Saying Irlen Lenses can Cure Dyslexia is Quackery

Colored Lenses and filters do nothing to improve reading ability. If you use colored lenses first, without addressing your child's difficulty in processing the sound of language (phonemic awareness) or your child's difficulty relating a symbol to a sound (graphophonemic difficulty)you are wasting your money and your child's precious time.

Accomplished, fluent reading, with good comprehension, is a complex chain of visual and neurological events. Although dyslexia--difficulty reading--was described first in 1886, it is only relatively recently that we have had the technology to see what really goes on in the brain of fluent readers and problem readers.

In 1983 (remember, before we really could see into the brain) a woman named Helen Irlen hypothesized that there might be an underlying neurological problem in encoding and decoding visual information for some people who have trouble learning to read, or for people who have trouble with sustained reading. She futher hypothosized that this problem can be alleviated by adjustments to the appearance of the printed page: that is, special colored lenses in glasses, or colored overlays on the page, and so forth.

They are not such bad hypotheses; its just that the hypothoses, repeatedly, have not been borne out by research.

A responsible scientist would say, "Oh, good, we have eliminated that angle. On to something else." An irresponsible (or greedy) scientist would continue to flog the diagnosis and the treatment.

When you Google "dyslexia", the sponsored links are for Orton-Gillingham Phonics (respectable); a quack overlay treatment; a reading course (I haven't evaluated this one yet, it is possible); screening software (haven't evaluated this, either, but looks promising); A German software maker (haven't evaluated the products, at first glance looks frustrating); and a link to SchwabLearning ( Highly recommended: schwablearning.org).

Since the late 1999s, with the ability to see the brain in action with "functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging" (fMRI) we are learning a lot about dyslexia, and what will and will not work. But parents, or misguided educators, are still recommending "treatments" that have been proven not to work. The internet has made the number of scams, quack diagnoses, and quack treatments even more widely available.

One of these quack diagnoses is "Scotopic Sensitivy Syndrome", also known as Irlen Syndrome.

From an essay by Eugene Helveston, M.D., in Perspectives (IDA)

The perspective afforded by observing the evolution of the concept of scotopic sensitivity syndrome and the treatment with tinted lenses leads to the conclusion that this effort has resulted in classic group behavior. The concept has a strong charismatic personality as originator and sustained leader. The supporting evidence is almost entirely anecdotal. The syndrome is becoming associated with an even more diverse array of maladies, tinted lenses now being offered for relief of problems far removed from reading difficulty. The procedure for determining the specific tint has not been divulged and remains a type of "trade secret." Finally, a financially rewarding franchise activity is at the basis of the Irlen Institute activity.

Traditional diagnostic and treatment methods have not yet offered sufficient answers for the alleviation of reading problems/dyslexia. This inability to find an answer to reading difficulties does not justify a scientifically unproven activity as represented by the use of tinted lenses to treat an unproven syndrome, the scotopic sensitivity syndrome

Another well-researched study concludes:

In a double-blind study of dyslexic children, tinted lens therapy was not shown to improve reading ability subjectively or objectively.39 Studies claiming the efficacy of these lenses have not held up to scientific review. 12.
Citation 39 is Menacker SJ, Breton ME, Breton ML, et al: Do tinted lenses improve the reading performance of dyslexic children? Arch Ophthalmol 111:213-218, 1993.
Citation 12 is Evans BJW, Drasdo N: Tinted lenses and related therapies for leaning disabilities - a review. Ophthal Physiol Opt 11: 206-217, 1991.

The Learning Disabilities Resource community has a good, up-to-date summary on all the Irlen research.

Not only are some findings less meaningful than they first appear, many are questionable on methodological grounds. There continue to be serious methodological concerns with most of the studies claiming support for Irlen lenses. Biased sample selection, small sample size, and lack of proper control procedures are just a few of the more common limitations. Finally, consumers should be aware that many unreported studies show no effects of coloured filters on measures of either reading performance or SSS symptoms.

After a great deal of research, no support could be found for the validity or presence of an actual visual perceptual dysfunction termed "scotopic sensitivity syndrome". Therefore the use of this term is meaningless. Anyone using this term is doing so outside of accepted medical practice.

The symptoms described in "scotopic sensitivity syndrome" can be explained by other, conventional, vision anomalies, that can be treated in more conventional ways if correctly diagnosed.

Experiments to test the effectiveness of tinted lenses or filters have failed to be replicated, and can't be shown not to be a placebo effect.

