Irlen Syndrome and problems tracking when reading or doing math
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An 8 year old girl visited the Krist Samaritan Irlen Clinic, Houston/Galveston for an Irlen Syndrome Screening. She often feels that her “eyes are moving about” when she tries to read and reads slowly. Her mom said she usually takes a long time when doing words searches.
Tracking difficulties like these are common if you are experiencing Irlen Syndrome - which is a visual processing disorder and so does not relate to whether you need an eye prescription or not.
Do you know anyone who has problems when reading with tracking lines, losing their place, skipping words? Do they compensate by pointing to the words, using a device such as a ruler under the line, or by reading very slowly/hesitantly to try not to lose their place?
Tracking problems, due to Irlen Syndrome, can be alleviated by using a certain color of reading overlay (clear plastic sheet) or by wearing individualized colored Irlen Filters (tinted glasses).
Tracking difficulties can also affect Math, when scanning numbers across a row or down a column. Here is a VIDEO showing the difference with and without the 8 year old’s particular overlay.
Please note an UPDATE today, from her mom, was that after only a few weeks of using the overlay she received a 2nd Grade Certificate of excellence which included improvement of reading level and a comment from her teacher “Amazing improvement! Keep practicing!”
Copyright Ⓒ 2021 - Julie Yaxley, Irlen Clinic, Krist Samaritan Center, Houston. All Rights Reserved.
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