it anticipates being the largest brain imaging study on the topic to date.
You’ve just been Screened for Irlen Syndrome and you found out that an Aqua overlay helps you. Now you want to run out and buy a blue pair of glasses, right? Wrong!! Don’t ever tint glasses the same color as your overlay! Stop. Breathe. We’re not sure you heard us, so we’ll say it again. Please do not tint glasses the same color as your overlay. Why not, you ask? Because your optimal lens color will never be the same color as your overlay, and in some cases, making your overlay color into a lens can actually make your symptoms worse.
Here’s the deal. There are only 10 Irlen Overlay colors and over 100,000 Spectral Filter colors. You do the math. As with most things, in this case, more is most definitely better. A lot better. A whole lot better! Why is that? Well, with an almost limitless number of colors, we’re able to fine-tune Irlen Spectral Filters specifically for your brain. No one else has a brain like yours, so why should anyone else have a color like yours? In fact, nearly 70% of the lenses that leave the Irlen Lab are unique in color. That’s right, we’ll say it again. Unique in color.
It is this level of precision-tinting that allows Irlen Spectral Filters to work as well as they do. It’s why your Irlen Spectral Filters will address all of your Irlen symptoms and not just some of them. It’s why colors look normal when you look through your Irlen Spectral Filters. It’s why things don’t look dim or dark when you wear your Irlen Spectral Filters. Your Irlen Spectral Filter color is the exact color your brain requires to normalize brain function. That’s right, not just improve, but normalize your brain function. In other words, with your Irlen Spectral Filters, your brain can now function the way it would if you didn’t have Irlen Syndrome at all.
The good news is, if you like your overlay, you’ll LOVE your glasses or contacts. That relaxed, soothing feeling you have when you look down at a page covered with your preferred overlay… imagine that feeling all the time, not just when you’re reading. And that clarity of words on the page…guess what, your environment should look like that too! We like to say that Irlen Spectral Filters will introduce you to a whole new world, and we think you’ll like it.
While most of us can agree that wearing colored glasses is pretty cool (I mean, come on, Hollywood celebrities do it just for fun and fashion’s sake), sometimes kids with Irlen Syndrome don’t feel quite the same way about wearing their Irlen Spectral Filters. Let’s face it, being a kid (or worse, a teen) can be tough. You want to fit in. You want to look like everyone else. You want to be part of the crowd. You definitely don’t want people making fun of you, or asking you questions about why you wear those funny colored glasses. We get it. We’ve all been there, Kid. That’s why we’re so excited about the new children’s book, Super Color Rangers. It takes a genuine stab at making color powerful, special, and fun! And, on top of all this, every book sold helps benefit the Irlen Syndrome Foundation, providing scholarships for Irlen services, and supporting research and outreach efforts around the world! We asked co-author, Dorie Cameron, to share with us why she and her award-winning, children’s-book-author-husband, Rick Felty, decided to write Super Color Rangers, and what you can expect when you share this fun and colorful children’s story with your own Irlen child. Enjoy!
When I first heard the words “Irlen Syndrome,” I was (as are many) shocked that I did not know about it! How could I have been in the world of education and social work and not known about something that could affect people so dramatically? So, I dove in. I read, watched and listened to all of the available resources. I clearly understood and deeply felt that this could be a potent solution for many people. Quickly into the learning, I knew I would get trained as an Irlen Screener. Fortunately, I didn’t need to wait too long. As a Screener, it has been eye-opening and deeply rewarding to assist so many people! I’ve learned a lot over these past few years.
One of the things I realized working with people, is that once a child and family know about Irlen and embark on the journey of getting their individualized tools, there is a social-emotional process of integrating Irlen into their lives. I felt children could benefit from a book about Irlen Syndrome that is fun and empowering.
So I chatted with my husband (He had come along this whole Irlen journey with me!) and we felt we could bring something to the community. So we set out to create a book. It might be helpful to know my husband Rick Felty and I have extensive experience producing books, most notably his award winning Tabitha Fink series, and this seemed like a fun new project.
So we used our joint expertise to co-create a new book that has just been released. It is called “Super Color Rangers”. It’s the story of four friends who join together as super heroes to battle the forces of confusion that swirl around them. It’s an action-packed, occasionally comic book style showdown, as the rangers battle a set of super villains who want total control! It’s also the story of friendship, support and how they each find the answer to their own struggles by using the power of color.