For a nice little essay from the optometrists on how a child must use her eyes to read well, go here. Since it is the optometrists' organization, they want you to see them, not an opthamologist. Your call. But here are some resources to help you make up your mind:

• Article A


• and article B

These essays are comparing and contrasting ophthalmology and optometry. (If you tend to confuse them, just notice the endings. -ology usually means "the study of" (like geo logy, the study of earth), and -metry usually means "the measurement of". Study is usually more in-depth than measurement.

Researchers at the University of Oregon say

It is advised that the educational community not embrace scotopic sensitivity syndrome and its treatment for learning disabilities and dyslexia.  The lack of scientific evidence and currently available studies and reports do not adequately support the use of colored lenses or meet established standards for scientific research

, citing K. J. Rooney's 1991 article, Controversial Therapies: A Review and Critique. in Intervention in School and Clinic, 26, 135-142.

My daughter is dyslexic. In another post, I'll talk about how she learned to read. Autism has only touched my life indirectly, but I have witnessed the suffering this condition it causes. On behalf of the parents of autistic children everywhere, and on behalf of people with Pervasive Developmental Delay (another way of getting a handle on autism), I am fierce about denouncing discreted or disproven theories. That too is another day. But speaking on behalf of the parents who are talked into trying useless remedies, Irlen ought to be ashamed. She is also falsely claiming that there's such a thing as Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrom (there isn't) and that it is a factor in autism
If you visit here, you will read the advice Dr G. A. Gole, who in 2001 was the Head, Department of Ophthalmology, at the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane, has for his fellow pediatric ophthamologists. In particular, I'd invite you to scroll down to section 17, Learning Disabilities , on page 26.

Here is another view from Patient-Centered Guides. These are a mix of medical, practical and emotional information, grounded in Western medicine, told by people who have been there. They are published by O'Reilly. Here is what they have to say about themselves.

As with our other publishing programs, this series grew out of recognizing a need for a particular kind of information. The writers and editors in this series have encountered illnesses that have threatened or changed their lives.

When your life is turned upside down, your need for information is great. You have to make critical medical decisions, often with what seems little to go on. Plus you have to break the news to family, quiet your own fears, cope with side effects, figure out how you're going to pay for things, and sometimes still get to work and get dinner on the table.

Patient-Centered Guides have a section on autism and treatments for autism. Here is what they have to say about various types of treatment. (There's more at the website; I'm focusing on Irlen here.)

Irlen lenses
The use of colored lenses like those developed by the Irlen Institute is highly controversial as a treatment for autism, although some patients and parents have reported benefits. Glasses with colored lenses are used to remediate visual perception problems (the Irlen people call it scotopic sensitivity). Many people with autism do report visual perceptual problems, such as tunnel vision, reliance on peripheral vision, or difficulty in telling foreground from background

The bottom line is, if your child is having difficulty learning to read, find out why. The Schwab site, above, has excellent guides on the type of testing needed. But don't waste your money and your child's precious time with this colored lens quackery that has been thoroughly disproven. Do get your child's vision thoroughly checked by an opthamologist--you might even ask around and see if there's an opthamologist in your area that has worked successfully with kids who have learning issues. Read through the rest of this to see what has been proven to work, and what has not.

Oh, He'll Grow Out of It As parents, we are all prone to think that. But you know what? We are wrong. Earlier intervention=better outcome. End of story. Now, read what doesn't work

A Joint Statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus, and American Academy of Ophthalmology

Visual problems are rarely responsible for learning difficulties. No scientific evidence exists for the efficacy of eye exercises ("vision therapy") or the use of special tinted lenses in the remediation of these complex pediatric neurological conditions. 

Comments

[Rhonda Stone]

Hello, Ann. Within the next 10 years, neuroimaging will "prove" the truth hiding in the human brain. You likely are not aware that more recent neuroimaging than that promoted by phonological processing advocates is demonstrating that the "phonological processing hypothesis" itself is flawed. (See neuroimaging related to "sentence reading" rather than naming words from word lists.) You likely also are not aware that some neuroimaging has been done that documents authentic positive effects in the brains of some individuals -- not all, some -- from tinted lenses. "Disability glare" is a recognized condition. "Discomfort glare" is a recognized condition. "Contrast sensitivity" is a recognized condition. "Photophobia" is a recognized condition. "Seasonal Affective Disorder" responds to blue wavelengths (light color). Jaundice in newborns responds to blue wavelengths (light color). A newly discovered protein in the brain called "melanopsin" that has a direct effect on both circadian rhythms and mood responds to blue wavelengths (light color). People with cataracts are benefitting from peach-colored lenses. A number of controlled studies HAVE been completed on the effects of color on individuals hypersensitive to lighting conditions and do show benefit from colored filters -- the field of Ophthalmology chooses to ignore these studies in favor of two-paragraph letters to the editor published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Both of my children have this problem. I have this problem. Our family has benefitted tremendously from either learning to manage light in our environment or from tinted lenses. I recognize you believe you are helping people by warning them away from colored overlays and/or tinted lenses. But there is more science emerging to support the hypothesis than not. Children in our schools should not be doomed to a label of "dyslexia" when science has NEVER investigated the possibility that human VARY in the type and volume of light they need to achieve stability under visually stressful conditions. White paper with black print reflecting light from as many as 36 to 50 fluorescent tubes in a single classroom constitutes visually stressful conditions. Some of us, unfortunately, have visual systems that are more sensitive than, apparently, yours. We deserve to have our issues properly investigated AND interventions that make life more comfortable and visually stable.

