Can coloured lenses help those who suffer from migraines?

Thanks to The Irlen Institute for posting this reminder about the relationship between migraines and Irlen Lenses.

An article on colored lenses for migraines mentioning Irlen to be published Jan 2 in Daily Health News.

Have a lovely day everyone!

Christine

Head Injuries and the Irlen Method

In this YouTube clip, Helen Irlen talks about head injuries. She highlights the fact that head injuries can create a variety of physical symptoms such as headaches and dizziness, which can affect depth perception. This therefore, will create reading problems.
Helen explains how the Irlen Method can get rid of these symptoms that are a result of a head injury.
It's a great summary of the Irlen Method.

Have a great day.
Christine

A Youtube clip that shows the benefits of using Irlen lenses.

What things can help overcome Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome?

The following excerpt is taken from the book 'My World is not your World' written by Alison Hale. It is her autobiography that aims to tell her story from her point of view. Alison has Dyslexia, Aspergers and Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome. The book gives a very good insight into what it is like to live with these conditions. The book traces her life from her early childhood experiences to the present.
"I looked out into the world through my distorted senses unable to make coherent meaning of all the mesmerising fragments of noise, light, words and sensations....    "

Alison also talks about the things that helped her overcome Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome.     These include the following:

Reducing glare: using dull coloured paper for reading and writing. Never reading in bright light, fluorescent or sunlight. Wearing tinted lenses in my glasses to reduce some of the visual distortions and make my eyes feel calmer. Always wearing sunglasses when outside on sunny days. Using LCD computer screens as opposed to CRT screens (CRT screens flicker). Setting up Computer Screen to suit me - Optimise Computer Screen. Adjusting website text size using my Internet Browser settings (In IE in top menu bar go to 'View' then select 'Text Size'). This works on my website but not on all websites! Using a bookmark when reading so that I do not lose my place. Reading for short periods with breaks rather than trying to read continuously over a long period. To ensure I do not become too tired I limit the time I spend in busy crowded places (eg. supermarkets, shopping centres, pubs!, etc...) where there are lots of visual stimuli. Her book is available from Amazon and is called 'My World is not Your World'.

Can frequent headaches be associated with Irlen Syndrome?

Can frequent headaches be associated with Irlen Syndrome and what is Visual Stress?

One of my readers emailed me the above question yesterday and I thought I would share this with you.
The answer to this great question is yes. Yes, headaches can be associated with Irlen Syndrome and  this can be due to a condition we call, visual stress. How do you get visual stress? Visual stress can be caused by something known as light sensitivity. An individual who suffers from light sensitivity is basically very sensitive to sunlight and/or inside lights. E.g. fluorescent lights. You would find a person with light sensitivity wearing sunglasses on a cloudy day for example. This is because the glare is too bright for them, even though there is no direct sun light.

Visual stress can also be a result of reading, looking at your computer monitor or laptop for long periods of time, watching movies or TV, sensory overload, allergies, brain injury and visual distortions. There may be other causes for visual stress as well that I have not mentioned here.

This is where using the Irlen overlays or wearing Irlen lenses can provide relief for individuals in some cases. I believe that there is currently some research happening in this area at the moment, and this is  very exciting for all of us interested in this area.

Please forward any questions and I will endeavour to answer them for you.

Have a great day!
Christine

Irlen Syndrome and research into the area of Irlen Syndrome

There is a lot of documented research  in the area of Irlen Syndrome. I found this study that was conducted by the University of Newcastle here in Australia. The study links levels of cholesterol in individuals with Irlen Syndrome and neurotransmission. Interesting. Here is the summary page from that study.
"

PLASMA CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AND IRLEN SYNDROME:

PRELIMINARY STUDY OF 10- TO 17-YR.-OLD STUDENTS

D. L. SPARKES, G.L. ROBINSON, H.DUNSTAN, AND T.K. ROBERTS

University of Newcastle

Summary.--The preliminary study investigated metabolic anomalies in children and teenagers with Irlen Syndrome, particularly in relation to the levels of n-3 and n-6 essential fatty acids, plasma cholesterol levels, and the relative abundance of plasma saturated fatty acids. The experimental group involved 13 subjects with Irlen Syndrome (M=13.3 yr., SD= 2.5 yr.), with a comparison group of 16 age- and sex-matched controls (M + 13.8 yr., SD = 2.4 yr.). The Irlen Syndrome groups were selected from people referred for help with reading and writing problems. The control group were primarily recruited from the general public. All subjects were screened for symptoms of the syndrome using the Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome Screening Manual. Samples of whole blood were collected and plasma extracted. Metabolites were compared using the Student t test. There were no differences in n-3 and n-6 essential fatty acids between Irlen Syndrome and control groups, although the former group had lower mean levels in most of these essential fatty acids. Total plasma cholesterol level was significantly decreased for the Irlen Syndrome group, and there was a significant increase in the relative abundance of the odd-chain fatty acid, heptadecanoic acid. The difference in heptadecanoic acid may have implications for altered membrane function and neurotransmission. The differences in plasma cholesterol levels, as well as heptadecanoic acid, may also point to the presence of viral or bacterial infection."
(Perceptual and Motor Skills, 2003, 97, 743-752)

Parenting- are you a passive or assertive parent?