And of course, it’s really about Irlen Syndrome. We felt that it was important to create a book that would interest a wide reading audience, while also communicating the challenges and solutions available for those with Irlen Syndrome. We wanted to connect with and empower kids who have Irlen. We want them to know they are not alone and that they have the power to choose to use their Irlen tools and navigate the world in a new way.
People who pick up a copy will find a sweet story about childhood friendship, mixed with exciting comic book action sequences with Irlen Syndrome woven in as part of the narrative. We believe this book can be helpful to a child/children who are coming to terms with what it means to have Irlen, while becoming more comfortable using their unique Irlen tools.
Dorie Cameron is a published author and Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years experience and additional, extensive training in education, massage therapy and yoga. Dorie approaches life holistically and feels honored to walk with people as they find their way to their truth. She is also a certified Irlen Screener.
British writer, actor, and director, Paddy Considine, has had quite an outstanding film and TV career that includes notable performances in: Journeyman, The Death of Stalin, Macbeth, In America, Dead Man’s Shoes, Pride, The Bourne Ultimatum, Hot Fuzz, Submarine, Cinderella Man, 24 Hour Party People, My Summer of Love, “Peaky Blinders,” “Red Riding” trilogy,”The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher.” His skills extend behind the camera as well, with award-winning writing and directing credits for: Journeyman, Tyrannosaur, Dog Altogether, Dead Man’s Shoes (co-writer). Paddy is currently staring on Broadway in The Ferryman, which is his first theater role.
For years, Paddy suffered with a variety of symptoms and just thought he was ill, but it turned out Irlen Syndrome was the cause of most of his troubles. Now Paddy wears Irlen Spectral Filters and works tirelessly to help raise awareness of Irlen Syndrome whenever he can.
Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week (ISAW) 2018 was a smashing success! Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world took to the streets and to the Internet during the week of October 15-19 to share about Irlen Syndrome with the world. There was so much going on during ISAW, that it’s impossible to write about it all here, but we picked some of our favorite ISAW events and activities to share with you here.
ISAW Stats Were Staggering!
Posts on the Irlen Facebook page alone reached over 150,000 people
15,000 people were actively talking about Irlen Syndrome on Irlen Facebook pages and sharing Irlen posts with others
People from 44 countries participated in Turn Out the Lights
125,000 saw iTV’s news story about Irlen Syndrome (WATCH)
Cool New Graphics
Some of the most shared information about Irlen Syndrome during Awareness Week came in the form of cool new graphics. Did you see them?
Parade of Lights in Chico, California: Irlen Visions, Susan Hughes Diagnostician
Northern California Irlen Ambassadors began Irlen Awareness week by walking in the Chico Parade of Lights 26 adults and children participated and we rode scooters, towed decorated wagons, dressed in purple, covered with twinkly purple lights. Their walking song was’ I Can See Clearly Now’, and in the middle of every street a loudspeaker told the thousands watching all about Irlen syndrome.
Teacher Gift Boxes: Jan Parish
All ready for my daughter to take to school tomorrow for Irlen Syndrome awareness week. She wanted to use different colours and add the different tags to highlight how colours can affect people with It. the boxes contain some sweets that the teachers can enjoy whilst reading about Irlens on the website.
Screening Students and Educating Educators in Ghana
Padmore Quansah and his team of Irlen Screeners from Campaign for Learning Disabilities spent the entire week visiting area schools, educating teachers about Irlen Syndrome and Screening students.
Awareness Lectures at Schools and TV Interviews in Jordan
Dr. Saheer Shakhshir shared the variety of awareness activities taking place in Jordan, ”
In addition to the below activities at different schools, an awareness lecture took place at Terra Santa School by the screener Juliana Boulos Zabaneh with 116 parents attending.
A screener from Montessori School, in addition to many awareness lectures held at the school by the screener Taghreed Qarqash, her latest was at a village in Jordan.
Dr. Karam Siam did many awareness lectures the latest was at Universal Schools.
Christena Abu Zalaf is a screener from De La Salle school had an interview with JTV about Irlen Syndrome. She did an awareness lecture at Gina educational center.
Huda Muhammed is a screener from Al Bayan School who did an awareness about Irlen Syndrome at a language center. She distributed a self-test paper to grade 4 students and made an assessment for those who had the symptoms.
