Vol. XVI, No. 1 JANUARY 2006

Irlen North American Conference Excerpts from EEG Newsletter.com Inside This Volume 3, Issue 28, July 28, 2005 Edition We just attended the annual conference Orton Society looks askance at on Irlen Syndrome, sponsored by Helen Irlen Syndrome because the organisation Irlen and her staff, and held in Long prefers its own perspective on the nature of Irlen North Beach. This was the twentieth dyslexia. American 1, 4-5 anniversary of Helen Irlen’s work, Some five years ago I heard Dr. Jeffrey Conference subsequent to her discovery of Scotopic Lewine of the University of Utah Centre for Sensitivity Syndrome in 1983. The Advanced Medical Technologies talk on Helen’s conference was a warm and spunky 2 Irlen at a Conference on Innovations in Corner affair. There was still the sense of “us Education being held in Salt Lake City. He against the world” in the air, but also the had been implored by Helen Irlen to utilise swagger of great self-confidence. The the newly installed New Irlen remaining adversary in 3 magneto- Diagnosticians the world at large was encephalography (MEG) nothing more at the university to formidable than investigate Irlen Around 6-8 ignorance itself. The World Syndrome. Lewine had It is estimated that resisted one overture some 100,000 people after another from Helen are now running around for many months, but Research 9 with Irlen lenses. That eventually relented. is success of a sort Among those children indeed, except when it exhibiting the Irlen Special is compared to the 10 Syndrome, there was Recognition estimate that some 26% Dr. Daniel Amen and Helen Irlen indeed a difference in their of folks have a type of North American Irlen Conference response to a pulsed visual that signal. The MEG visual Short could be affected by Irlen Syndrome. 11 evoked potential in the association area V5 Articles Helen herself looked at the downside of had a different time course and the her enduring campaign: “In twenty years, processing took place over a larger cortical we have lost another generation of In volume. This last feature could not have 11 children who could have been helped.” Memoriam been determined from EEG measurements It will be observed that optometrists are (because these measure effects only at the not currently screening for or offering cortical surface) or any other imaging New 12 Irlen lenses. They just did not want what technique (because they are too slow). The Screeners they saw as competition, even though difference showed up only in the range of Irlen’s work has nothing to do with optical 180msec to 240msec post-stimulus. correction. Thus is the public interest Lewine could convert abnormal into normal served by professional groups. Even performance (continued on page 4)

Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

Vol. XVI, No. 1 JANUARY 2006 Helen’s Corner Requesting Accommodations in Higher Education

I recently read an article by Cheryl Sahien and What are the Laws? Section 504 of the Jean Lehmann in the CEC journal Teaching Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American Exceptional Children (Vol.38 No.3 Jan/Feb 2006) Disabilities Act governs policy in higher which made me aware of the need to remind education. These laws provide general people about the importance of guidelines regarding the process. The accommodations for those in the college and American Disabilities Act states that any university system. Postsecondary survival institution that receives federal funds must requires that students who are accustomed to provide access for students with disabilities being special education recipients become within the educational institution. The student proactive self-advocates. is responsible for having the necessary documentation to show that a disability exists Although postsecondary institutions have an which qualifies for these services. The student obligation to level the playing field for students will need to provide to the college results with disabilities, the rules for requesting and from recent standardized tests showing a receiving accommodations differ from the specific . Otherwise, the rules in high school. The burden of student will have to pay for an eligibility responsibility for assessment which can be expensive. A current obtaining services shifts “Postsecondary survival requires that to the student to request assessment is critical students who are accustomed to being which shows that the services. special education recipients become student has a disability I am often asked by proactive self-advocates.“ and qualifies for the former clients to sign program. forms that will allow them to be registered with DDS (Disabled Student Services) to If a student is qualified for accommodations qualify for accommodations. Often, I cannot and has made a request for a reasonable qualify the student for the following reasons: accommodation and the institution denies his (a) Irlen Syndrome is not a condition that will requests, he has grounds to file a complaint qualify a student; (b) to receive services, a with the Office of Civil Rights. student must have had a recent evaluation within the past year. Final Review. (1) Student must identify himself to DDS. (2) Student must make a request for Students with Irlen Syndrome who will need reasonable accommodations. (3) Student must to continue using accommodations after high supply documentation. Postsecondary school should have IEP’s in place before leaving institutes grant accommodations on the basis high school; otherwise, the student will need of documented needs that relate directly to to go through a costly testing process. the disability and to the identified supports needed for meeting specific class requirements. (4) If the request is denied, the student can file a complaint.

2 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

NEW IRLEN DIRECTORS & DIAGNOSTICIANS

Sharon Smisek, EdD Christine Lee-Archer West Palm Beach, Florida, USA Melbourne, Australia

Currently, Dr. Sharon Smisek is on full-time Over her 25 years as a primary teacher, faculty at Florida Atlantic University in Christine has always been concerned at Jupiter, Florida, and teaches the number of students who found education courses to pre-service and in- reading difficult despite the many service teachers. As owner and director of strategies being given. After training, and Excel Learning Center, she offers with a supportive principal at her school, supplementary educational services to she has spent a large proportion of her children in the state of Florida. She believes that “as time in 2005 assessing students for Irlen educators, we must do our best to help our students reach Syndrome. As well as screening, Christine their full potential in all areas and being an Irlen Diagnostician has also been busy developing a differentiated curriculum for allows me to more fully meet the needs of many children and her school and providing programs for gifted and talented adults.” Sharon was previously an Irlen Clinic Director from students within her cluster of schools. Christine has now 1988 through 1993. moved onto the next phase of Irlen training and will be working as an Irlen Diagnostician under Clinic Director Gloria Thomas. Kyung Ran Seo, MD Seoul, South Korea Keiko Kumagai, PhD Dr. Seo is a psychiatrist specializing in Tokyo, Japan psychotherapy and is also an excellent neurofeedback practitioner. She has her Dr Kumagai is Associate Professor in the own clinic in the northern end of the Seoul Graduate School at the University of metropolitan area and has been working Tsukuba, Institute of Disability Sciences. closely with Dr. Hyung-bae Park in One of her areas of expertise is in practicing neurofeedback. She is quite educational interventions for students anxious to incorporate Irlen technology into with learning disabilities. While she was a her current practice and will be working with Dr. Park as an visiting Research Fellow studying at the Irlen Diagnostician. University of Manchester for ten months, she heard about Irlen and trained as an Irlen Screener before returning to Japan in April, 2003. She returned to England to Marcia Reis Guimaraes, MD, PhD complete her training as an Irlen Diagnostician and will run the Belo Horizonte, Brazil clinic in Tokyo.

