CHILDREN WHO SUFFER FROM SCOTOPIC
SENSITIVITY SYNDROME
- Reduce your fluorescent lighting by creating
areas that do not have fluorescent lights, areas where half the
lights are off, and areas with full fluorescent lighting. If
you have a room with enough natural lighting, do not turn on your
fluorescent lights.
- Worksheets/Test/Math Sheets/Information sheets should
be printed on coloured paper, if possible the colour of the child's
preference, blue/green/yellow/pink. The incorrect colour may cause
similar problems to white. Recycled paper is better than white.
- Coloured Paper. For those children with handwriting
problems, allow as much work as possible to be done on coloured
paper again, a colour of the child's own preference or a grey or
beige.
- Hats or Visors. Let your students wear hats
with dark under brims in the classroom. This reduces the glare
from the fluorescent lighting.
- Book Position . Reading should be done from
materials placed directly in front of the child. Children should
not attempt to 'share' reading material.
- Overheads. Limit the amount of work done using
an overhead projector - the intense lighting may cause real discomfort
or place a blue coloured overlay on the projector.
- Chalkboards. Write in columns rather than across
the board. Write each paragraph in different colours to help with
tracking. And whenever possible do not use white boards. The white
boards are available in brown or grey which is much easier for
readability.
- Copying. Allow children to copy from paper
to paper. If necessary, copying what has already been copied from
a board by another child, if possible onto coloured paper.
- Coloured Overlays . Encourage and remind children
to use the coloured overlay(s) in all subject areas in which reading
occurs including Mathematics.
- Ensure that reading is tested using the child's preferred overlay
colour(s).
- Extra time for projects, exams
If you have Irlen Syndrome,
you may wish to implement the following modifications at school,
home, or the workplace:
Paper Colour. You should avoid
white paper and use coloured paper for writing whenever possible.
Investigate the colour of ink which is most readable with coloured
paper.
Plastic Coloured Overlays. An Irlen
plastic overlay can be used over reading material, especially with
white, high gloss paper, and under fluorescent lights when you find
yourself overlay fatigued or when working for long periods of time
under fluorescent lights.
Natural Lighting. Experiment and
find seating where the lighting conditions make it easier and more
comfortable to read and work. Indirect natural lighting and incandescent
lighting is the best. Dim lighting s usually better than bright lights.
Brimmed Hat/Visor. Wear a visor
or hat with a brim in heavily lit rooms, supermarkets and shopping
malls, possibly even when reading or studying. The underside of the
brim should be a dark colour such as blue, green, or black.
Bookstand. The position of reading
material affects the ease of reading. The reading material or material
to be copied should be placed on an angle to reduce glare. An adjustable
bookstand or holder can be helpful.
Markers. Use of a ruler or book
marker can aid accuracy and speed. Some individuals become more efficient
readers by using markers under the line; others by using a marker
on top of the line; others by using the marker after the word being
read to block off the rest of the sentence. The colour of the marker
should be the same colour as the plastic overlay.
Enlarged Print. There are several
organizations which publish enlarged print books, magazines, and
dictionaries. Consider utilizing the services of Reader’s
Digest Fund for the Blind, Inc., Large Print Department, Pleasantville
, New York , 10570 .
Breaks. Continue to incorporate
breaks while reading, writing, or doing other visually-intensive
tasks.
Read Aloud Onto Tape And Replay. Consider
reading aloud or onto a tape and then replay the tape. Listening
to the tape may increase reading comprehension.
General Description
Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome (SSS) is a visual-perceptual
dysfunction affecting reading and performance. This syndrome is impacted
by luminance, lighting, glare, high contrast, patterns, and colours.
Individuals with Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome
may suffer from any of the following: slow reading rate, inefficient
reading, poor reading comprehension, inability to do continuous reading,
strain and fatigue, difficulty with depth perception, sport performance,
and night driving. Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome is not, of
itself, a learning difficulty in the accepted sense. Rather it is
a complex and variable condition often found to coexist with learning
difficulties and can cause specific reading problems.
Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome can affect reading,
learning, attention span, concentration, energy level, motivation,
work production, and job advancement. Individuals with undiagnosed
problems of SSS are sometimes considered underachievers often are
told they could do better if they tried harder. Some individuals
have been misdiagnosed with motivational, behavioural, or attitudinal
problems, or as having attention deficits, dyslexia, or reading disabilities.
Problems resulting from SSS/Irlen Syndrome affect
reading ability but can be in addition to other causes for your reading
difficulties. Therefore, many individuals need to work on vocabulary
development and phonetic skills in a systematic way after receive
their Irlen Filters. THIS IS NOT AN INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD FOR TEACHING
READING . IT DOES NOT REPLACE THE NEED FOR READING INSTRUCTION OR
REMEDIATION.
The following reading problems which may
be a result of the Irlen Syndrome are:
- Short Reading Time
- Inefficient Reading
- Inability to Skim/Speed Read
- Strain & Fatigue
- Hesitant & Choppy
- Poor Comprehension & Retention
- Slow Reading Rate
- Error Rate
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