Lana Mdanat Sweis and Alaa Mousa Atallah are screeners from Al Samiyah School held an awareness talk at the school and encouraged students with Irlen syndrome to explain about how it helped them.
On Saturday October 13 I have done an awareness talk at a new school American Excellence School which was established only 2 years ago. The audience were 26 teachers and two of them were excited to be trained and become screeners.
At the Alliance School, the screener Ghadeer Hamarneh distributed tags to the teachers with a different symptom written on them. She created a bulletin board with different materials of Irlen Syndrome and distributed different colored papers to students to read using them.”
Bowling in Illinois
Irlen Diagnostician, Julie Yepsen, hosted a bowling party to celebrate Irlen Awareness Week and have an opportunity to share Irlen information with the people of Central Illinois.
Informational Talks in Palestine
Irlen Screener, Tharwat Hijjawi, conducted a meeting with a group of parents and teachers in MES Modern English School in Nablus, Palestine.
Information and Fundraising in Massachusetts
The Irlen Syndrome Association of Massachusetts hosted a public information session at Morse Institute Library, complete with lots of Irlen information, fun activities for kids, free food, raffles & giveaways.
Media Attention and Awareness Events in Texas
The Texas Irlen Association was extra busy during awareness week, giving presentations to the local Lions and Rotary Clubs, student-to-student awareness in San Antonio, a TV spot in Dallas, and a newspaper article in Austin.
These are just a small sampling of all of the individual efforts that went into making this year’s Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week a huge success! So many other individuals and organizations hosted informational sessions, offered discounted or free screenings, and shared your stories with friends, family, and the rest of the world via the Internet, and for that we thank you! We can’t wait for ISAW 2019! Be sure you join us.
Are you working harder than you should, and suffering more than necessary, to succeed? Are you less productive at work than you could be because you have to take frequent breaks when reading or working on the computer? Does a day under fluorescent lights at the office leave you exhausted, headachy, or feeling ill? You might be making it through the day, but at what price? You may be getting by, but just think how much better you could be.
At Irlen, we use non-invasive color filtering technology (Irlen Spectral Filters) to eliminate the stress on the brain that causes difficulties for so many people. The result is better performance with less effort, improved attention and concentration, and a reduction in a host of unwanted physical symptoms from headaches to fatigue. Daily functioning immediately improves, and performance increases considerably.
The core issue with Irlen Syndrome is sensitivity to bright and fluorescent lights, but many people aren’t even aware that their brain is sensitive to light. If you wear sunglasses outside, you’re sensitive to light. It’s that simple. And, if you cannot read for more than 50 minutes without having to take a break because of strain, fatigue, or difficulty staying focused, then you probably need to wear color. Being in bright or fluorescent lights, reading on white paper, staring at a computer screen or iPad shouldn’t hurt, it shouldn’t make you tired or sleepy, and reading shouldn’t get harder the longer you try to do it.
When light acts as a stressor on the brain, the brain isn’t able to correctly process the visual information it receives. The brain works harder, is overactive, and this slows down productivity and puts extra strain and fatigue on the physical system. In simpler terms, you end up working harder with diminishing returns.
When you eliminate simple stress on the brain, you instantly enhance performance, increase endurance, and exponentially improve your life. It can mean the difference between getting by and getting ahead. Irlen Syndrome affects millions of people who have successfully made it through school and have succeed in life, but who have had to work harder than necessary to get there.
Knowledge is power, and knowing how light affects your brain is the key to unlocking your full potential. Color’s ability to eliminate stress on the brain and allow it to function optimally can revolutionize your life.