Sincerely,
Rhonda Stone
Parent Advocate, Light-based health and learning issues
Author, The Light Barrier

[Liz]

Dear Ms. Stone, I am not arguing that people have visual problems, I am arguing that colored lenses are not the place to START if your child has difficulty learning to read.

You likely are not aware that more recent neuroimaging than that promoted by phonological processing advocates is demonstrating that the "phonological processing hypothesis" itself is flawed.

Evidently you are familiar with this research. Please provide citations (author, title of paper, and where published.)

(See neuroimaging related to "sentence reading" rather than naming words from word lists.) You likely also are not aware that some neuroimaging has been done that documents authentic positive effects in the brains of some individuals -- not all, some -- from tinted lenses.

"Disability glare" is a recognized condition.

Evidently you are familiar with this research. Please provide citations (author, title of paper, and where published.)

"Discomfort glare" is a recognized condition.

Evidently you are familiar with this research. Please provide citations (author, title of paper, and where published.)

"Contrast sensitivity" is a recognized condition.

Evidently you are familiar with this research. Please provide citations (author, title of paper, and where published.)

[liz]

pediatric notes: go here and search for "irlen"
http://strabism.customer.netspace.net.au/paednotes.html

[Ron Zeno]

Thanks for the great commentary on Irlen. Certainly appears to be quackery from what evidence I've seen, especially the type of evidence that Rhonda Stone has provided - aimed at swaying peoples' emotions rather than providing verifiable evidence. I'll stick to proven methods and those based upon valid and reliable evidence, thank you Ronda.

FYI: http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/eyequack.html

[Arnold Wilkins]

I have been asked to respond to the comments on this site.
There is now a body of scientific evidence that coloured filters can improve reading speed. The evidence is reviewed on my website, in my recent book "Reading through colour" (Wiley, 2003) and in papers in the British scientific press. In brief:
1. 5% of children in mainstream education read more than 25% faster with an overlay of their chosen colour, for whatever reason.
2. 20% of children in mainstream education show some benefit, though less pronounced.
3. The benefit in those children who show large improvements in speed is sustained for more than 3 months.
4. Placebo effects are an insufficient explanation.
5. The proportion of children with "dyslexia" who benefit is not substantially greater than the proportion in the general population, although the proportion of children with autism who show an improvement in reading speed is far greater than in age- and IQ-matched controls.
6. None of the studies on which the above assertions are based has used Irlen methods or Irlen filters. The studies have, however, taken account of the necessity for selecting a tint to suit an individual's needs. The requirement for precision tinting of this kind has been shown in two placebo-controlled double-masked studies, and in a forthcoming paper in which the reading speed was measured under light of various different colours in individuals identified as benefitting from coloured filters. A departure from optimum by a CIELUV colour difference of 80 was sufficient to eliminate most of the advantage conveyed by the appropriate colour.
I hope this is of some help.
Arnold Wilkins
Professor of Psychology
University of Essex
Colchester
United Kingdom.

[Sue Nix]

I am merely a lay person, not a professional in "light" disorders. But I can tell you I need one!! This discussion was interesting and I rather gathered from my research that the Irlen method is mostly speculative. So what is the consensus, are people like me with 35 years of headaches, pain, jiggling letters, field of vision loss, photophobia as nutty as some say we are???
Thanks.

[liz ditz]

Dear Sue, of course you aren't nutty. What I am militating against is the Irlen camp making money off of children's suffering. Make no mistake, having a language-based learning diasability is a cause of suffering. What I am militating against is jumping to the wrong conclusion. The Irlenists say the first thing to do, if your child has difficulty learning to read, is to address the visual system: the eyes, by applying various filters/glasses etc.