Parenting is a daily challenge, and is often even more difficult for parents of children with Aspergers. How you react to every little incident, request or behaviour is often that little bit harder. It can be so exhausting. So as a parent, we are often tired and sometimes, we give in. Knowing the most effective words to say at these times can be tricky. For example, a passive parent will not set boundaries or limitations. The assertive parent will handle the same situation differently. IE The misbehaviour is handled with an appropriate consequence or by working with the child to find an acceptable way to get desires met.

Remember the importance of using humour in difficult situations. Modeling humor is one of the most effective methods for parenting assertively.

Dyslexia and assistive technology

Assistive technology is becoming more common, especially for individuals with Dyslexia and special needs. Google Scribe is a great tool that is free to download from Google. It suggests words or phrases as you write. The other great tool is the Livescribe smart pen, which allows students to record classroom lectures while they take notes. After class, students can touch the pen to paper specifically designed for the pen and listen to the audio that went along with that portion of the lesson. <http://r.smartbrief.com/resp/dmjeCdoWpUebdYdUfDcUbEfCcCoJ?format=standard>

Dyslexia and common characteristics

Does your child exhibit some of the following characteristics? If so, they may be Dyslexic.

• Complains of dizziness, headaches or stomach aches while reading.
• Confused by letters, numbers, words, sequences, or verbal explanations. 
• Reading or writing shows repetitions, additions, transpositions, omissions, substitutions, and reversals in letters, numbers and/or words.
• Complains of feeling or seeing non-existent movement while reading, writing, or copying. 
• Seems to have difficulty with vision, yet eye exams don't reveal a problem. 
• Extremely keen sighted and observant, or lacks depth perception and peripheral vision. 
• Reads and rereads with little comprehension.
• Spells phonetically and inconsistently. 
• Excellent long-term memory for experiences, locations, and faces.
• Poor memory for sequences, facts and information that has not been experienced.
• Thinks primarily with images and feeling, not sounds or words (little internal dialogue). 

 

Read more: http://www.dyslexia.com/library/symptoms.htm#ixzz1cGRKqTx9

When is Irlen Syndrome mostly diagnosed?

Here is something to think about.  While most children with Irlen Syndrome can be identified in elementary school, in some cases the problem will not be evident until students face the increased pressure of middle or high school.

Irlen Syndrome and Dyslexia webinar

WEBINAR WITH HELEN IRLEN ON NOVEMBER 3RD
6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET

This webinar will cover a broad range of different academic problems and provide helpful tips and strategies that can be easily

implemented in the classroom and at home.

"Effective learning styles and easy implementation are considered essential in recommending any strategy. Teachers, you will be pleased to know that none of the strategies includes additional teacher time to implement, and neither do they require you to change your teaching methods. And parents, you do not need to have a teaching credential to implement these tips with your child." (Helen Irlen)


Register Here

This is so Inspiring

Take a look at Emmanuel. He has such a wonderful voice and his story is so inspiring.

Does physical fitness lead to mental fitness?

Need another reason to get out there and exercise? A new
study out this month shows that older adults who stay fit, preserve the volume
of their hippocampus which is associated with more accurate and faster spatial
memory and fewer episodes of forgetting. So physical fitness does lead to
mental fitness - especially in the area of memory. Szabo, A., et al. (2011).
"Cardiorespiratory fitness, hippocampal volume, and frequency of forgetting
in older adults." Neuropsychology, Vol 25(5), 545-553
 

Irlen Syndrome and Dyslexia- take this quick self test

Do you or someone you know have difficulty reading? If you think you or someone you know may have Irlen Syndrome, it may be a good idea to answer the following short questions.

