Irlen Awareness Week is every October. This year from the 17th to the 21st. My 17 year old client has allowed me to share his story to promote awareness. Irlen Syndrome is a visual processing difficulty that makes reading difficult and clients are often light sensitive.
At the start of my client’s Diagnostic Session (to find a particular color tint to wear as glasses) his 3 wishes were: 1) Eyes not become tired 2) Able to concentrate on reading and not get distracted 3) Not be bothered by ‘glare’.
When reading letters can: float, become blurry, fade into the page. Often letters have lights around them (halo effect) and during the session it was found that when focusing on objects lights also surround them.
He is light sensitive and finds ‘glare’ in the environment uncomfortable. Glare can be from a glossy book, a window, a computer or when watching videos.
Not only do his eyes become tired when reading, working at school or driving, but he often feels drowsy, experiences a ‘brain fog’ and takes longer to process information when under bright lights.
When the correct color combination was reached my client said ‘It helps process what I’m seeing!’ The visual distortions were no longer there and letters became bolder and larger and stayed in focus. It was easier for him to concentrate on the words when reading and his eyes did not become tired. Without the color he read ‘word for word’ as he could only see one word at a time, with color he could see more words, which will aid comprehension. He could also look directly at bright lights/glare without being in pain.
My client was so pleased that the color combination helped him fulfill his 3 wishes! As for me… I LOVE my job!!