That is wrong and abusive. That is like saying, if your child has a laceration that is spouting blood, the first thing to do is to to go get vitamin K, because obviously your child has a clotting disorder.

[liz ditz]

Dear Sue, of course you aren't nutty. What I am militating against is the Irlen camp making money off of children's suffering. Make no mistake, having a language-based learning diasability is a cause of suffering. What I am militating against is jumping to the wrong conclusion. The Irlenists say the first thing to do, if your child has difficulty learning to read, is to address the visual system: the eyes, by applying various filters/glasses etc.

That is wrong and abusive. That is like saying, if your child has a laceration that is spouting blood, the first thing to do is to to go get vitamin K, because obviously your child has a clotting disorder.

[Rhonda Stone]

Interesting way of approaching this (the analogy of a wound). Liz, for some people, addressing hypersensitivity to lighting conditions through color adjustment gives them the comfort and visual stability to be able to perform efficiently and effectively. How the brain processes light energy is a significant contributing factor to their health and learning issues.

Why blame the Irlen organization for what is, in truth, the failure of science? Science has failed to segregate those who have reading and perceptual problems caused by visual processing issues from those who have problems caused by some other source. YOU appear to lump all children with learning disabilities into the same category and condemn all people who use tinted lenses. Doing so is neither logical nor helpful to children.

You asked for sources to research demonstrating the benefits of colored overlays and tinted lenses to some people. There is plenty of it. Please see my book, The Light Barrier; Helen Irlen's book, Reading By the Colors; Arnold Wilkins' book, Reading Through Color; and a growing number of books and book chapters that are including color as an effective intervention for some (not all, some).

[Liz]

The problem with the Irlen organization is that they promise a cure that they can't deliver. That is still quackery in my book.

Same is true of the developmental opthamologists. It is not in the eyes, people, it is how the brain processes language.

[Dot]

As an Irlen screener for over 10 years I have screened both children and adults. The symptoms are real, as well as the possible benefits from proper intervention. One of the things I admire most from the Irlen people is their consistent rule of always making sure the client has had a recent eye exam. We do not want to confuse a physical difficulty with a perceptual one.

When a client is screened you can tell if he is showing mild, moderate, or severe symptoms and whether or not this technology can be helpful.
I am very upfront with what my findings show, and usually caution the candidate to use the overlays and check out the benefits for himself.

I give parents local clinic information, so if and when their young child shows increased symptoms they will know where to go for further help. As a primary school teacher for over 20 years I know how frustrating it can be when children need help and are labeled as lazy or unmotivated when you know something else is going on.

The plastic overlays cost approximately $3.50 per sheet. I screen my own students free of charge. Oh, yes I am making a financial killing!

In some respects I don't see the reason for this controversy. Irlen doesn't say her method can help everyone, and the client tells us if the overlay/lenses improve the difficulty or not.

There are so many of us out there honestly trying to help others and see real benefits.
Yes, if I were a parent I would try to help my child. History shows us that new methods aren't always initially accepted. Like many things, you become a believer if you or someone close to you are helped.

Dot

[Dot]

As an Irlen screener for over 10 years I have screened both children and adults. The symptoms are real, as well as the possible benefits from proper intervention. One of the things I admire most from the Irlen people is their consistent rule of always making sure the client has had a recent eye exam. We do not want to confuse a physical difficulty with a perceptual one.

When a client is screened you can tell if he is showing mild, moderate, or severe symptoms and whether or not this technology can be helpful.
I am very upfront with what my findings show, and usually caution the candidate to use the overlays and check out the benefits for himself.

I give parents local clinic information, so if and when their young child shows increased symptoms they will know where to go for further help. As a primary school teacher for over 20 years I know how frustrating it can be when children need help and are labeled as lazy or unmotivated when you know something else is going on.

The plastic overlays cost approximately $3.50 per sheet. I screen my own students free of charge. Oh, yes I am making a financial killing!

In some respects I don't see the reason for this controversy. Irlen doesn't say her method can help everyone, and the client tells us if the overlay/lenses improve the difficulty or not.

There are so many of us out there honestly trying to help others and see real benefits.
Yes, if I were a parent I would try to help my child. History shows us that new methods aren't always initially accepted. Like many things, you become a believer if you or someone close to you are helped.

Dot

[Liz]

I say again, anecdotal information is suggestive but not proof that a given treatment works. Dot,

Like many things, you become a believer if you or someone close to you are helped.--No, actually, I don't become a believer. Specific learning disabilities, like dyslexia, deserve the best science has to offer.

I am sure there are a minority of individuals like Sue Nix for whom colored lenses are helpful.

