Visual stress is what people experience after they view text for long periods of time. While the symptoms differ depending upon the individual, the most common symptoms are garden-variety headaches as well as migraines, eyestrain, and letters that seem to jump or move around on the page. Visual stress is rather common, yet often goes undetected.
Irlen Syndrome
- Illustration of how sufferers of Irlen syndrome see text
In the case where there are reading difficulties and no underlying cause can be determined, it is worth a try to see if changing the background color for text relieves the symptoms. If so, this type of visual stress is called Meares-Irlen Syndrome, Scotopic Sensitivity, or Irlen Syndrome (within the U.S.). Researchers estimate that some 20% of the population suffers to one degree or another from visual stress. For many people, reading could be improved with the use of a colored overlay.
Self-Evident Improvement
Once the person suffering from visual stress can avail themselves of the proper tinted background, a number of reading-related aspects may be ameliorated. The right background can lead to improvements in reading fluency, speed, comprehension, and attention span. While researchers haven't quite determined why the change in background color makes a difference in reading, they do know that such improvement is self-evident and that customizing the proper color for the individual is crucial.
Colored Lenses
Colored lenses have also been utilized and have had a great effect. The prescription is made after the individual is assessed by a specialist in the field. The glasses are costlier than overlays but are more useful since they allow the user a greater field of vision. In the classroom, the lenses permit the wearer to see from the blackboard, the printed page, or from posters. The lenses serve the purpose of eliminating glare from whatever text the user is viewing.
- Symptoms of Stress
Peer Pressure
On the other hand, sometimes the color preferences change, which necessitates a new assessment and yet another costly pair of colored glasses. Another issue to consider is the child's feelings about wearing these unusual spectacles in public. The child may not mind as an elementary student, but high school may contain social pressures beyond a child's' comfort level.
Trial And Error
The individual may benefit more from one color as an overlay but from a different color in the form of lenses. The color of the lenses can only be determined by optometrists or orthoptists who employ the use of a diagnostic device or through trial and error with a large number of colored lenses.
Not Dyslexia
While it's true that a large number of dyslexics suffer from visual stress, the two conditions are not to be confused. Colored overlays and lenses should not be seen as cures for dyslexia.
Related articles
- Documenting Dyslexia (community.cognibeat.com)
- Dyslexia in Chinese Children (community.cognibeat.com)
- Dealing with the Stress of Dyslexia (community.cognibeat.com)
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