Dr. Guimaraes is an ophthalmologist with Hospital de Olhos de Minas Gerais, Sang-Bo Sim, MD, PhD Directera da Scoiedade Brasileira de Kyungsangnam-do, South Korea Administracao em Oftalmolgia, Membro International Society of Refractive Surgery Dr. Sim is a urology practitioner while and Latin American Society of Ophthalmic specializing in nutritional medicine. He is Surgeons and American Academy of also very much into natural healing. He Ophthalmology. Her professional feels that with the Irlen technology, he activities are numerous and include: Professora Convidada will be able to expand the arena of his das Universidades e/ou Faculdades, Escaola Oaulista de activities to a greater extent. Dr. Sim will Medicina, Faculty of Unviersidadade Federal de Permambuco, be working as an Irlen Diagnostician with Universidade Federal do Ceara, Universidade Federal do Rio Dr. Hyung-bae Park. Grande do Norte, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina UFMG, Oftalmologista Hospital de Olhos de Minas Gerais, Professor Adjunta de

Jin-Woo Bae, MD, PhD Taegu, South Korea

Dr. Bae, a psychiatrist, has opened a new learning disability clinic for children and adolescents. It is associated with a private academic institute with approximately 1,500 high school students with a continual turnover. It is located about 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul. We are hopeful that the Irlen Filters will help them, and he is working with Dr. Hyung-bae Park as an Irlen Diagnostician.

3 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

Irlen North American Conference (continued from page 1) when the children put on their Irlen glasses, and approach by a nine-year-old patient. He has never looked could convert back into abnormal performance by back. placing them in the offending lighting environments. Dobrin undertook a thorough investigation in which some Unsurprisingly, I found these data to be completely 460 patients were screened preliminarily using some 17 persuasive. The import for Helen’s continuing work questions selected from the Irlen questionnaire. This was was that these findings shifted the attention to post- over a three-year period. 210 of these ended up retinal processing of the visual signal. Perhaps the diagnosed with Irlen Syndrome, and in 120 the condition syndrome did not involve “scotopic sensitivity” at was moderate to severe. Forty of these ended up getting all. The term “Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome” was the Irlen lenses. henceforth down-played in favour of the less James Irvine is a military guy, currently residing at China tendentious “Irlen Syndrome.” Lake, who got interested in this work because the Armed Chris Chase, Ph.D. of Claremont McKenna Forces often put soldiers, sailors, and airmen under College illuminated a possible model for Irlen strange lighting conditions aboard ship and in the bellies Syndrome. He was working under a grant from the of aircraft. If these policies were disadvantaging some National Eye Institute. It has been found that there people and rendering them dysfunctional, that needed to is a distribution in ratios of the different colour be known. receptors (cones). As was first demonstrated by Irvine talked about the old research on the human visual Edwin Land of Polaroid fame, the brain really response to colour. Masses of people had been studied, makes up most of the colour spectrum through the and when the data were compiled there was a significant weighing of relative fluxes perceived by the three problem of outliers. The response of the researchers at cone types. When the retinal populations are too the time (around 1930) was the obvious one: do more far out, this normalization process may not be able studies. But adding numbers to what was already a to function fluently. The neural system combines statistically meaningful cohort was no way to make inputs from different colour cones in a centre/ outliers go away. Eventually the resolution was to simply surround combination. Some eight combinations segregate some 22% of subjects into this anomalous are formed, leading to our perception of four basic category and to evaluate the rest to establish normative colours even though there are only three types of curves. Ever since, the assumption has been that the cones. human colour response is reasonably homogeneous. Chase devised an optical threshold test that gets at Now it turns out that this same 22% is the very cohort of the same ratios. He found a distributional match to interest in the Irlen Syndrome. For these people, the the distribution known from prior post-mortem accommodation function performed by the brain does not measurements. quite cover the subject. For these folks, perception is altered as a function of spectral input. If the variability in Thus encouraged, he correlated the ratios with the data had been highlighted originally, we might have reading performance by Irlen criteria. There was an been sixty years ahead now instead of twenty years excellent correlation. ln the cohort of college behind. students being evaluated, some 17.4% were found to have mild to moderate Irlen symptoms. And He then plugged this into some eighteen different models reading is their job! Some four different symptom for human vision. The only fit obtained was for the patterns were identified: “receptor field model” that also accounts for the Irlen Syndrome. In fact he obtained a high correlation between Daniel Amen, MD was a keynote speaker. reading speed and colour intensity/colour balance. Significantly, he showed a pre-post comparison of SPECTs with and without the Irlen lenses in There is also a dependence of lateral eye span, the someone with the syndrome. The difference was lateral distance on the page that can be “taken in” by the stunning. This was, of course, sufficient to convince eye in one glance. And most surprisingly, there is even a him since he is conversant with his own dependence on the preferred focal distance for near assessments. Irlen screening is now routinely done vision as a function of spectral content. Change the at his centres. colour of the light, and the person will promptly adjust how far away the reading material will be held away from Robert Dobrin, MD, a psychiatrist working at the the eye. Amen Clinic, talked about how he first got interested in Irlen work when a bright bespectacled Absent Irlen Syndrome, there should be no dependence 9-year-old came into his office some years ago of reading speed, eye span, and focal distance on colour sporting Irlen lenses. Dobrin asked about them, content or intensity, and for “normals” that is generally and the kid insouciantly answered: “You’re the child true. psychiatrist; you should know!” Indeed. So Dobrin But for the vulnerable population, the variation in reading was embarrassed into investigating the Irlen speed alone was from 65% to 145%. That by itself proves

