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The Irlen Method: A Piece of the Puzzle

The Irlen Method: A Piece of the Puzzle. Helping Individuals with Irlen Syndrome/Sensitivity Syndrome. Medical Medication Antibiotics Allergies Sensitivities: Food, Smell, Noise Eating and Sleeping Patterns. Nonmeaningful Memory Spelling Problems Math Problems Neurological Penmanship

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The Irlen Method: A Piece of the Puzzle

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  1. The Irlen Method: A Piece of the Puzzle Helping Individuals with Irlen Syndrome/Sensitivity Syndrome

  2. Medical Medication Antibiotics Allergies Sensitivities: Food, Smell, Noise Eating and Sleeping Patterns Nonmeaningful Memory Spelling Problems Math Problems Neurological Penmanship Listening Skills Communication Other Areas Evaluated by Irlen Diagnosticians

  3. Defining the Problem • Not a result of maturation, IQ or motivation • Not remedial • Stays with individual for a lifetime • Compensatory strategies are needed

  4. READING Word meaning Decoding/phonics Pronunciation Rate Comprehension Sustained attention Skim/speed read Sight vocabulary LISTENING SKILLS Lectures Social Daydreaming MATHEMATICS Facts Concepts Word problems Speed Accuracy HANDWRITING Legibility Rate Copying COMPOSITION Grammar Sentence structure Paragraph organization Punctuation Proofreading TEST TAKING Scantron sheet Multiple choice SPELLING Visual memory Auditory memory

  5. Identifying the Population • 12-14% of general population, gifted and good readers • 46% of those with specific learning disabilities and reading problems • 33% of individuals with ADD/HD and behavior problems • 55% of individuals with head injury, concussion or whip lash • Individuals with autism and certain medical/visual problems

  6. Gifted Spend longer to complete homework and/or reading assignments Complains of headaches, fatigue or strain while reading or in school Avoids reading for pleasure Does poorly on timed tests Unable to keep up Problems Attention/motivation Behavior Average Student “Could do better if tried harder” ADD Behavior problem Grades do not reflect effort Complains of strain, fatigue or headaches Learning Problems Inefficient reading Complains of strain, fatigue or headache Good verbal skills School Populations to Screen

  7. Other Populations to Screen • Diseases • Autoimmune • CFS • Diabetes • Multiple Sclerosis • Cerebral Palsy • Spina Bifida • Parkinson’s Disease • Fibromyalgia • Viral Illnesses • Hydrocephalus • Myasthenia Gravis • Medical • Headaches/Migraines • Dizziness, Stomachaches • ADD/HD • Autism/Aspergers • Light-Induced Epilepsy • Depression, Anxiety, OCD • TBI, Concussion, Whip Lash • Stroke Victim • Visual • Diseases/Impairments • Low Vision

  8. What is Irlen Syndrome? • Visual-perceptual disorder: neurologically-based, visual cortex, transient or magnocellular deficit • Genetic component: affecting males and females equally • Condition is varied and intermittent • Exists on a continuum from slight to severe • Enhanced by environmental stressors: lighting; contrast, colors, patterns; amount of print on page; demands for continuous performance; demands for comprehension; print size, style and format • Not identified by standardized tests • Not a method of instruction

  9. Light Sensitivity: fluorescent lights, bright lights, glare, night blindness Physical Symptoms: dizziness, fatigue, headaches/migraines, stomachaches Academic Difficulties: handwriting, spelling, math, geometry, composition writing, note taking, copying, reading maps Difficulties using chalkboards, overheads, computers/typewriters, maps, charts, books, music, scantron sheets Sports Performance Depth Perception Eye Tracking Driving Behavior Problems Distractibility ADHD Problems

