I have heard numerous educators and school heads comment on the growth in working with learning differences in schools. This trend existed before COVID, but has been more noticeable since schools resumed. The question is, do these students have dyslexia and dysgraphia, or is there something else going on?
Most of the educational issues our struggling students face in the learning process can be classified as processing disorders. These processing disorders can be classified into auditory, sensory, and visual categories. Often, a student or adult has a combination of these disorders that impacts learning and executive functioning. The Pearl Center for Learning specializes in helping people with all three processing challenges. Our approach to therapy is effective, but we also have a unique way to help, especially with visual processing.
According to Columbia University, 2.2-2.9 million people suffer from a visual processing disorder. There is a great deal of information available on the topic, but this information rarely mentions Irlen Syndrome.
According to the Irlen Institute, Irlen Syndrome is “a defect in one of the visual pathways that carries messages from the eye to the brain. This defect causes a timing fault in processing visual information.” It is estimated that 50% of the population suffers from Irlen Syndrome, and 46% of people with reading problems, dyslexia, or learning disabilities have this type of perceptual processing problem.
Supported by 40 years of research, colored lenses can be used to filter out specific wavelengths of light, helping the pathway between the eye and brain to function normally. This is called the Irlen Method. With the correct color filter, Irlen lenses can bring some relief to individuals who suffer from reading problems, dyslexia, ADHD, migraines, light sensitivity, autism, traumatic brain injury, and anxiety.
The key is to get the right lenses. For years, we have used colored overlays in school to help students with visual processing. Overlays are good, but they are insufficient to improve the quality of life. An Irlen Diagnostician will evaluate everyone to determine the specific color and tint of lenses that provide the most relief from the symptoms. Best of all, the Irlen Method is an effective complement to educational therapy approaches like NILD and FIE.
Even though the Irlen Method has been thoroughly researched (see https://irlen.com/published-research/), few people know what Irlen Syndrome is or how it can help. I would encourage you to go to https://irlen.com/ to learn more and find out how you or someone you know could benefit from Irlen lenses. This website will also help an individual find a diagnostician in their area. You can also go to pearlcenterforlearning.com or email beverleyfurrow223@gmail.com to learn how our diagnostician at Pearl can help you.