Light Sensitivity:

Bothered by glare, fluorescent lights, bright lights, sunlight and sometimes lights at night

Some individuals experience physical symptoms and feel tired, sleepy, dizzy, anxious, or irritable. Others experience headaches, mood changes, restlessness or have difficulty staying focused, especially with bright, LED or fluorescent lights.

Gifted and Average Students with Good Reading Skills:

Spend longer to complete homework

Physical complaints of headaches, strain, or tiredness when reading or at school

Avoids reading or reading for pleasure

Does poorly on timed tests or standardised tests

Unable to keep up with reading assignments

Reads beginning and summaries rather than the entire chapter

Listens in class rather than doing assigned reading

Finds it easier to learn from discussion than reading

Works hard to get grades but feels that s/he is brighter than grades indicate

Considered lazy or unmotivated. Told they could do better if tried harder

12-14% can be helped by the Irlen Method

Traumatic Brain Injuries, Head Injuries, Concussions and Whiplash:

35% of people suffering from these conditions have the following symptoms which can be helped:

Reading. Problems reading because of a change in clarity or stability of the print.

Sustained Attention and Concentration. Problems with ease and comfort of reading and doing other visual activities

Light Sensitivity. Individuals become light sensitive. This makes going outside, being in bright lighting or fluorescent lighting, and driving at night uncomfortable or stressful.

Physical Symptoms. Experience headaches, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, irritability, or stomachaches. The severity of these physical symptoms is often increased by sunlight, bright lighting, reading, and other visually-intensive activities.

Depth Perception. Problems with activities that require the ability to judge depth or spatial relationships.

Fatigue. General sense of being tired and fatigued.

Neurological Problems. Light-induced seizures, tremors, or other similar problems.

Reading Problems, Dyslexia and Learning Difficulties:

Reading is difficult and individuals cannot use their reading skills or learn basic reading skills

Problems with flow, fluency, and comprehension

46% of this population can be helped by the Irlen Method

Other problems may exist and instruction or remediation may be necessary

Visit our Self Test section to see if you can benefit from the Irlen Method

Headaches, Migraines and Other Physical Symptoms:

Headaches, migraines, stomachaches, dizziness and fatigue are a few of the physical symptoms which may be alleviated by the Irlen Method. These symptoms can have a variety of triggers, and those who benefit from wearing Irlen Spectral Filters may demonstrate the following problems:

Discomfort in sunlight

Discomfort in bright lights or fluorescent lights

Prefer dim lighting

Bothered by headlights at night

Bothered by glare

Discomfort with computer, phone or tablet use

Stress or strain with sustained reading

Stress or strain from visually-intensive activities

Difficulty looking at stripes or patterns

Certain colours are bright and bothersome

Snow, rain, and hazy days can appear to be glary

Visit our Self Test section to see if you can benefit from the Irlen Method

Autism and Asperger Syndrome:

Approximately 50% of those with Autism and Asperger Syndrome have the following types of difficulties which may by helped by the Irlen Method:

Looks in a series of short glances

Looks away from visual targets

Squints or looks down

Finger flicks

Sideway glances

Poor eye contact

Rubs or pushes on eyes

Mesmerised by colours, patterns, or light

Behaviour changes in bright lights or sunlight

Poor spatial or body awareness

Light sensitivity

Difficulties with stairs, escalators, or catching balls

Poor small or gross motor coordination

Psychological, Medical and Visual Problems:

The following are a sampling of some conditions whose symptoms include light sensitivity, processing difficulties and sensory overload and which have been helped by the Irlen Method:

Low Vision/Visually Impaired

Light-Induced Epilepsy

Depression

Anxiety

Strokes

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Auto Immune Diseases

Multiple Sclerosis

Cerebral Palsy

Fibromyalgia

Viral Illnesses

Tourette Syndrome

Lyme Disease

Agoraphobia

PTSD