(continued on page 5) 4 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

Irlen North American Conference (continued from page 4)

that there is a problem to be solved. To date, even eye. Every neurofeedback practitioner should be that has not been acknowledged by the mainstream. screening routinely for Irlen Syndrome. Our work may If you don’t acknowledge a problem, then of course very well not succeed at all unless that is taken care Helen Irlen can only be a charlatan. One reason that of. the problem escapes the ophthalmologists is that they In summary, the parallelism here to our own typically test under dim light conditions. experience is in some ways uncanny. The speakers So, what are the implications for us? First of all, it is generally manifested a very clinical and problem- by now apparent that the problem does in fact trace solving orientation, but also one that was very back to retinal architecture, and therefore is not just respectful of the need for scientific investigation and a matter of the efficiency of post-processing in the responsive to the results of such investigations. This association cortex. But the latter problem exists as has by now occupied some twenty years, a period of well, and that’s where neurofeedback might help. It time that has given mainstream practitioners plenty of is not surprising to find that people with disregulated opportunities to be “snagged” by intriguing data, just brains have particular difficulties with Irlen as Dr. Dobrin was, and as Helen Irlen was originally. Syndrome. This would include first and foremost all It would be ludicrous to consider this body of work those with sensory hyper-excitability. A high collectively and pronounce it deficient in some way, percentage of our spectrum people and our undeserving of any attention. It is not a matter of migraineurs have problems with Irlen Syndrome, as needing the data to be just a bit less ambiguous. In do the head-injured and people with irritable bowel. particular, it is not a matter of controlled studies not Since the “back-end” problem can be modelled as a having been done. Controlled studies are easily done sensory integration problem, even if it exists solely in this case: glasses on, read; glasses off, read some within the visual system, it is only too likely that Irlen more. What could be easier? Yet mainstream science Syndrome should correlate with other sensory is still missing in action. As Einstein said, “it is the integration deficits. That’s what we observe. Also theory that tells us what we may believe.” anxiety correlates. Neurofeedback can help with the back-end processing problem, but there is no good alternative at the moment to solving the problem at the front end with correction of spectral input to the

Handout packets available ($15.00) includes the following speakers:

Chris Chase, PhD: Magnocellular Cone Signal Strength and Reading Many studies have found visual impairments in dyslexia that suggest a Daniel G . Amen, magnocellular (MC) deficit. Colored filters also can help children learn Making MD a Good Br to read. CD ain Great . . .$5.00 W Laurence D. Martel, PhD: Impact of the Environment on Learning and ays to im prove and Performance. This presentation includes the elements of Dr. Martel’s optimize brain func latest book, The Seven Secrets of Learning Revealed, including the resolut tion. High ion scans ergonomics of learning. the e demonstr ffectivene ate Bonnie France Morrow, PhD: Report from the Trenches: An in ss of vari tervention ous Assessment and Computerized Remediation Program that Applies s, includin Irlen g the Cognitive Neuroscience in the Classroom. Decades of experience Lenses. with learning “differences” and underprepared students led me to James Ir identify, and then to develop, an effective program of remediation for vine The Cau the five most important “invisible” barriers, including Irlen se of Irlen CD . Syndrome Syndrome, that hinder student reading and learning. . .$5.00 Findings Daniel C. Parsons: The Irlen Method and the Law and result Navy’s s of the U. This session explores how the fundamental provisions of Federal experime S. veri nt that law (NCLB, IDEA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act) fied scient ifically the enable parents, teachers, and other child advocates to secure validity of Irlen Sy Irlen accommodations for children who suffer from Irlen ndrome. Syndrome. Laura P. Weisel, PhD: Emotions! The Prerequisite to Learning This session offers an understanding of how emotions are brain functions that are core to all learning and managing all life situations.

Place orders through the Irlen Institute via email, fax, or mail.

5 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

Vol. XVI, No. 1

AROUND THE WORLD WITH IRLEN

State and National Standardized Testing Austria

The GED, TABE (Tests of Adult Basic Education Margit Taubenschmid, Visuelle by CTB McGraw-Hill) and CASAS Test of Life ahrnehmungsschwäche und Irlen-Syndrom (Visual Skills ALL accept colored overlays, lighting perception condition and Irlen Syndrome); ISSN modifications, and magnifiers to be used during 1431-7273; ISBN 3-631-52374-2, a German book testing at the student’s request. edited by Univ. Prof. Dr. Richard Olechowski. The book publishes the research on Irlen Syndrome conducted at Vienna University and gives a short but thorough overview about vision, medical eye Colored Overlays for Standardized Testing conditions, the theory of reading, and the psychological effects of being incapable to meet In addition to the California Department of the criteria of reading performance in class. Education's website which lists colored overlays as a standard accommodation, Oklahoma also has a In the introduction, Univ. Prof. Dr. Richard website listing colored overlays as a standard Olechowski states that the study on Irlen Syndrome accommodation. The easiest method for getting to is an “important research result for special and this website is to do a google search for “colored remedial education.” The placebo controlled overlays” and find “Accommodations for Students research study proves the significant advantages in on an IEP or 504 Plan Oklahoma CORE” which will reading rate and reading accuracy using Irlen directly link you to the website: coloured overlays for children with Irlen Syndrome. www.se.sde.state.ok.us/ses/3-21yrs/ Margit Taubenschmid tested 64 children in grades accommodationhandout.pdf. I suggest you print 3-4 who were about 9 years of age. 32 children this information from the website and keep it for were given overlays and a control group of 32 were your records. given the placebo, special exercises, a so-called magical cure for reading difficulties. Washington, USA The Irlen Centers in German-speaking countries wish to thank you, Helen, for funding the This may be of interest to you if you are working publication. Angelika Koch, Diagnostician with adult education or individuals in correctional Virginia, USA facilities. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Bryant Alternative School funds adult education. According to WIA, Irlen materials appear to be a legitimate claim for fund usage. Funds are allocated according to Two ALC students used the overlays daily in class, Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment. achieving an average of nine months gain in reading rate, a gain of eight months in accuracy, and a gain of eight months in comprehension. The three who used Switzerland the overlays for just post-testing gained in at least two of the three categories. The average gain for all five Dr. Doris Safra has written a book entitled students using individually prescribed Irlen Overlays "Interdisziplinares Lehrbuch zur Behandlung von for 1½ to 2 weeks was five months in rate, eight Lern- und Leseschwierigkeiten." This book, months in accuracy, and six months in which is in German, includes a chapter on Irlen comprehension. The more students used the written by Fritz Steiner. overlays, the better the results. Maxine Jaubert, Clinic Director

