Judy Lipson is one of the few specialists to offer an assessment using the Irlen Method to prescribe colored overlays for help with visual dyslexia, reading problems, school difficulties, and light sensitivity.
The initial assessment is made using a highly specialized system of colored overlays that are placed over pages of text. If successful, this may be followed by testing to determine the exact color to be worn as glasses or contact lenses.
The Irlen Method helps those with visual processing deficits which affect learning and attention. This is also known as Irlen Syndrome. The problem lies in how the visual information is decoded by the brain and is not the type of problem that is identified or treated by optometrists or with prescription glasses. People with Irlen Syndrome “see” the printed page differently from others and may even be unaware of this. This can lead to slow and inefficient reading, poor comprehension, fatigue, and limited attention span.
Many people with Irlen Syndrome report that the text on the page appears to change. They may also experience fatigue, tiredness, headaches, sore eyes or other symptoms of strain, all of which make reading difficult.
Of interest, Helen Irlen (who identified Scotopic Sensitivity in the 1970s) and her researchers found that Irlen Syndrome is found in:
- 46% of the population who have Learning Disabilities
- 33% of the population with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)
- 55% of individuals who have experienced a head injury
- 13% of individuals in the general population
- Anecdotal evidence suggests occurrence in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
You or your child can experience improvement with the use of specifically selected Irlen overlays or lenses. Most readers find that their concentration, attention and memory improve. Irlen solutions can also improve depth perception and eye-hand coordination.
For additional information, visit IRLEN. You can see the effects of using a colored overlay or precision Irlen Spectral Filters by selecting a colored background to view text.
Contact Judy to see if a Certified Irlen Screening might be suggested for you or your child.
