Thanks for all the great information, Julie. I really learned a lot
from the web site.
I am going to try to get the local library to order the book for
their literacy section.
--- In glimmercoloredfilterglasses@yahoogroups.com, "Julie M. Evans"
<julie@c...> wrote:
> One of you asked me for more info on The Light Barrier, the new
book about
> Irlen Syndrome by Rhonda Stone, mother of 2 children with IS. This
info was
> posted on some other listserves. If you're on other listserves,
feel free to
> share info. Spread the word. Have a great holiday season, everyone!
Julie
> Evans
>
> Sensitivity to aspects of light, including brightness and glare
reflected
> off of whites pages, can cause headaches, reading problems,
attention
> problems, hyper behavior and/or nausea for some students. These
problems can
> occur with any bright light, but are common under fluorescent
lighting.
> An excellent new book, The Light Barrier, by Rhonda Stone
(October 2002,
> St. Martin's Press) details how Irlen Syndrome, a light sensitivity
problem,
> caused Stone's two children to experience reading problems,
headaches and
> other symptoms. Many schools in the U.S., Australia, and U.K.
screen problem
> readers for Irlen Syndrome (sometimes called Scotopic Sensitivity
Syndrome
> or SSS). Schools provide students who test positive with
individualized
> colored overlays, which improve comfort and visual perception.
Stone notes
> that overlays must be prescribed by someone who knows what they are
doing;
> any color won't do; the wrong color can actually cause headaches,
etc. A
> more expensive solution for ALL visual tasks, including reading the
board
> and driving, is Irlen tinted lenses (or contacts), which typically
are
> bought by parents. (Some service organizations help buy these for
poor
> families.)
>
> As early as first grade, children with this problem can be
observed
> rubbing or shading their eyes or yawning and complaining of
fatigue. Irlen
> Syndrome typically shows up in about third grade when the print
gets smaller
> and the assignments get longer. A child with 20-20 vision may
suddenly start
> complaining about blurring or even moving print, headaches, nausea,
> agitation, or fatigue after reading for a while. A traditional
vision
> screening or vision exam will not uncover this problem. Irlen
syndrome can
> worsen during times of hormonal change (i.e. adolescence and
menopause).
>
> The Irlen Institute and some research says 10-12% of the
population has
> Irlen Syndrome, half of problem readers have it and a third
of "attention
> deficit" kids have it.
>
> The Light Barrier provides a Chart of Common Traits useful in
comparing
> the observable differences between Irlen syndrome (light-based
reading
> difficulties), classic dyslexia, and attention deficit/attention
deficit
> hyperactivity disorder. Items identified on the list for Irlen
syndrome
> include most of the following (and more). In spite of 20/20 vision,
during
> or immediately after reading, the reader experiences a long-term
pattern
> involving several of these: Eyes that burn, itch, or water;
headache,
> stomachache, or fatigue; a need to rub the eyes; a need to shade
the eyes;
> excessive squinting or blinking; tilting or moving the head to
read; a
> preference for reading in dim light; skips words or whole lines;
loses place
> easily; slow, labored reading; poor comprehension; print that
appears fuzzy
> or unstable; artificial movement, shading, colors on the page;
avoids
> reading; takes frequent breaks; anxiety; depression, frustration,
or anger.
> Some people also have a depth perce!
> ption problem with Irlen Syndrome; some do not. (I do.)
>
> Irlen Syndrome can be misidentified as a learning disability.
> Accommodations for school include using colored paper, wearing a
hat or
> visor with a dark bill, sitting by the window if there is indirect
sunlight
> (which is better for some children than fluorescent light on the
page),
> turning out some lights, shading the child's paper, using a light
colored
> overlay on the overhead projector, using non-white "white boards,"
and using
> overlays. Some of these kids like to read "in the dark" where they
actually
> see print better! For computer glare, the computer screen can be
turned
> down, an overlay hung over the screen or the background color
changed to the
> individual's overlay color.
>
> A thorough conventional vision exam is recommended before
consideration
> of this list because conventional vision problems can cause some of
the same
> or similar traits.
>
> For more info: www.irlen.com or www.thelightbarrier.com or
contact me.
> The www.irlen.com web site had a list of contacts within each state
and
> country; these folks can refer you to local screeners.
>
> I am one of thousands of people in 30 countries who has been
diagnosed
> and treated successfully for Irlen Syndrome. Without Irlen lenses,
I have
> daily headaches; hyper feelings under fluorescent lights; reading
problems
> including blurring, stress, reduced span or letters seen clearly at
one
> time; poor comprehension; problems with lights when night-driving;
depth
> perception problems that showed up as overly cautious driving.
I've worn
> Irlen lenses since May and am grateful to again be able to scan and
> speed-read and read without headaches and stress. Some people are
born with
> the problem; others of us develop it later in life after a head
injury or
> surgery. By the way, I didn't label myself as "light sensitive." I
thought
> the blurred print was from allergies or fatigue. My husband, a
> speech-language pathologist, and I are now certified Irlen
screeners.
>
> The Light Barrier--A Color Solution to Your Child's Light-based
Reading
> Difficulties can be ordered through www.thelightbarrier.com, your
book store
> or amazon.com. Julie Evans, julie@c...