6 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

Vol. XVI, No. 1 AROUND THE WORLD WITH IRLEN

Ohio, USA Virginia, USA Fairfax County Public Schools Clinic Director Elaine Gutowitz conducted a screener training for 15 teachers and administrators in the Ohio A five-student investigation was conducted at Bryant prison system with a possibility of doing two more Summer School with Middle School students last seminars. summer. All showed reading improvement, according to Gray Oral Forms A and B for pre/post testing using Irlen Overlays. Of a group of 25 with pre-test scores ranging Switzerland from mild to severe on Irlen pre-assessment, 11 volunteered their own comments describing reading I am so pleased to announce that Fritz Steiner, Irlen difficulties symptomatic of Irlen Syndrome. A positive Clinic Director Switzerland, has written an article on trend was observed within a week or so for all students in Irlen and head injuries. The article has been two or more subtests of the Gray. published in the Journal for Whiplash Injury. If you Maxine Jaubert, Clinic Director would like a copy of the article, which is in German, contact the Irlen Institute to send it to you as an Switzerland attachment. Reference for the article: Fritz Steiner, Schleudertrauma und visuelle Dr. Doris Safra and Fritz Steiner presented a lecture to Wahrnehmungsstörungen, in Schleudertrauma-Info, eye doctors regarding a case of Postneuritis optica with Ausgabe 1/2005, S. 22-26, Schleudertraumaverband, problems of reading and walking and the elimination of Horneggstr. 9, 8008 Zürich, these problems with Irlen Filters. www.schleudertraumaverband.ch Oregon, USA

Fritz writes, “The contact I had with whiplash patients “My name is Cherie Countryman. I reside in Salem, shows the importance of a disturbed visual perception Oregon. I work at the Juvenile Department. I am a for this group. In many other publications, these learning specialist in a pilot program for 8-12 year old visual problems are mentioned but not one of them kids who get into petty trouble, most of whom are having indicates any treatment. So the information in my a difficult time with school. Marcia Davis, my coworker, article was quite new for patients and for has been testing the children for SSS for one year. In professionals.” December, I joined Marcia in screening the kids that come into the program. I think we have about 95% Scotopic kids, and many severe.”

North Carolina, USA Italy Brenda Elliott, an Irlen Screener at one of the community colleges, has been testing and providing The IRPS has been translated into Italian. Many thanks overlays to her students in GED or Adult High School to Clinic Director Fritz Steiner for this translation. This programs. She has them take the TABE testing was done in order to continue research at Modena without overlays and then with overlays within less University with Professor Barbolini. Preliminary research than a week. Improvement ranged from 1.5 grade results in 6 cases out of 6, with properly selected Irlen levels to 4.7 grade levels. The mean improvement lenses, reduce in both eyes the differential amplitude of was 3.4 grade levels. We were really amazed. Sue photopic waves A and B. Youngman, Clinic Director Germany

Australia Irlen Clinic Director Dorothee Perpeet has an entry in the German Who is Who! She is being acknowledged for being the first German Irlen Diagnostician, plus her broad The Australasian Association of Irlen Consultants knowledge about special education. This proves that news (AAIC) Conference, which was held in Melbourne in about the Irlen Method is spreading and the hours January, was attended by 57 delegates from all over Dorothee invested to make people understand what Irlen Australia and New Zealand. Syndrome is are paying off! Angelika Koch, Diagnostician

7 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

Vol. XVI, No. 1 AROUND THE WORLD WITH IRLEN

Barbados Canada

I have made short presentations to two separate private Our first Canadian school has completely endorsed the schools who work with children who have learning Irlen Method AND is paying for assessment and lenses problems, and both are interested in screener training. I where needed. Parents pay the school back over also found among the staff at least three Irlen individuals time. We have branched out to testing the parents and who are severe and several more who have some members of the community, further supporting the problem. children wearing tints in the school. Beverley Butt, Clinic Director I had an appointment with the chief education officer to discuss possibilities for the public schools. I have networked with a few teachers; and they confirm that there is a definite problem, especially reading, in all schools since they electrified the schools in the late Washington, USA 1960's and most converted to fluorescent lighting! Judy Palapala, Clinic Director The new Washington State University learning pilot study is off and running! I wanted to let you know that my students, who are subjects in this study, have been Washington, USA assessed for Irlen Syndrome. They all are significantly affected and have been provided with the appropriate In October I was invited to become an official CE overlays. I have had some very good feedback from presenter for my state’s professional Opticians these students already -- and they have yet to begin their group. They have two meetings a year for CE computerized software exercises designed to remediate credits. This group was quite interested in Irlen, did not their other learning difficulties (dyslexia, ADD, and seem to feel threatened by what we do, and seemed memory problems). Bonnie France Morrow, PhD, open to mutual referrals. Adjunct Professor for WSU Kirstie Lewis, PhD, Clinic Director

