Irlen Syndrome

What is Irlen syndrome?

If your child or young adult seems to have difficulties with reading, attention, headaches or light sensitivities, these symptoms and more could be a sign of perception difficulties. Irlen Syndrome is a visual perceptual processing disorder that can affect individuals of all ages. It is a difficulty with the brain’s ability to accurately process visual information. It has been the subject of medical and educational research and is a recognised syndrome with a physiological basis.

Individuals who have Irlen Syndrome may see the page like the image to the left.

Irlen syndrome is undiagnosed because

• It is not identified by standard visual and medical examinations, or educations and psychological assessments
• Sufferers think that the visual perceptual distortions they experience are “normal”
• Sufferers assume that everyone else perceives the page and the environment as they do

Who can it help:

Up to 12% of the general population have visual stress.

Irlen can contribute to learning disabilities; it can support individuals experiencing:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Headaches, migraines
• Environment
• ASD
• Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia
• Moderate/severe learning difficulties
• Ease and efficiency of reading

Individuals with Irlen Syndrome have difficulty processing all visual information, not just words on a printed page, so it can cause reading difficulties, light sensitivity, physical symptoms, fatigue. As well as difficulties with depth perception, driving, behaviour, writing and gross motor skills.

It can lead to stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and underachievement.

The difficulties that Irlen gives an individual can manifest itself differently for each individual. If left un-helped it can often become a lifetime barrier to learning and performance.