What I object STRENUOUSLY to is the Irlen organization making money from children's suffering.

[Anna]

"Colored Lenses and filters do nothing to improve reading ability".
I just want to say that Scotopic sensitivity is not all quackery. If colored sheets don't work for you then maybe that's not what the problem is.
When I try to read articles/books on a white background using black ink I can only read for a maximum 30 seconds, before all the words become fuzzy or start to swirl on the page. I learned to compensate as a child by learning to speed read. I read fast enough so that I could take in as much information as I could before the words dissapeared. However, I was told about using colored sheets over my reading material, and that was the answer! I use a blue and green combination of plastic covers over my material and I can read as long as I want. The words do not transform in any way. I'm ecstatic!

[Greg Robinson]

Dear Ann

I was recently alerted to your web site and encouraged to respond. In particular, I would be interested to comment on your claim that there is no valid and reliable evidence for the positive effects of coloured filters on reading achievement. It concerns me that such a claim could be made in light of the numerous controlled studies which have recently appeared in the literature. I notice that the studies you did cite were from 1991 and 1993, but there have been a large number of positive investigations since that time.

Although recent studies have identified improvements in reading with the use of coloured filters, it needs to be emphasised that while reported improvements in print clarity using coloured filters may assist learning to read, there is still likely to be a need to develop word recognition skills through the provision of additional reading tuition. These recent studies have reported improvements in reading when using coloured plastic overlays or coloured computer monitors (Croyle, 1998; Jeanes, Busby, Martin, Lewis, Stevenson, Pointon et al., 1997; Scott, McWhinnie, Taylor, Stevenson, Irons, & Lewis, 2002; Tyrrell, Holland, Dennis, & Wilkins, 1995; Wilkins & Lewis, 1999; Wilkins, Lewis, Smith, & Rowland, 2001; Williams, Le Cluyse, & Littell, 1996), as well as improvements in eye strain, headaches and reading when using coloured lenses (Chronicle & Wilkins, 1991; Evans, Patel, & Wilkins, 2002; Good, Taylor, & Mortimer, 1991; Harris & MacRow-Hill, 1999; Lightstone, Lightstone, & Wilkins, 1999; Robinson & Conway, 2000; Robinson & Foreman, 1999; Solan, Ficarra, Brannan, & Rucker, 1998). A number of studies have used placebo controls (Bouldoukian, Wilkins, & Evans, 2002; Jeanes et al., 1997; Robinson & Foreman, 1999; Wilkins, Evans, Brown, Busby, Wingfield, Jeanes, & Bald, 1994; Wilkins & Lewis, 1999). These studies have all been reported in peer reviewed journals, who have reviewers with expertise in their fields. These reviewers are unlikely to recommend the publication of studies which are not well controlled or have serious methodological flaws.

In addition, a credible scientific theory has been presented and discussed in the literature for some years. This theory relates to a deficit in the magnocellular visual neurological pathway. A recent review of research and series of studies relating to this theory has been published by Chase, Ashourzadeh, Kelly, Monfette, and Kinsey (2003). The paper by Chase et al. reviews a number of studies which suggest that red light disrupts magnocellular tasks and that the use of blue filters (which filter red light) could result in an improvement in reading performance.

I have attached the reference details for all of the studies cited so people can read them and make their own decisions.

Yours sincerely

Associate Professor Greg Robinson, PhD
Special Education Centre
University of Newcastle
CALLAGHAN NSW 2308
AUSTRALIA

Bouldoukian, J., Wilkins, A.J., & Evans, B.J.W. (2002). Randomised controlled trial of the effect of coloured overlays on the rate of reading of people with specific learning difficulties. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 22, 55-60.

Chase, C., Ashourzadeh, A., Kelly, C., Monfette, S., & Kinsey, K. (2003). Can the magnocellular pathway read? Evidence from studies of colour. Vision Research, 43, 1211-1222.

Chronicle, E.P. & Wilkins, A.J. (1991). Colour and visual discomfort in migraineurs. The Lancet, 338, 890.

Croyle, L. (1998). Rate of reading, visual processing, colour and contrast. Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, 3(3), 13-20.

Evans, B.J.W., Patel, R., & Wilkins A.J. (2002). Optometric function in visually sensitive migraine before and after treatment with tinted spectacles. Ophthalmological and Physiological Optics, 22, 130-142.

Good, P.A., Taylor, R.H., & Mortimer, M.J. (1991). The use of tinted glasses in childhood migraine. Headache, September, 533-536.