South Africa California, USA

A wonderful opportunity came our way to do an exhibit Dr. Drew Yellen has done a few brain scans of individuals booth at the Learning Fair and Careers Expo, Cape with Irlen Syndrome. Initial results showed a 4 standard Town. This is an international conference with around deviation in hyperexcitability and delayed processing. 200,000 people and national television coverage. Overexcitability alters the input which leads to difficulty Martelean Venter, Clinic Director with visual integration and visual processing. It is exciting to see these initial results, and we look forward to doing more scans. Drew Yellen, PhD, Clinic Director Australia Arizona, USA There is a school in Perth (Singleton Primary School) where I have trained 15 PASS pre-screeners. The LouAnne Johnson, author of the bestselling book that principal wants to test all 650 students in the school, inspired the movie Dangerous Minds, has written another then screen all those recommended for overlays. We book, Teaching Outside the Box, How to Grab Your then want to engage in a longitudinal study using the Students By Their Brains, Jossey-Bass. As with her last State’s and numeracy assessments in years 3, book, The Queen of Education, LouAnne mentions the 5, and 7. He is keen to prove the improvement in Irlen Method. The book discusses solutions for the students with Irlen and then bring pressure to bear on problems mentioned by students who are anti-reading. the Education Department to introduce this into all One of the solutions is the Irlen Method, pg. 195-196. To schools. This is a really exciting development and one quote from the book: “In my own experience, about one- that will yield the results we are after in terms of making half of a given class of remedial readers showed signs of it a part of the assessment regime for all students. scotopic sensitivity and responded positively and Steve Stanley, Clinic Director immediately to using overlays to read. Other teachers have reported similar success.”

8 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

RESEARCH The relationship between dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome

Isla Kriss, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, and Bruce J.W. Evans, Institute of Optometry/City University, UK, Journal of Research in Reading, ISSN 0141-0423, Volume 23, Issue 3, 2005, pp 350-364.

This published study compared a group of 32 Coloured overlays and their effects dyslexic with 32 control children aged 7 - 12 on reading speed: a review years, matched for age, gender, and socio- economic background. Rate of reading was

tested using the WRRT with and without their Wilkins A, Visual Perception Unit, University of preferred overlay. Essex, Colchester, UK. Ophthal. Physiol. Opt.

2002; 22: 448-454. The study concluded that Irlen Syndrome is

prevalent in the general population and Coloured overlays can reduce symptoms of visual possibly a little more common in stress and improve reading speed. These benefits dyslexia. Children with dyslexia seem to are reliable and are not attributable simply to benefit more from coloured overlays than non- placebo effects. Five percent of children in dyslexic children. Irlen Syndrome and dyslexia mainstream education read at least 25% more are separate entities and are detected and quickly with an overlay, provided they have chosen treated in different ways. the colour. The suboptimal design of children’s text

and the high level of classroom lighting may be The study states, "It is recommended that partly responsible. education professionals as well as eye-care professionals are alert to the symptoms of Irlen Syndrome and that children are screened for

Where Have Articles Been Published?

Studies on the Irlen Method have been published in numerous well-respected academic and medical journals, including but not limited to those below.

The Journal of the American Optometric Association The Australian Journal of Remedial Education The Journal of Learning Disabilities Journal of Correctional Education The Australian Journal of Special Education Vision Research Clinical and Experimental Optometry Journal of Behavioral Optometry Ophthalmological and Physiological Optics Education Perceptual and Motor Skills Neuropsychology The Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities Bulletin for Learning Disabilities Behavioral Optometry The Australian Journal of Psychology Optometry and Vision Science Journal of Research in Reading

9 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

Vol. XV, No. 2 JUNE 2005

Special Recognition for Distinguished Service

The Irlen Institute would like to acknowledge those individuals from across the nation and around the world who work tirelessly to help those with Irlen Syndrome. These individuals come from all walks of life – some are Irlen Screeners, some are parents, and others are professionals who work in the field of education. The following people deserve special recognition and special thanks:

Brianna Medal is in 5th grade and has been Fran Morin, screener, was one of the first to wearing Irlen Filters for a year. When using her respond as a leader to organize the screeners in overlay before she received her filters, she went her area and arrange monthly meetings. She is from 2.2 to 4.0 in reading in a two month period. developing a growing contact list of educational Since wearing her Irlen Filters, she has been organizations which are invited to her monthly chosen Student of the Month, received a information sessions. Her team had an Irlen Certificate of Achievement, and won first place in display at a booth for five days at the Barrie Fair. the science fair with a display about Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome. Sharon Kelly is a screener/teacher from Owen Sound (Canada) who was also one of the first Darlene Passingham was trained last screeners to respond to our Awareness Campaign February as a screener. Darlene is an instructor and held three very successful information for the Home Schooling Programme and has been sessions at the Irlen Centre that included many developing awareness of Irlen in the Home health practitioners. Schooling Association in the London, Ontario (Canada), area. Julie and John Stirling, through Learning Links, have created a strong Irlen presence in the Red Nola Stigings, one of our most active screeners Deer, Alberta (Canada), community and from Alberta (Canada), is offering leadership to a surrounding communities. The strength of their number of screeners in isolated communities. commitment to Irlen in connection with the Nola has participated in a number of presentations Learning Disability Association has resulted in about Irlen over the years. financial commitment to screen and to test students for Irlen Syndrome by the Reading Simon Francis. We would like you to recognize Literacy Programme. Irlen would like to recognize Simon for establishing a centre to provide regular their commitment to the Irlen method by their testing, training, and cluster meetings. Simon has perseverance to obtain government funding to also been instrumental in establishing a weekly support students who otherwise would be unable Hot-Conference on the internet for screeners. to access Irlen screening and tinted filters. This weekly communication was instrumental in helping to maintain the momentum of our Irlen Beth Griffin, experienced screener and now a Awareness Campaign last spring. retired teacher from Windsor Ontario (Canada), was responsible for the CBC documentary, 1999 Ennette Anderson is a screener who has been a on Irlen Syndrome. This six minute documentary. regular writer of articles on Irlen in the is most frequently used by screeners for “Homeschool Newsletter.” As a result, there is a presentations. growing awareness of Irlen within this community. Patti Collins, a screener/educator in Guelph, Gayla Freitag, a Master Screener/retired Ontario (Canada), has participated on a Ministry Educational Consultant, has been instrumental in of Education Committee that was responsible for maintaining a strong Irlen presence in the modifications to the current provincial testing. As Northern (Lakehead) regions of Ontario (Canada). a result of Patti's influence, students may request Along with several other screeners, she has coloured paper and/or coloured overlays when arranged for the presentation of information on writing the tests. Irlen Syndrome at the Lakehead Literacy Conference in Thunder Bay. She is currently Sara Francis, a screener in Halifax, Nova Scotia, assisting in the organization of a parents' support had arranged for an information booth at the group. Maritime Learning Disabilities Conference which resulted in educators being trained as screeners. Sara has arranged to have an Irlen presence at the Health and Wellness Fair in Halifax.