Answer the following questions:	YES	NO
Do you skip words or lines when reading?
Do you reread lines?
Do you lose your place?
Are you easily distracted when reading?
Do you need to take breaks often?
Do you find it harder to read the longer you read?
Do you get headaches when you read?
Do your eyes get red and watery?
Does reading make you tired?
Do you blink or squint?
Do you prefer to read in dim light?
Do you read close to the page?
Do you use your finger or other markers?
Do you get restless, active, or fidgety when reading?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, then you might be experiencing the effects of a perception problem called Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, which can interfere with your reading efficiency. Now, for the first time, there is a simple method Irlen Colored Filters worn as glasses or contact lenses, that can help people overcome this problem quickly and easily.

Copyright © 1991 by Perceptual Development Corp/Helen Irlen. All rights reserved.

Learning Difficulties and Dyslexia - New Big Print Books for Young Adults

As part of the partnership between Vision Australia and SPELD Victoria, 13 new titles have been released for their clients who have a print disability. These include the following titles:

• Bumageddon the Final Pongflict by Andy Griffiths
• Zombie Bums from Uranus by Andy Griffiths
• Treasure Fever by Andy Griffiths
• Pencil of Doom by Andy Griffiths
• Once by Morris Gleitzman
• Then by Morris Gleitzman
• Aristotle's Nostril by Morris Gleitzman
• Sting by Raymond Huber
• Lucky Star by Cathy Cassidy
• Darius Bell and the Glitter Pool by Odo Hirsh
• Hocus Pocus versus the Stinky Pong by Laura Milligan
• Wasteland by Francesca Lia Block
• I was a Teenage Fairy by Francesca Lia Block

Contact Vision Australia  1300 654 656 or SPELD Victoria 9489 4344 if you would like

to loan these items.

Irlen Syndrome and Dyslexia- take this quick self test

Do you or someone you know have difficulty reading?
If you think you or someone you know may have Irlen Syndrome, it may be a good idea to answer the following short questions.

Answer the following questions:	YES	NO
Do you skip words or lines when reading?
Do you reread lines?
Do you lose your place?
Are you easily distracted when reading?
Do you need to take breaks often?
Do you find it harder to read the longer you read?
Do you get headaches when you read?
Do your eyes get red and watery?
Does reading make you tired?
Do you blink or squint?
Do you prefer to read in dim light?
Do you read close to the page?
Do you use your finger or other markers?
Do you get restless, active, or fidgety when reading?

If you answered yes to three or more of these questions, then you might be experiencing the effects of a perception problem called Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome, which can interfere with your reading efficiency. Now, for the first time, there is a simple method Irlen Colored Filters worn as glasses or contact lenses, that can help people overcome this problem quickly and easily.

Copyright © 1991 by Perceptual Development Corp/Helen Irlen. All rights reserved.

The Irlen Method helps children read the words on a page

This is why we do what we do. What a great story!

The Irlen Method helps those with visual processing deficits

Christine Hawkins is one of the few specialists to offer assessment using the
Irlen Method to prescribe colored overlays for help with visual dyslexia,
reading problems, school difficulties, and light sensitivity causing
headaches and other physical symptoms. 

The initial assessment is made using a highly specialized system of colored
overlays that are placed over pages of text. If successful, this is usually
followed by testing to determine the exact color to be worn as glasses or
contact lenses.

The Irlen Method helps those with visual processing deficits affecting
learning and attention, also known as Irlen Syndrome. The problem lies in
how the visual information is decoded by the brain and is not the type of
problem that is identified or treated by optometrists or with prescription
glasses. People with Irlen Syndrome "see" the printed page differently from
others and may even be unaware of this. This can lead to slow and
inefficient reading, poor comprehension, fatigue, and limited attention
span.

Many people with Irlen Syndrome report that the text on the page appears to
change and may even experience fatigue, tiredness, headaches, sore eyes or
other symptoms of strain, all of which make reading difficult.   For more
information regarding the Irlen Method, go to www.irlen.com. 

To see the effects of using a colored overlay or precision Irlen Spectral
Filters, select a coloured background to view this text.

For more information about our Irlen assessment service, please contact
Christine at
christine.hawkins11@gmail.com

What is Irlen Syndrome and What are the symptoms? Could I have Irlen Syndrome?

Irlen Syndrome - I find that many parents and members of the community have never heard of Irlen Syndrome. When I gave a presentation to The Lions Club last year, the members were very interested to learn about Irlen Syndrome. So what is Irlen Syndrome? Put simply, it is a form of Perceptual Dyslexia. Symptoms include poor spelling, writing, inefficient reading, sore eyes, headaches, glare sensitivity and depth perception difficulties.