  10. Symptoms LIGHT SENSITIVITY Bothered by glare, fluorescent lights, bright lights, sunlight, or driving at night. Discomfort or difficulty concentrating or working under bright lights or fluorescent lights. INEFFICIENT READING Difficulty reading print, numbers, or musical notes. Problems may include print that shifts, shakes, blurs, moves, doubles, disappears, or becomes difficult to perceive. SLOW READING RATE Inability to read letters, numbers, musical notes, or words in groups. Problems tracking, correctly identifying words, or ability to skim/speed read. ATTENTION DEFICIT Problems concentrating while reading or doing school work. May have difficulty staying on task, take breaks, look away, become restless, fidgety or tired. STRAIN OR FATIGUE Feeling strain, tension, fatigue, sleepy or headaches with reading and other perceptual activities. Strain can interfere with the ease of reading, studying or even listening. POOR DEPTH PERCEPTION Inability to accurately judge distance or spatial relationships. May be unsure or have difficulty with escalators, stairs, ball sports or driving.

  11. The Irlen Syndrome Environmental Stressors • Lighting • Glare • Bright Color • High Contrast • Patterns and Stripes • Details • Sustained Attention • Continuous Performance

  12. Activities as Stressors • Sustained Attention/Concentration • Continuous Performance • Reading • Writing • Copying • Scantron Answer Sheets • Computer, T.V. • Other visually intensive activity

  13. Reading Subskills Distortions Print Background Span of Recognition Reading Rate Comprehension Sight Vocabulary Sustained Attention Flow & Fluency Basic Reading Skills Reading Efficiency Comfort Basic Reading Skills Comprehension Sight Vocabulary Phonics (Encoding/Decoding)

  14. Treatment: The Irlen Method • Screening for colored overlays • 1 hour to identify individuals who can be helped and determine the correct color(s) • Diagnostic testing for Irlen Filters • 2 1/2 hour diagnostic testing to determine color combination worn as glasses or contact lenses • Environmental modifications • Accommodations

  15. OVERVIEW • 56 Educational Reading Achievement • Rate, accuracy, and comprehension • Long term studies • Medical (brain and biochemical) • School District Studies • Prison Research • Military Research Research Packets are available from II

  16. Research Summaries The following slides summarize some of the key research.

  17. The Familial Incidence of Symptoms of Irlen Syndrome/Scotopic Sensitivity Robinson, G.L., & Foreman, P.J. (2000). Perceptual and Motor Skills, 91, 707-724 Parents with symptoms (N = 158) Robinson 2000 1996 N % % Mothers with positive symptoms 87 55 50 Fathers with positive symptoms 80 51 45 Both parents positive 39 25 11 Either one or both parents positive127 80 84

  18. Incidence of SSS in School PopulationRobinson, Hopkins & Davis. The Bulletin of Learning Disabilities, 1995

  19. Published Reading Studies • Robinson & Miles (1987) 42 subjects selected preferred overlay over random chosen overlay or clear overlay and performed better on word search, letter recognition, and number recognition tasks. • O’Conner et. al. (1990) After one week, 67 subjects showed 6 months gain in reading rate and accuracy. 19 month gain in comprehension.

  20. Reading Studies • Fricker (1989) Found significant gains after 12 months in rate, accuracy, and silent reading (p<.01). • Robinson & Conway (1990) 44 LD children showed significant improvement within 12 months. • Comprehension 36 months gain (p<.01) • Accuracy 23 months gain (p<.01) • Self-concept & attitude (p=.05)

  21. Pioneer Valley 172 students were screened and 27% were identified with moderate to severe SSS. Results after 3 months: • 100% had statistically significant improvement in accuracy and/or comprehension. Mean increases were 30 months in accuracy and 27 months in comprehension. • 100% of special ed. students showed statistically significant improvement in accuracy and/or comprehension. Mean increases were 24 months in accuracy and 27 months in comprehension.

  22. Pioneer Valley Results Continued Results after 3 months (cont.): • 83% of students reading below grade level increased by 9 months to 49 months in accuracy. • 67% of students improved at least 12 months in accuracy, comprehension, and passage fluency.