10 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

THE EFFECTS OF SCOTOPIC SENSITIVITY/ IRLEN SYNDROME ON EVALUATING ATTENTION DEFICIT WITH STANDARDIZED TESTING By Andrew G. Yellen, Ph.D. LATE EMERGING STRUGGLING Due to the nature of IS, various subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, STUDENTS Fourth Edition (WISC-IV), and of the Woodcock-Johnson Pyschoeducational The news from a national testing program, multi-state Battery, Third Edition, Cognitive and reading and math tests, showed a small improvement in Achievement (WJ-R) are adversely affected. In math but flat in reading for junior high students. High addition, continuous performance tasks reliant school students actually dropped a bit in both. The same on visual processing, such as the Test of pattern appears on a wide variety of assessments. U.S. Variables of Attention-Visual (TOVA-Visual), high school students test in the mediocre-to-dismal range are also negatively impacted and may, in some in international comparisons on math, science, and cases, produce false positives for ADHD. Irlen reading; eighth graders also score below average. L.A. lenses may bring the standard scores into the Times, July 26, 2005. Average range with no other intervention, thus those suspected of ADHD should be screened Something is going on. Middle and high schools have for IS and, if appropriate, tinted prior to been all but ignored in most state, national, and local administration of such visual tasks. reform efforts. Elementary schools have received extra money for smaller class size, and IDEA and NCLB center Those not yet done in formalized research, attention on early intervention. Students and teachers in empirical evidence suggests that standard middle and high schools are left to struggle. What is scores may be as much as one and one-half being done for these students who are “late emerging” standard deviations higher when individuals struggling readers? What are we doing to address their with IS utilized Irlen lenses. The more heavily problems? reliant a task is upon visual processing, the greater the improvement once the SSS has Irlen needs to be an important part of middle and high been appropriately addressed. Specifically, school agendas. Irlen needs to be a key piece in caution should be taken before concluding that targeting educational failures. There is no single solution. a diagnosis of ADHD is accurate when the It is clear, though, that the current focus on high schools assessments are heavily dependent upon is ignoring a group of students that needs more attention visual processing and a screening for IS has and more help. not been performed.

IN MEMORIAM Karen Solin In July of 1988, Karen began her work with Irlen - first as a screener and then as a diagnostician. Karen was co-director with Dale Gelbard of the Irlen Clinic of Manhattan and Westchester, New York, USA. Unfortunately, in the very same month and year, she began her long hard battle with breast cancer. For the past 17 years, Karen has been dedicated to her Irlen work while she continued to fight her illness. It is with great sadness that we report that Karen lost her battle with cancer and passed away in May, 2005. She will be missed by her fam- ily, her friends, the Irlen family, and all of those who knew her. Dale Gelbard, Clinic Director

John Stirling John Stirling, husband of Julie Stirling, both screeners at Learning Links in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, died from a heart attack on November 17. The screeners associated with The Irlen Centre have made a donation for Irlen Testing, at Julie's request, in lieu of flowers. John was a great promoter of the Irlen method and has been responsible for setting up the regular Irlen testing sessions in Red Deer. Julie and John have been re- sponsible for introducing the Irlen activity in Red Deer and the nearby communities. Their two daughters and two granddaughters all wear Irlen Filters. We will miss John. He was a counselor with amazing skills. Adel Francis, Clinic Director