Please sign up for my free monthly newsletter. In the meantime, I am available to do a screening test to determine if you may have Irlen Syndrome. Please contact me via the link below:
Certified Irlen Screeners - Australia

Have a great day!
Christine

DO YOU NEED TO MEDICATE? Webinar with Helen Irlen

Helen Irlen will be doing a live webinar about 'do we need to medicate?' In my school, we currently have some students that take medication for AD/HD and I do see a significant improvement in their ability to learn. The debate goes on. May I suggest you sign up for this PAID webinar: early bird rate of $15.00 Anything from Helen Irlen is worth the effort.

DO YOU NEED TO MEDICATE? with Helen Irlen

THE IRLEN METHOD: A Powerful Tool for Children and Adults Misdiagnosed with
Attention Deficit Disorder (AD/HD), with Helen Irlen
Thursday, July 14th
6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET

Register Here

Cheers
Christine

Dyslexia and Learning to Read Newsletter

Please sign up for my monthly newsletter by completing the 'Follow by Email' on the left. Then click submit. You will receive information about Irlen Syndrome and learning to read.
Cheers
Christine

Helen Irlen - Irlen Syndrome and Visual Perception

I recently wrote to Helen Irlen, the founder of the Irlen Method and pioneer in the field of visual perception . I would like to thank Helen for including my email and a link to my blog in the latest Irlen International Newsletter. Please visit her website at
http://irlen.com/index.php

Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome - Using Coloured Overlays to Help Struggling Readers

I have been working with a struggling reader on the Reading Recovery Program for 7 weeks. She is not making accelerative progress and I have great concerns about her progress. I did not administer a 'screening' as I feel she is too young at this stage. Instead, I just put different coloured overlays over the text while she was reading and asked her which colour made it more comfortable for her eyes when she was reading. Already I have noticed improvements in reading accuracy which I have not noticed for 7 weeks! Let me keep you posted, as I'm sure that in 2 weeks she will be making great gains with her reading ability. I will try and record the reading with and without overlays so you can see for yourself.
Cheers
Christine

Dyslexia - Famous People with Dyslexia

Wikipedia defines Dyslexia as "a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read, and spell,^[1] and which can manifest itself as a difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, and/or rapid naming.^["

Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome: Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome - What is Irlen Syndro...

Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome: Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome - What is Irlen Syndro...: "Dyslexia is when individuals have difficulty reading words. Irlen Syndrome is a visual perception disorder. This means that some individuals..."

Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome - What is Irlen Syndrome?

Dyslexia is when individuals have difficulty reading words. Irlen Syndrome is a visual perception disorder. This means that some individuals have great difficulty reading words on a page because the words are moving around. They think that a word moving around while they read is normal because they are not aware of the alternative.
In the adults and children I have screened for Irlen Syndrome, they can’t believe the difference when I put the coloured overlays onto the page. The reading behaviour changes immediately from word by word reading, to phrased and fluent reading.
If you would like an appointment for an Irlen Screening in Australia, please visit the website below.

http://www.dyslexiaservices.com.au/

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome and Learning to Read Newsletter

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome and Learning to Read Newsletter: "Please sign up for my monthly newsletter by completing the 'Follow by Email' on the left. Then click submit. You will receive information ab..."

Irlen Syndrome and Learning to Read Newsletter

Please sign up for my monthly newsletter by completing the 'Follow by Email' on the left. Then click submit. You will receive information about Irlen Syndrome and learning to read.
Cheers
Christine

Dyslexia - Does My Child Have it? The Signs to Look For

Dyslexia- Does my child have it? What sort of things should I be looking for in my child? How do I know if my child may be Dyslexic? Watch the following video for more information:

Brain Injury and Learning Difficulties

The statistics show that 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year. And it is children aged between 0 to 4 years and older adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, that are among the groups most likely to sustain a TBI. And because children’s brains are still developing, the toll of a brain injury on a child can sometimes be quite serious.

So how do you know if your child has concussion? You need to watch out for the following symptoms.

• Tiredness or listlessness
• Headache
• Irritability or crankiness
• Changes in eating or sleeping patterns
• Changes in the way the child plays or performs at school
• Lack of interest in favorite toys or activities
• Loss of new skills, such as toilet training
• Loss of balance or unsteady walking
• Vomiting

If you child has had a fall and you recognise these symptoms, a quick response can aid their recovery and prevent further brain damage.

Using technology to Help Struggling Readers and Writers

Using technology to read books is the way of the future. It is particularly helpful for struggling readers. Schools are now embracing the digital revolution with laptops, cameras, ipads etc. Students have access to these learning tools within their classrooms. 

One of my students  finds it very difficult to write stories. He is unmotivated and he just finds the physical side of holding a pencil and forming the letters very difficult. But when he used the keyboard, he was fully engaged and motivated to write! Using technology in schools is definitely the way of the future.