The 13th Irlen International Conference in Manchester, UK was a smashing success! Irlen practitioners from around the world were joined by academics, subject matter experts, Irlen clients, and interested parties from the general public for four full days of information, training, and networking. Helen Irlen kicked off the conference with a presentation on toxic environments, followed immediately by two outstanding keynote presentations by Drs. Eve DeRosa and Adam Anderson from Cornell University. Dr. Anderson gave conference attendees a crash course on the visual system, color perception, and color’s effect on brain function, and Dr. DeRosa provided valuable insights on the brain and attention.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Conference attendees were also treated to expert presentations on brain injury, autism, and ADHD, and they were given inspiring updates on Irlen projects going on around the world. Ongoing projects within the education sector in Ghana and Ecuador illuminated the incidence of Irlen Syndrome both within learning disabled and general school populations, and continue to follow the impact of Irlen interventions on hundreds of school children.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
Cutting-edge, hot off the presses, research findings on Irlen and ADHD out of Israel reported “50% of Irlen clients diagnosed with ADHD score in the normative range for attention when using Irlen Spectral Filters.” This research highlights the large overlap in attention-related symptoms between the two conditions and offers suggestions for successful differential diagnosis between the two. Presenters from Japan and Switzerland both addressed issues related to vision and explained how perceptual challenges and visual issues can sometimes be intertwined. Dr. Keiko Kumagai and her graduate student, Nanase Sato, shared trends of Irlen Syndrome in Japan. “Colored lenses improved near vision in 7 out of 11 people and improved depth perception in 6 out of 12 people, suggesting that wearing Irlen Spectral Filters promotes visual function.” And, low vision specialist, Fritz Steiner from Switzerland explained, “In order to have perception, you need light, contrast, and size. The amount of light, the degree of contrast, and the size of print all interact to determine what we see.”
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.
A number of presentations addressed the topics of brain injury and sensory overload, and how Irlen Spectral Filters can address many symptoms within these populations. These included a presentation by Dr. Olga Bogdashina, autism expert, author, lecturer, and co-founder of the International Autism Institute, who shared insights on how Irlen Spectral Filters can reduce visual sensory overload many with autism experience.
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Occupational therapist and Irlen Diagnostician, Shoshana Shamberg, and Irlen Diagnostician Sharyn Gormley both addressed the topic of brain injury, offering attendees first-hand accounts of color’s effectiveness and tips on assessment for this population. Over the four-day conference, attendees also heard how Irlen Syndrome impacts driving and math, participated in clinical training sessions, and had ample opportunity to rekindle old relationships and make new ones with fellow Irlen practitioners and supporters. We’re all looking forward to the next Irlen International Conference.
Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week 2019 got information about Irlen Syndrome to hundreds-of-thousands of people. From October 14-18, 2019, Irlen supporters around the world shared their stories with anyone who would listen, in person, on social media, via events, seminars, radio shows, marches, and more. Social media posts from the Irlen Institute and Irlen Syndrome Foundation alone reached over 200,000 individuals, most of whom had never heard of Irlen Syndrome before.
Irlen Ambassadors in Chico, California, represented Irlen in the annual Festival of Lights parade, aglow in purple lights. Representatives from CLED in Ghana presented to educators and in classrooms across the country while wearing personalized ISAW t-shirts. Irlen representatives in Egypt, where they always go all out during awareness week, didn’t disappoint this year, hosting various events/seminars at the Great Cairo Library and Ain Shams University, while also recording a broadcast on Great Cairo Radio. Students from the College of Education at Kuwait University helped raise awareness with a huge informational and interactive display on campus.
Individuals created outstanding personal ways to share their own stories, including one Irlen client who had suffered a brain injury that resulted in his entire visual world shutting down, only to reopen with the discovery of Irlen Spectral Filters. This client created a video walking viewers through this experience (you can view it here). Other Irlen clients created special blog posts, t-shirts, and goody bags as a way to share their story and information about Irlen with those around them.
Retired NFL football player, Nick Bell, shared his personal experience with Irlen Spectral Filters, after repeated concussions left him suffering from chronic headaches, light sensitivity and a variety of other issues. See what he had to say in the video below:
Turn Out the Lights, as always, was a huge success, with participation from 23 countries around the world, and the entire public school systems in the states of Alabama and Mississippi. The governor of Alabama even officially proclaimed it Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week in the entire state of Alabama.
In case you missed any of the information or videos that were released during ISAW, we’ve included them all below. You can still share or re-post this information on your favorite social media, or share links with your favorite friends via email. Click on an image to enlarge.
He was 10. He was failing every subject. He didn’t like school. He felt stupid. He said his head hurt. He said his eyes hurt. His mom took him to the doctor. He was fine. He got his eyes checked. His vision was perfect. His mom found the Irlen Institute. Helen Irlen asked him to read the eye chart. He got every letter wrong. He seemed confused. He tilted his head to the side. He tried again. He got every letter wrong. He put on his Irlen Spectral Filters. He tried again. He got every letter correct. He read it so quickly, I couldn’t keep up. How did nobody know he had Irlen Syndrome?