11 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006

New Screeners

AUSTRALIA: Sharryn Benson, Joan Brien, Barbara Butterfield, Jennifer Cartwright, Libby Evans, Jo Fischer, Kay Freeth, Susan Grayson, Allan Greenbank, Mary Heneghan, Patricia Killen, Jenny O’Neill, Gail Paterson, Kristie Pohl, Linda Saywell-Smith, Linda Sherwin, Jo-Ann Slater, Lianne Steven, Georgette Visser / BELGIUM: Marjan Debee, Dieryckx Karlien, Sergeant Kelly, Devos Tine, Sarah Vercruysse / CANADA: Gerri Barber, Laura Kerpel, David McQuaid, Michelle Thibault, Patricia Vass / ENGLAND: Julie Ackroyd, Susan Ash, Debby Ballard, Andrea Barkaway, Linda Barling, Nicola Beswick, Lesley Bolton, Neil Boulton, Dominic Patrick Boyle, Charlotte Bray, Karen Brown, Pamela Ann Brown, Tynan Campbell-Burns, Carole Burtonwood, Amanda Chalk, Ina Chantry, Lesley Clinning, Janet Clayworth, Amanda Corcoran, Dennis Czech, Theresa Davies, Teresa Davison, Mary Donnelly, Christina England, Jill Fisher, Chris Halpin, Susan Hamilton, Sylvia Hardy, Kathleen Heathcotc, Helen Herries, Colin Hickson, Andrea Jamieson, Stephen Nigel Kendrick, Clare Kent, Nicola D. B. Kettle, Amanda D. Hale, Jill Lang, Andrea Claire Lindley, Colin Martin, Catrina Menzel, Lyndsey Mills, Pauline Mills, Tina Moriey, Pat Muddyman, Diane Pattison, Lynne Pell, Joanna Powell, June Rawden, Beverley Reid, Jo Skabara, Jill Rendell, Valeria Richardson, Annette Roche, Debra Sargent, Emma Louise Seaton, Diane Shaw, Dominique Simpson, Beatrice Troeger, Kush Vanja, Christine Ward, Helen Ward, Victoria Wyatt, Marian Webb, Jean Wiles / HUNGARY: Bret Andarson, Marcia Joyce, / JORDON: Leila Suleiman Belbeisi, Rania Adnan Radwan Bader, Faten Ali Al Falayleh, Lina Shebly Abd-Samad, Niveen Jubrael Yacoub Al-Ifat, Zein Hani Khalifeh, Bushra Zaki Altarawneh, Sameera Mohammed Abdulwahab, Tagrid Adel Karkesh, Lana Faisal Zawati / NEW ZEALAND: Karen Blundell, Gaye Openshaw-Clark, Carike van der Merwe, Valeria Meihana, Katrina Donnelly, Ellen Collie, Donna Herd / SCOTLAND: Noelle Balley, Evelyn Butchard, Helen Dougall, Yvonne Fraser, Joyce Gorman, Irene Grant, Jan McGinley, Kirsteen McLean, Susan McDermott, Maggie Neill, Julia O’Carroll, Alison Ross, Rhoda Ross, Dorothy Sutton, Janis Williamson, Alison Wood / SWITZERLAND: Gabriella Noseda / USA: ARIZONA: Carolyn Wilson / CALIFORNIA: Heidi Baldassare, Jane Bates, Linda Bauld, Cindy Carlson, Karen Chandler, Madge Desmond, Barbara Fralick, Lori Eastman, Nanette Prince Egetter, Tamara Garcia, Colleen Glenn, Mimi Gransden, Dorolyn Groshens, Jeanine Haines, Deborah Henslet, Bett Huffaker, Sharon Kearney, Debra Hertel Knight, Deborah Kresal, Robin Liedtke, Daphne MacNeil, Simone Malboeuf, Darleen McKinney, Jill Moorman, Michelle Neville, Carolyn Nuyens, Sarah O’Conner, Joy Padden, Cynthia Perales, Orli Peter PhD, Tracy Peyton, Georgina Rettinger PhD, Joni Richards, Catherine Saldaña, Michelle Selber, Anne Shirako, Marlene Tatum PhD, Ginny Therriault, D’Anne Weitzman, Sindy Wilkinson / COLORADO: Judith Albright, Bonnie Blackburn, Valerie Cooper, Lori Kogan PhD, Vickie Villone / ILLINOIS: Karen Walle, Patricia Kirkpatrick, INDIANA: Katherine Yoder, Lettie Von Allmen, / KENTUCKY: Suzanne Boyd, Kathy Witherup / LOUISIANA: Stephanie-Darbonne, Ann Bergen, Edith Schneider / MARYLAND: Donna Bonebrake / MASSACHUSETTS: Ellen Adams, Elsie Aldrich, Nancy Amaral, Susan Bernstein, Donna DesRosiers EdD, Nicole Devlin, Betsy Dinger, Melissa Diodati, Mary Escher, Virginia Giovanello, Gayle Golas, Nancy Harrington, Joanna Hughes, Kevin Kelly, Betty Marple, Joyce Mehaffey PhD, Susan Morgan, Susan Murphy, Carol Rusielewicz, Ellen Schour, Patricia Taurasi / MICHIGAN: Gerard Evanski Ed.D., Mary Fisher, Carol Nevels-Fleming, Lisa Hendricks, Arlene Hicks, Dana Marino, Pamela Snow, Lori Whitfield / MISSISSIPPI: Catherine Biggs, David Lovelace / MISSOURI: Dan Kern, Karen Stayton, Susan Vandergriff / MONTANA: Brenda Fischer, Jacqueline Goldhahn, Helen Leonard / NEVADA: Betty Boggs, Anna Braithwaite, Amanda Guthrie / NEW JERSEY: Violet Gregg / NEW MEXICO: Elizabeth Deardorff, Barbara Flores, June Hardison, Michelle Meeks, Lauren Sittnick / NEW YORK: Judene Anderson, Holly Cadwallader Ed.D., Teresa McKillip, Cheryl Silverman / NORTH CAROLINA: Barbara Avent, Roni Barrow, Patricia Bartholomew, Brenda Brown, Judith Byrd, Patricia Dwyer, Suzanne Eller, Brenda Elliott, Susan Ellis, Gail Freeman, Claire Friedenberg, Christina Gibson, Myrtle Grimes, Judith Graves, Virginia Hawken, Jill Jobert, Cynthia Krider, Cynthia Lewis, Audrey Parker, Cynthia Phillips, Pat Phillips, Sue Tobin / NORTH DAKOTA: LaDonna Bannach, Ava Duus-Hintz / OHIO: Heather Hamker, Diane Rudowicz / OKLAHOMA: Susan Green, Carla Kennedy, Sherrilyn Malaby, Carrie Stout / TEXAS: Jennifer Abernathy, Crystal Bill, Paula Boatman-Jankowski, Kelly Brewster, Melanie Cooper, Lori Chaney, Patty Christensen, Kathryn Davis, Shanon Denison, Kimberly Dobrava, Sandra Emmert, Jennie Fazio, Jana Garnett, Mary Goodenow, Peggy Graves, Bonnie Greer, JoAnn Handy, Kristina Henry, Staci Hiberd, Tina Hintz, Ruth Hutcheson, Anita Jones, Marilyn Kampen, Caroline Kazda, Phyllis Kilpatrick, Maria Ladera, Tina Lerch, Donna Massey, Gayle McVey, Cecilia Mitchell, Lucy Montez, Heidi Oates, Kathleen Olson, Michelle Parker, Ruthann Pechulis, Amy Phillips, Hollye Phillips-Hughes, Linda Porter, Linda Ramirez, Charlotte Rogers, Sharon Scheffler, Mary Sheperd, Mishel Smith, Catherine Struble, Tara Sublette, Sharon Summers, Kathy Tait, Cordelia Thompson, Robin Tucker, Maudella Ulmer, Janice Utsler, Susan Wasiak, Leilani Weber, Beth Williams, Jana Woodhouse / UTAH: Dixie Allen, Cynthia Haacke, David Petersen / VIRGINIA: Buffy Allgood, Carolyn Bynum, Judith Dodson, Lauren Edwards Ellington, Kathy Havens, David Matlock, Crystal Taylor, Cheryl Terry, Sanders Thompson, Amanda Turner, Chelsea Washington, / WASHINGTON: Kristine Cisneros, Katrina Dohn, Mike Davis, Pamela Davies, Susan Willoughby / WISCONSIN: Karen Denkert / WYOMING: Lori Cetak New School District Screeners (Training funded by and conducted on-site at school districts)