A customer recently submitted this product review.

"Weight. Seriously. The minimal weight of this thing is by far the most impressive feature about it in my opinion. It seems to defy physics and logic that so much could be in such a small space working that hard for that long.

Battery Life. From full to dead my iPad 2 went just over 11 hours with the movie Robin Hood showing twice during that time, the screen at half brightness, wifi turned on, an Angry Birds marathon and a good portion of a book in ibook. That's better than a work day and that's constantly on.

Books. This is definitely a Pro, but reading itself could go either way. The great benefit to the iPad is having access to Google Books, ibook, Nook, and Kindle. This allows for some comparison shopping and price competition (although for the most part they're all usually about the same). Reading in the evenings in bed is great as the back light means you don't have to worry about keeping others awake, but the glass screen causes some glare trouble when trying to read outside or near a sunny window. If you're an avid outdoor reader the Kindle might still be your best bet.

If you're in the market for a tablet device the iPad 2 should definitely be on your short list. If you're uncertain it is always best to go and play with these things hands on first if you can. Best Buy is a good place for that, so are Verizon Stores since they have the Xoom and 3G iPad. Don't get pulled into the hype and mania that comes with an Apple release. They're exciting and new, and they're impressive enough to warrant some excitement, but it will die down and there will be other products that prove a strong competitor to the iPad 2. If you're looking for right now though, this is probably your best bet. I gave the device 4 stars, as I did the iPad 1. I did this in contemplation of the features offered by competitors that are absent from the iPad, most notably the requirement for adapters for USB/SD/HDMI. While these features are there, they aren't as convenient as in other tablets."

 Let me know what you think.

 

Dyslexia- What does it look like?

Irlen Screeners are trained to assess whether a person is likely to be helped by Irlen technology

Christine is an accredited Irlen screener. This means she can administer the assessments required to screen for Irlen Syndrome. Irlen Screeners are trained to assess whether a person is likely to be helped by Irlen technology. Screeners assess questionnaires and also monitor performance on a series of standardised tasks. Using coloured overlays, the Screener will attempt to demonstrate possible benefits.

If there is a benefit, the Screener will then refer you to an Irlen Centre for a full assessment. Screening documentation is available for the consultation. The cost is $77 and will be deducted from the Centre's charges if you proceed to that next step. 

If you would like to book an appointment with Christine, or would like more information, please contact Christine via the website below. (Appointments can be made if you live in the Melbourne area).Thank you and I hope to speak with you soon.
Cheers,
Christine


http://www.dyslexiaservices.com.au/screenervic.htm

This clip on YouTube is fantastic! It explains in a clear way what Irlen Syndrome is and what it would look like for an individual with Irlen Syndrome.
Please leave your comments, I would love to hear from you.
Cheers,
Christine

Dragon Naturally Speaking

The product here, 'Dragon Speak' is fantastic. We have this product in my school where I work, and it helps the students that have difficulty writing stories. The speech-to-text software enables students to dictate their stories and command the computer with their voice.

Can you imagine what it is like to have the letters moving on a page?

What is it like to have the letters moving on a page? I'm currently working with a student that is having difficulty reading. As I begin to explore and ask her questions about what is making it hard for her to read, she actually said the words on the page are moving. She has particular trouble with two letter words such as 'is' and 'in'-especially if they follow each other in a line. When I asked her about this, she said she looks at the 'i' in the word 'is' and this makes it difficult to read the next word which is 'in' and she starts reading the final letter 'n'.
The product here, 'Dragon Speak' is fantastic. We have this product in my school where I work, and it helps the students that have difficulty writing stories. The speech-to-text software enables students to dictate their stories and command the computer with their voice.
Also, take a look at the next YouTube clip about Dyslexia. It gives you some idea what it might be like to see words moving around on the page.

International Combat Stress Conference Presentation: Unseen Effects of Blast Injuries and Irlen Spectral Filters as a Treatment

As you may be aware, I subscribe to the Irlen newsletter. This is one of the latest stories taken from the newsletter.

International Combat Stress Conference Presentation:  Unseen Effects of Blast Injuries and Irlen Spectral Filters as a Treatment

A presentation on “The Unseen Effects of Blast Injuries” was made at the 19^th Annual International Combat Stress Conference by neuropsychologist Roxanna Farinpour.  She has examined those Marines returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with a history of TBI and head injuries from blast exposure resulting in Headache Syndrome.  Over 50-60% of Vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan exposed to blasts sustained a brain injury.  Of the 978 Marines Dr. Farinpour has seen, 98% reported headaches with 85% classified as possible or definite migraines which interfered with daily activities.  Of the 20 plus Marines with headaches and/or migraines and have not responded to medication, all received immediate and complete relief with their Irlen Spectral Filters.  They were having headaches 100% of the time; and with their Irlen Spectral Filters, no longer have any headaches.  They were having an average of 19 migraines a month; and with their Irlen Spectral Filters, report that they no longer have migraines.