Harris, D. & MacRow-Hill (1999). Application of Chroma-Gen haloscopic lenses to patients with dyslexia: A double-masked placebo-controlled trial. Journal of the Optometric Association, 70(1), 629-640.

Jeanes, R., Busby, A., Martin, J., Lewis, E., Stevenson, N., Pointon, D., & Wilkins, A. (1997). Prolonged use of coloured overlays for classroom reading. British Journal of Psychology, 88, 531-548.

Lightstone, A., Lightstone, T., & Wilkins, A.J. (1999). Both coloured overlays and coloured lenses can improve reading fluency, but their optimal chromacities differ. Ophthalmological and Physiological Optics, 19(4), 279-285.

Robinson, G.L., & Conway, R.N.F. (2000). Irlen lenses and adults: A small scale study of reading speed, accuracy, comprehension and self-image. Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, 5(1), 4-13.

Robinson, G.L., & Foreman, P.J. (1999). Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome and the use of coloured filters: A long-term placebo controlled and masked study of reading achievement and perception of ability. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 89, 83-113.

Scott, L., McWhinnie, H., Taylor, L., Stevenson, N., Irons, P., Lewis, E., Evans, B., & Wilkins, A. (2002). Coloured overlays in schools: Orthoptic and optometric findings. Ophthalmological and Physiological Optics, 22, 156-165.

Solan, H.A., Ficarra, A., Brannan, J.R., & Rucker, F. (1998). Eye movement effiency in normal and reading disabled elementary school children: Effects of varying luminance and wavelength. Journal of the American Optometric Association, 69(7), 455-464.

Tyrrell, R., Holland, K., Dennis, D., & Wilkins, A. (1995). Coloured overlays, visual discomfort, visual search and classroom reading. Research in Reading, 18, 10-23.

Wilkins, A.J., Evans, B.J.W., Brown, J.A., Busby, A.E., Wingfield, A.E., Jeanes, R.J., & Bald, J. (1994). Double-masked placebo-controlled trial of precision spectral filters in children who use coloured overlays. Ophthalmological and Physiological Optics, 14, 365-370.

Wilkins, A.J. & Lewis, E. (1999). Coloured overlays, text and texture. Perception, 28, 641-650.

Wilkins, A.J., Lewis, E., Smith, F., & Rowland, F. (2001). Coloured overlays and their benefits for reading. Journal of Research in Reading, 24(1), 41-64.

Williams, M.C., Le Cluyse, K., & Littell, R. (1996). A wavelength specific intervention for reading disability. In R.P. Garzia & R. London (Eds.), Vision and Reading. St Louis: Mosby.

[Dot Pellegrini West]

I received a wonderful e-mail from Niall Brown from Toronto, Canada--without a return e-mail address-- in response to my comment on this website. Niall, you can get the information you need if you go to www.irlen.com . Thank you for letting me be of assistance! Best wishes for finding the help you need.

Dot
dotpellywest@comcast.net

[Carolyn Lord]

I have just got colored glasses and am saddened to hear that tinted glasses are viewed as quackery. I have many problems with lights and glare and headaches and letters moving around. With my colored lenses the print stays still and is bold and I can read and I don't get headaches. My glasses are the closest thing to magic that I will ever know. But they do work. If your child can't read, simply ask her/him why. If they mention letters moving around or that the page is too bright then colored lenses might be the answer. When it was discovered that the earth was round I am sure people reacted in the same way. As sure as the earth is round, colored lenses work.

[Elaine Stinson]

So from this web site I have gotton the idea that you do not beleive in Irlen. Let me tell you that you have never experienced what I have experienced or what my child has went through. You give me the idea that you think Irlen is "Quackery". Well I don't need any degree or scientist to see the difference in my child. I can read his report card and see for myself. I went for the screenings with him asnd I seen him read unhampered for the first time in his life. I saw his smile a mile wide when he seen the page clearly. I was there when he barfed his guts out because for the first time in his life he seen things that satyed on the page and then had to look again at what he had seen before and got stomach sick. I have seen my child go from a recluse to a normal child. I have seen him sink into the classroom not wanting to be seen or asked questions, and now I have seen him become the leader. Out going, agressive, ready for a challenge, that is what he has become. You may say all you want about quackery. I HAVE SEEN THE RESULTS!!!!! And I challenge you to do the same. If you think you have the cure than what is it? You say Scientists don't beleive it. Well do the need to? Your web site may hamper people from getting tested and helped? Do you have something better to offer them? My son has been my scientist. He has helped me to see what he sees. Before we heard abour Irlen neither of us knew what was wrong. Some said he was ADHD. I knew different. He thought he was "just dumb". I knew different. Irlen has made the differenceand yet people like you, so highly educated that others listen to you, have narrow minds because you can't scientifically figure it out. Isn't proof in the pudding? I have the proof. He is a happy, young boy of 9 that lost a whole year of scholl because no one knew what was wrong with him. Until one man told us about Irlen and changed his life.
Did you know that it runs in families and I have found that it is ther reason my brother never graduates from school 20 years ago? All his life he struggled with reading. Just a dummy or so he thought. no hope until now.
I am not saying there are not other things that children can have. Like Dyslexia. But Dyslexic children may also have Irlen.
People need to wake up and realize thatit is the children who need help and lets ask them if it helps. Lets watch a few progress. Watch a child be tested. OPEN HE MIND!!! Don't shut doors because some scientists can't prove it. If we only knew all the things that scientists can never prove. Ther are more than Irlen Syndrome. I welcome any of your questions and will answer them to the best of my ability. NOT scientifically but from experience.
If you truly are a caring educator, than you will honestly look into some of he experiences of these people and see the difference.
Good Luck!!!
Elaine Stinson
jestinso@mts.net