It’s the same age-old question, over and over again. How did nobody know? It’s as simple as knowing the warning signs, so here they are. Tell a friend.
Amidst a global pandemic and a looming US presidential election, Irlen Syndrome became the topic of conversation during the third week in October in 2020. This was the 7th annual Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week, an opportunity for Irlen sufferers, advocates, and professionals around the world to share information about Irlen Syndrome with the general public in an effort to raise awareness of this very common, yet little known, condition. While COVID19 changed the focus of ISAW from in-person events to an almost exclusively online endeavor, it didn’t stop the message from getting out to a broad audience.
From online workshops and seminars, radio and TV broadcasts, and live sessions on social media outlets like Instagram and Facebook, supporters from around the world helped get the word out. There were online workshops lead by professionals certified in the Irlen Method, student-written articles for local papers, television coverage by the BBC, personal blogs, and lots and lots of social media posts! If you posted, tweeted, blogged, wrote or interviewed about Irlen Syndrome during awareness, thank you! Together we reached more than 50,000 people during ISAW 2020, many of whom had never heard about Irlen Syndrome before. In case you missed them, below are links to a few of the various pieces that came out during ISAW to help raise awareness…it’s never too late to share!
Our phones and tablets can do almost anything. At the touch of a button, we can video chat with friends in a different country, we can watch our favorite movies, play our favorite games, conduct business from the comfort of our living room couch, document our lives in photographs and videos, get directions to anywhere, track our heart rate or blood sugar levels, manage our calendar, and so much more! It’s safe to say, most of us have come to rely heavily on these devices, and we probably use them much more than we ever intended to. For some of us, all that screentime can be difficult. It can cause eye strain and headaches. It can feel too bright, uncomfortably glary, or look unclear – but it doesn’t have to!
Anyone who struggles with glare, discomfort, eye strain, or blurry words when using a phone or tablet, should know about the colored filter built-in to their device. The right color filter can increase comfort, fluency, and accuracy when reading and using your device; meaning you may be able to read and work on your device for longer periods of time without strain or fatigue.
COLORED OVERLAYS ARE NOW BUILT-IN TO EVERY MOBILE DEVICE
Most of today’s mobile devices (phones and tablets) now have a built-in colored overlay feature. It’s a fantastic feature that can make using a phone or tablet much more comfortable for anyone who struggles with glare, eye strain, headaches, or blurry words. This built-in feature is customizable, easy to use, and will work no matter what app you’re using on your device. So, you can pick the color and density that works best for you, turn it on or off at will, and not have to worry about any incompatibility issues when your device’s operating system updates.
THE FEATURE CAN BE HARD TO FIND IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHERE TO LOOK
Most people have no idea the colored overlay feature even exists because it’s usually buried deep within your device’s accessibility settings. Here are a few tips on how to find and turn it on.
iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Display Accommodations and select Color Filters. When you turn on Color Filters, you’ll want to ignore the four preset color schemes they offer and instead select the last option, “Color Tint,” to create your own color filter. “Color Tint” will then give you two sliders (hue and intensity) to manipulate until you reach the filter that works best for you.
Android (may differ slightly by brand of device): Go to Settings>Accessibility>Visibility Enhancements and Click “Add Color Filter.” Select your preferred color and adjust the density using the scroll bar.
MAC COMPUTERS ALSO HAVE THE BUILT-IN COLOR TINT ACCESSIBILITY SETTING
We’d like to give some big props to Apple for extending the color tint accessibility setting to their MAC computers! It works similarly to how the feature works on the phone and tablet, meaning you can have the relief of color on your computer screen at the tap of a button. No more need to try and piece together multiple colored overlays to fit the size of your screen, this digital color tint is built right in! See the links below for specific instructions on how to turn on the Color Tint filter on your MAC.
Sadly, this built-in feature hasn’t made it to PCs yet, as far as we can tell. The only thing you’ll find there, are colored filters intended to assist the color blind, inverted colors, or a grayscale option. But not to fear, we’re sure it’s coming soon! In the meantime, you can download a free screen color filter called ColorVeil from east-tec. East-tec makes security software, so you can be sure this free download won’t harm your computer.