Thank you to the Irlen International Headquarters.

I would be interested in your thoughts or comments.

Cheers

Christine

Faceblindness- Prosopagnosia

I was having a look for clips on Youtube and came across this fascinating subject called faceblindness or
Prosopagnosia. This is a condition that some people experience. They have difficulty seeing the whole face
as a whole, instead they see parts of the face and recognise features. They see the face and can see it's made up of different objects, but have trouble recognising the face as unique. Very interesting stuff!

Tinted Lenses and Autism- can they help?

Do coloured lenses help people with Autism? Have a look at one persons reflection below and see for yourself.
http://youtu.be/w7lZ0UIFX9Q

Irlen Syndrome abc4 news

Here is a great Youtube video about Irlen Syndrome. Let me know what you think.

http://youtu.be/pyyLW7gsfjQ

Can I Help My Child Learn: A Parent Guide to reading,spelling, comprehension, writing and mathematics

Can I Help My Child Learn: A Parent Guide Written in Plain English is a book written by Dr. Joan Brien, Irlen Diagnostician in New South Wales, Australia.  “If you have ever felt frustration when trying to help your child understand their schoolwork, this book is for you!  It is written in a style that is easy to understand and what’s more, it includes proven strategies for helping your child to understand the basics of reading, spelling, comprehension, writing, and mathematics.  There are many helpful hints that will support you as you work through the step-by-step instructions with your child.”  This helpful book can be ordered by clicking on the box on the left.

Cheers

Christine 

How do we actually see colour through our eyes?

The way in which most of us actually see colour, is through the sensors in the retina of our eyes called rods and cones.
The rods are sensitive to low light and the cones, which require a greater intensity of light, are sensitive to colour. The message is passed to the optic nerve and then on to the brain.

We see colour because of the Rods and Cones in our eyes

Colour Therapy

The use of Colour as a Therapy is a truly holistic therapy which dates back thousands of years.
Colour light energy affects all living cells. Used in the right way, colour can have a profound and healing effect on all creation, human or otherwise. It is a well known scientific fact that everything has a vibration, that is to say that all things have their own vibration/frequency, and that includes US !
The Secret Language of Colour Cards are your key to unlocking the extraordinary healing power of colour. Combining tips and information on colours with powerful healing processes and affirmations, this vibrant and powerful card set by bestselling author Inna Segal is a tool you can use daily to receive inspired messages of guidance from the Universe and to restore your body to its natural state of health and harmony.

Featuring 45 stunning cards, each infused with its unique healing vibration, and an accompanying guidebook, The Secret Language of Colour Cards will assist you in adding more colour, creativity, joy, peace and balance to all areas of your life.

Irlen Syndrome: Youth and Irlen Syndrome

Irlen Syndrome: Youth and Irlen Syndrome: "I just wanted to repost this wonderful article by Dr Armine. His son was diagnosed with bipolar disease and schizoaffective disorder. Howeve..."

Youth and Irlen Syndrome

I just wanted to repost this wonderful article by Dr Armine. His son was diagnosed with bipolar disease and schizoaffective disorder. However, on hearing about Irlen Syndrome, he organised for his son to be tested for Irlen Syndrome. The outcome is absolutely amazing. Read on...
I am a physician and have a son who six years ago was diagnosed with bipolar disease and schizoaffective disorder.  During that time, he was recalcitrant to numerous traditional and alternative therapies in that those therapies failed to ameliorate his visual hallucinations and fluctuations in his mood.  My son is an extremely intelligent and motivated individual with a high IQ who loved to read and enjoyed the intellectual challenge of high school and college.  His disease robbed him of his ability to concentrate on his reading, causing extreme distress and his inability to remain in school.  He had consistent headaches and anxiety.  For several semesters, we needed to medically withdraw him from classes and he was unable to progress in his studies.

At the suggestion of his recent psychiatrist, we were asked to investigate Irlen's Syndrome.  Upon reading the website and performing the self-tests, it was apparent that my son could possibly be suffering from Irlen's Syndrome.  His symptoms included the printed word being fuzzy, letters moving around, the background competing for his attention, visualizing in two dimensions rather than three dimensions, difficulty in night vision, difficulty in depth perception, etc.