  23. Yakima Study • Seventy-one 3rd graders with moderate to severe SSS. • Those with SSS in school A were given overlays and in school B were not. • Pre/Post testing using GORT-4. Results after 3 months: • Overlay Group: gains of 14 months in rate, 17 months in accuracy, 14 months in fluency, and 13 months in comprehension. • No Overlays: gains of 1 month in rate & accuracy, 2 months in fluency, and lost 5 months in comprehension.

  24. New York City Schools • 26 RD students with SSS were randomly assigned to overlay or no overlay group. • Both groups given 4 months of reading remediation • Pre/post testing using GORT-R and subtests from WRMT-R • SSS students who did not have an overlay showed no growth in comprehension, speed, or efficiency. • SSS students with overlays showed significant growth in all areas.

  25. A Six Year Follow-up Study • Irlen Coloured Filters for Reading: A Six Year Follow-up by Whiting, Robinson, and Parrott in AustralianJournal of Remedial Education, 1994. • 94% of 267 subjects reported continued improvement • 58% reported large improvements in at least 3 areas

  26. Job Performance Survey • 136 randomly selected Irlen Filter users in the workplace. • 95% found significant improvement in their ability to do their job. • 94% found that their level of productivity had been significantly improved. • 91% reported a substantial decrease in the factors for absenteeism. • 91% felt increased job satisfaction.

  27. Job Performance SurveyAmerican Journal of Learning Disabilities, 1996 Percent Improvement in 8 Areas Key A Skipped Words B Repeat Lines C Lose Place D Glare Problems E Time on Task F Comprehension G Energy/Effort H Increased Speed % improvement

  28. Colorado Inmates & Irlen Syndrome Journal of Correctional Education, September 2000, by Whichard, J.A., Feller, & Kastner. Of 155 randomly selected subjects, 88.9% were moderately or highly Scotopic and reported moderate to considerable improvement with an Irlen colored overlay.

  29. Understanding the Causal Mechanisms of Visual Processing Problems: A Possible Biochemical Basis for Irlen Syndrome? Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, Robinson, Roberts, McGregor, Dunstan, and Butt, Dec. 1999This study found a variety of biochemical anomalies in 143 subjects with CFS who had been identified as likely to have symptoms of Irlen Syndrome. These individuals all reported headaches, photophobia, and trouble concentrating.

  30. MEG Neuroimaging • Results of brain scan study showed that colored Irlen Filters provided for normalization and crystallization of visual information processing for those with SSS

  31. A Publication of Harvard Medical SchoolFOCUS January 21, 1994 • “Livingstone believes the colored lenses may be useful because they heighten the contrast between the letters and the background, thus altering the timing differences between the [magno and parvocellular] systems. Some people have come and sworn that wearing these glasses has changed their lives. I've tested some of these people, and there are instances where we do see some differences. So I don't understand it; but, with additional funding, I'm going to continue to test them.” • Livingstone, Harvard Medical School

  32. Screening ProcessIrlen Reading Perceptual Scale (IRPS) • Overlays are an interim intervention • Works for reading • Limited color selection • Cumbersome • Overlays scratch • Need to be replaced

  33. Irlen Lenses • More comprehensive testing process • Different color than the overlay • Transmitted vs. reflected light • Filters offending wavelengths of light • Worn as lenses or contact lenses • Optimizes reading • Eliminates headaches and other physical symptoms • Changes in: depth perception, driving, copying, math, computers, light sensitivity

  34. Clothing: No bright or fluorescent colors No stripes, plaids, or polka dots No large or glittery jewelry or buttons Lighting: Reduce lighting Incandescent or indirect natural lighting Theatrical gels over fluorescent lights Visor or brimmed hat Classroom Modifications

  35. Chalkboards: Gray or brown Colored marker/chalk (red and yellow are hard to see) Write in columns Paper: Recycled, off-white, non-glare Different colors for different people Computer/Overhead Projector: Use colored overlays Classroom Modifications

  36. Dim lighting Incandescent lighting Markers (above, below, to the side of the line) Irlen tinted lenses Colored overlays Magnifying bar Visor/brimmed hat Bookstand Avoid fluorescent lighting Reading Modifications

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