[Jay Davis]

There is something very unprofessional and unscientific about using the term "quackery", because it is a very subjective term, not an objective term that a true scientist would use. It somehow taints the credibility of what you are saying.

[Kathy Rand]

What an interesting site! I have a 9 year old daughter that has always experienced difficulties with learning. On specific testing at school however she is deemed to be almost spot on for her age? Nevertheless she always seems to struggle with her tasks at school, has low self-esteem and sees herself as a dummy. Recently when we were reading together she started describing things about the page "Mummy I see different colours on the page. These 3 words are joined together. This word I can't see at all, it is blotted out." The school say she will not get extra learning help because she has tested as 'normal' (and presumably because of cost). But I know she has difficulty learning and I would dearly love to be able to help her along the path to easier learning. Any suggestion???

[Liz]

This is the text of the e-mail I sent to Kathy:

Hello, and thanks for visiting my site. I want you to know that I'm not a professional psychologist or leaning disabilities specialist. I am the mother of a child whose learning disabilities have been remediated successfully.

You didn't say which country you live in, but I can see from your e-mail address (the "au" part) that you are probably in Australia.

Here in the United States, the state-sponsored schools are motivated to find that kids DON"T have problems--even when they manifestly do--because the law mandates services (which are expensive) for kids with diagnosed problems. So parents who KNOW their kids have learning problems go outside of the school system, to licensed educational psychologists, for diagnostic tests (and treatment, in some cases).

The first thing I would do is have her vision and focussing skills tested by a pediatric ophthamologist. (Here in the U.S., optometrists have tried to increase their business by presenting themselves as "developmental optometrists" and prescribing eye exercises to "treat" dyslexia and other learning disabilities. The research does not support the claims.)

href="http://www.ranzco.edu/eyehealth/learning.ph

Then, if her vision is normal, I would try to get her evaluated--where are her strengths, and where are her weakness?--by a qualified educational psychologist.



Here are some web sites and programs I know to be reputable:

Schwab Learning--FABULous website with lots and lots of resources for parents:

http://schwablearning.org/index.asp

Learning Disabilities Resource Community--Canadian
http://www.ldrc.ca/about.php

Here's the International Dyslexia Association (international but not Australian, but full of good advice) web page for parents:

http://www.interdys.org/servlet/parents

LD online also has a wealth of resources:

http://www.ldonline.org/

This is the hompage for the Lindamood-Bell Learning Centers, which is a proven program to teach children with learning disabilities to read.

http://www.lblp.com/contact.shtml

This is the Slingerland homepage--a proven program-- which may help you find a tutor or program for your daughter:

http://www.slingerland.org/organization/approach.htm

Here's a link to an Australian association

http://www.users.bigpond.com/speldnsw/auspeld.html

This seems OK, but I am a bit hesitant about "tests at a distance"

http://www.dyslexia-parent.com/australia.html

Here is a hot-off-the press study on the dyslexic brain:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20040508/fob1.asp

Here are some sites that you might find useful, but I don't endorse:

I don't know this woman, but this page is helpful in detailing what goes wrong in reading disabilities

http://home.iprimus.com.au/rboon/Remediation.htm

(I don't know why she thinks Lindamood-Bell needs to be modified for Australians--I'm a little dubious about that. Elsewhere on her site she endorses things such as aromatherapy and Bach Flower Essenses, which I regard as so much hokum.)

I am also personally dubious about "retained primitive reflexes" causing learning disabilities.