He was tested, and I was able to observe my son’s inability to read and visual hallucinations reversed by the use of these (Irlen) tinted lenses.  Within two weeks, we had a set of glasses with the proper tinting and my son showed immediate improvement.  He was able to read without difficulty, his anxiety decreased significantly, his visual hallucinations were eradicated, his headaches (which were apparently caused by him concentrating very hard on each word to make it stop moving) were relieved; and, for the first time in several years, he was able to complete his semester."  Dr. Jess P Armine

Irlen Syndrome: Reading Difficulties and Dyslexia- diagnosis and m...

Irlen Syndrome: Reading Difficulties and Dyslexia- diagnosis and m...: "The Building Strength group sent me this email invitation to a webinar. This webinar with Helen Irlen will look at the problems faced by man..."

Reading Difficulties and Dyslexia- diagnosis and misdiagnosis

The Building Strength group sent me this email invitation to a webinar. This webinar with Helen Irlen will look at the problems faced by many with reading difficulties. Click on the link below to hear a special message from Helen Irlen.

Link to Helen Irlen special message 

 

THE MANY FACES OF THE STRUGGLING READER: Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis
"Reading difficulties and dyslexia can be found among grade school children, in older children, and adults as well. However, reading difficulties come in numerous variations. What looks like the same problem can actually have different causes. This seminar will cover the various types of struggling readers and how to identify those who are being misdiagnosed and actually have Irlen Syndrome."  Helen Irlen

 If you would like more information about this paid webinar, visit

buildingstrengthwebinars.com 

Thursday, May 12th
6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET
(Links to replay this presentation will be made available to all registrants)

Thanks everyone,

Christine

Irlen Syndrome: Anxiety and Irlen Syndrome

Irlen Syndrome: Anxiety and Irlen Syndrome: "The Irlen Institute recently posted a comment on their Facebook page about the link between anxiety and Irlen Syndrome. Apparently there has..."

Anxiety and Irlen Syndrome

The Irlen Institute recently posted a comment on their Facebook page about the link between anxiety and Irlen Syndrome. Apparently there has been some scientific research done that has found a correlation between the two disorders. Here is the comment that was posted:
"There is a correlation between anxiety and Irlen Syndrome, according to a scientific article written by Jacques Guimond, Irlen Clinic Director of New Brunswick, Canada" (Irlen Institute 2011).

Irlen Syndrome, or Scotopic sensitivity as it is also known, is a visual perception problem.

Irlen Syndrome, or Scotopic sensitivity as it is also known, is a visual perception problem. Often individuals with Irlen Syndrome are unable to see people or objects as a whole. Donna Williams is a best selling author who has also been diagnosed with Scotopic sensitivity. In her book 'Like Color to the Blind', she writes about her experiences and describes the life changing benefits of wearing Irlen lenses. She can now see faces, bodies and objects as a whole.

Irlen Syndrome: Research into Irlen Filters

Irlen Syndrome: Research into Irlen Filters: "Irlen Syndrome is a visual perception dysfunction and is not related to regular optometric problems. There have been numerous controlled stu..."

Research into Irlen Filters

Irlen Syndrome is a visual perception dysfunction and is not related to regular optometric problems. There have been numerous controlled studies that have reported improvements in reading with the use of coloured filters.
For more information on the current research that is available about Irlen Syndrome, you can visit this site.
http://www.aaic.org.au/paper-brugge2004.pdf

Irlen Syndrome: What is Irlen Syndrome?

Irlen Syndrome: What is Irlen Syndrome?: "Scotopic sensitivity syndrome, also known as also known as Irlen Syndrome and Visual Stress Syndrome, approximating in some ways ..."

What is Irlen Syndrome?

Scotopic sensitivity syndrome, also known as  also known as Irlen Syndrome and Visual Stress Syndrome, approximating in some ways to Meares Irlen syndrome, and 'Visual Stress', refers to visual perceptual disorder(s) affecting primarily reading and writing based activities. (Wikipedia)

Irlen Syndrome: How Many Combinations of Irlen filters can be made...

Irlen Syndrome: How Many Combinations of Irlen filters can be made...: "You would be surprised to know, that it is possible to make over 380 trillion different combinations of Irlen filters! This is the reas..."

How Many Combinations of Irlen filters can be made?

You would be surprised to know, that it is possible to make over 380 trillion different combinations of Irlen filters! This is the reason why the Irlen Method is so successful, because it targets the exact spectrum of light which the individual's brain has trouble processing. Absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!

Irlen Syndrome: Autism and Asperger's Syndrome and Sensory Overloa...