BONNER SPRINGS USD 204, Kansas: Karen Borg, Tammy Chladny, Amy Hamilton, Jacci Leib, Whitney McMahan, Patricia Matthews, Ruth Moon, Rhonda Newton, Linda Orangkhadivi, Pam Stewart, Margaret Wienberg, Kathryn Van Keuren / CLARK COUNTY SD, Nevada: Cathy Cravens, Katie Ensign, Wendy Gregory, Deborah Kalameja, Jeffrey Howard, Michelle Levy, LaVona Gaston-Lewis, Michele Maloney, Kimberly Marquez, Christina McCollum, Catherine McGarry, Michelle McOmber, Kamille Mixon, Danielle Mossman, Teddy Pederson, Lee Segalla, Mark Storm, Cory Villiatora, EL PASO ISD, Texas: Cynthia Artalejo, Brenda Boyd, Irma Cano, Susan Cash, Glenna Cuevas, William Duran, Martha Fowler, Roxanne Franco, Denise Grissom, Hilda Guzman, Robert Hemphill, Courtney Higgins, Cherie Laird, Monica Lara, Evelina Licon, Carmen Martinez, Pati McCaig, Elizabeth Mitchell, Terry Montes, Valerie Navarro, Maureen Nosdale, Margarita Olivas, Tomas Ornelas, Lilia Ortega, JoAnn Parkins, Anne Potts-Dufour, Eloisa Reay, Lorina Santiago, Rachel Torres, Maria Tovar, Sandra Uribe, Lee Valerio / LAKE ELSINORE USD, California: Cindee Adams, Ann Anderson, Wendy Callahan, Judy deSchepper, Sandra Hasal, Kelly Hendley, Cindy Holmes, Karen Jones, Patti Kramer-Yates, Susan Lockhart, Valerie Murray, Judith Reising, Valerie Rogers, Terri Selvaggio, Kathryn Sielig-Dampier, Heather Tobler, Cinday Whritenour, Brent Wigand / MARSHALLTOWN COMM. SD, Iowa: Kathleen Bentley, Sondra Dubbs, Sheri Edwards, Cynthia Eggers, Stephanie Goos, Linda Kaplan, Diane Lewis, Shirley Mann, Terri McGraw, Rebecca Mounsdon, Barbara Perry, Karen Roessler, Debra Vos, Penny Weatherly, Lisa Wymore / REGION 4 ESC, Texas: Jane Balsam, Laura Batson, Jill Bradley, Mary Brewster, Catherine Burgan, Christine Butler, Mary Caves, Sharon Dalton, Rusha Davis, Shawna Dennis, Jennifer England, Michael File, Edna Fraser, Tracy Gilbert, Callum Hiller, Christine Hook, Emily Horton, Syandra Ingram, Pamela Jones, Jan Krametbauer, Lesa Leeney, Kathryn Little, Sue McGeary, Linda Miller, Andrea Meyer, Mary Moncatch, Robert Peek, Susan Pinto, Vasudha Punj, Cindy Smith, Kay Tatum, Judy White, Kimberly Wilson, Deborah Wirag, Ann Zamora / SANTA MARIA BONITA SD, California: Lynn Bettag-Shrogin, Susan Billinger, Sandee Bryant, Mary Cullen, Terri Hidle, Nancy Iarossi, Antoinette Kelly, Jennifer Kersey, Beverley Larsen, Brian Lutes, Janet Marsalek, Maureen Staunton, Connie Sutter, Debra Ugalde /

Irlen Institute International Headquarters PRST STD 5380 Village Road • Long Beach, CA 90808 U.S. Postage (562) 496-2550 • Fax (562) 429-8699 PAID www.irlen.com• [email protected] Anaheim, CA Permit No. 34 Change Service Requested

Upcoming ences Irlen Confer nce Confere alifornia thern C USA Irlen Sou alifornia, Beach, C Long 2006 May 20,

nference tional Co n Interna aland Irle New Ze ckland, Au -6, 2007 January 3

nference rican Co rth Ame Irlen No xas, USA ston, Te Hou 8 July, 200

12 Irlen International Newsletter • January 2006