DDAT has been both praised and criticized. Here's a page on it from me, with links

http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2003/12/dyslexia_online.html

It's available in Australia. I wouldn't pay for it myself.

I hope this helps.

[Brian]

I am an individual who has worked with dyslexic children for over 8 years using various treatments you consider to be quackery. I'm not going to bore you with any number of hundreds of tear-jerking success stories I have to share. I have seen the impact colored overlays have had on dyslexic individuals, and it is astounding. I encounter anxious parents and skeptics daily who demand the science behind overlays and their effectiveness, all the while appearing as if they're about to form a torch-bearing mob to have me burned a the stake for practicing witchcraft. The only answer we have is that "it works". We don't know why, and I don't care anymore. I hover around the poverty level with the rest of my coworkers and the organizations founder. Before demonizing all organizations as snake-oil salesmen, I would suggest performing more reliable research - such as placing overlays in the hand of a 16 year old who - up until now - couldn't get through 2 sentences of text . When you hear him start reading back to you miraculously, you might reconsider your liberal usage of the term "quackery".

Until you come up with a cure for dyslexia, please let the current treatments work. I think your efforts might be better used focusing on creation, rather than destruction. We have enough problems overcoming dyslexia. We don't need you fighting us as well.

[Liz]

I repeat, trying colored overlays or glasses is not the place to START.

[Brian]

> When you Google "dyslexia", the sponsored links are > for Orton-Gillingham Phonics (respectable); a quack > overlay treatment;

I was only referring to usage of term "quack" to define what has proved to be a very effective overlay treatment for us. (i'm assuming we're talking about the same URL dyslexiacure.com).

[Elaine Stinson]

Dear Liz,

As a mother of a child that has been helped by the Irlen Method, I am confused at your negativity to the Irlen Method. I feel bad that others reading your website may never go for help after reading it. Children will struggle for the rest of their lives. If they are like my son, then no amount of phonics training could or would be able to STOP the words from moving all over the page. Children like my son that do not get help will continue to avoid reading. They will not do good in school and will start to consider themselves dumb.

My son knew his phonics. And that is why when we finally placed the right colour of lenses over his eyes he read fluently for the first time in his life!!! I stress here, it wasn't the phonics he was missing!!! The whole problem was the words would not stay in place on the page!!!! He liked to use his finger to "hold the word down". (as he said)

I am not at all sure where you learned about Irlen, but you have alot of misinformation. The Irlen method does not teach reading. It does not replace phonics. All material from the Irlen Institute states clearly that it is NOT a method for teaching children to read. Most of the children and adults who seek help are like my son and family. They have learned to read, the know there phonics. It is the reading flow, fluency, and comfort that is the problem. Even the strongest advocates of phonics recognize that reading is more than just phonics. Therefore none of your comments make any sense. They do not apply to Irlen.

Misperception is a HUGE problem for many children and it is preventing them from being able to use their phonics ar reading skills. Why are you preventing parents from learning about misperceptions and exploring a solution???

Phonics cannot improve flency nor reading comfort. Reading stress is a well docomented problem and deserves to be addressed.

Two or three years ago,my daughter, who is turning 11 this month, started to come home from school with headaches. Headaches so bad she could not function and she missed plenty of school because of it. We took her to the Doctor,who sent her for every test needed to determine the cause. All came back negative. We were told she gets Migraine Headaches and would have to learn to live with them. She is a A+ student and really has no trouble reading, (she knows her phonics!!!) except she will only read short stories!!! Hates novels because there are too many words on one page. Of course after we had my son helped with Irlen we recognized the symptoms in her and we are going to get her helped too. She tells us florescent lights drive her carzy. Everytime we go into a mall she gets a headache. When she is looking at a person that is speaking in the front of a room intently, the person's body disappears and only their head remains. She then looks away or readjusts her eyes and the body comes back. This mainly happens when the lights are florescent.My son and daughter both hate bright lights. Dentist lights are torture.

My son could not go down-hill skiing without using googles or sunglasses becasue the snow and sun made him feel sick, now he wears hir Irlen lenses and finds the day wonderful.

So you see not only people who can not read can have Irlen and can get help from a Irlen lenses. You say it is not the place to satrt. Well I never started there. But I did FINISH there. And where I finished is the important part because my son received the help to go on and ace those reading tests. He has become an example to his teachers and others are receiving help because we found the place to finish. Irlen has made the difference in our lives and because of it we are strong advocates on belalf of Irlen.

I still challenge you to find out more about Irlen befoe you hamper others from being tested. Watch a child be tested. Watch the progress a child makes after they receive their glasses. It is amazing.

Elaine