Irlen Syndrome: Autism and Asperger's Syndrome and Sensory Overloa...: "Helen Irlen will be presenting a webinar on Monday March 14 6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET. Click here to register for this fantastic prese..."

Autism and Asperger's Syndrome and Sensory Overload Webinar with Helen Irlen‏

Helen Irlen will be presenting a webinar on Monday March 14 6pm PT, 7pm MT, 8pm CT, 9pm ET.

Click here to register for this fantastic presentation.

http://www.buildingstrengthwebinars.com/upcoming-webinars


Here is the information posted about the webinar from the Building Strength website.

" Seventy percent of the information an individual receives enters through the eyes and must be correctly interpreted by the brain. Any problem in the way the brain processes visual information can cause difficulties in the general ability to function, especially for individuals on the autistic spectrum. Sensory overload causes problems processing, interpreting, and interacting with the environment. The Irlen Method helps individuals on the autistic spectrum by filtering the specific frequencies of light to which the individual is sensitive. This allows the brain to process visual information normally and results in improvements in a variety of areas including behavior, social interaction, small and gross motor skills, and communication while eliminating physical symptoms related to light sensitivity. "

Click the link to register
http://www.buildingstrengthwebinars.com/upcoming-webinars

Irlen Syndrome: What are the Signs or Symptoms of Irlen Syndrome?

Irlen Syndrome: What are the Signs or Symptoms of Irlen Syndrome?: "It's fantastic to see the increase of community awareness about Irlen Syndrome. abc4 recently showed a story about Irlen Syndrome. Watc..."

What are the Signs or Symptoms of Irlen Syndrome?

It's fantastic to see the increase of community awareness about Irlen Syndrome. abc4 recently showed a story about Irlen Syndrome. Watch it here.

Irlen Syndrome: Is Irlen Syndrome/Scotopic Sensitivity Inherited?

Irlen Syndrome: Is Irlen Syndrome/Scotopic Sensitivity Inherited?: "There has been some research done in Australia by (Robinson, Foreman & Dear, 2000) which investigated the possibility that Sco..."

Is Irlen Syndrome/Scotopic Sensitivity Inherited?

There has been some research done in Australia by (Robinson, Foreman & Dear, 2000) which investigated
the possibility that Scotopic Sensitivity/Irlen Syndrome runs in families.
Their research found that there was an 84% chance of at least one parent showing similar symptoms.
When I was screening a student last year, their mother was present at the screening. She actually presented with very significant symptoms at the time. When I asked the mother to come back for a screening the next day, I found significant indicators that she had Irlen Syndrome as well.   

Irlen Syndrome: Visual Dyslexia- what are the words doing on a pag...

Irlen Syndrome: Visual Dyslexia- what are the words doing on a pag...: "How do the words on a page look for someone trying to read that has Irlen Syndrome or visual dyslexia? Have a look at this YouTube video for..."

Visual Dyslexia- what are the words doing on a page?

How do the words on a page look for someone trying to read that has Irlen Syndrome or visual dyslexia?
Have a look at this YouTube video for an insight into what these people deal with every day.

Irlen Syndrome: The Irlen Method for Reading

Irlen Syndrome: The Irlen Method for Reading: "If you would like to know some more information about Irlen. take a look at this video from YouTube. What do you think about the Irlen Metho..."

The Irlen Method for Reading

If you would like to know some more information about Irlen. take a look at this video from YouTube. What do you think about the Irlen Method? Have you heard of it before?

Irlen Syndrome: The Irlen Method can help to improve headaches, re...

Irlen Syndrome: The Irlen Method can help to improve headaches, re...: "Many parents and teachers ask me to explain what Irlen Syndrome is. Firstly let me emphasise there is much documented research about this m..."

The Irlen Method can help to improve headaches, reading fluency and comprehension

Many parents and teachers ask me to explain what Irlen Syndrome is.
Firstly let me emphasise there is much documented research about this method of using coloured lenses and overlays. The Irlen Method is technology that uses coloured overlays and filters to improve the brain's ability to process visual information.  This method can help improve headaches and migraines, reading fluency, comprehension, attention, moods and many learning difficulties.
Here is the link to the Irlen international site that has some very useful information about Irlen Syndrome and Helen Irlen, who discovered and created the Irlen Method in 1980.
http://irlen.com/index.php

I highly recommend buying the Irlen book to find out more information.

Irlen Syndrome: Hyperlexia versus Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome. Wha...

Irlen Syndrome: Hyperlexia versus Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome. Wha...: "Hyperlexia versus Dyslexia. Dr Paul Whiting explains the difference in this video from Youtube."

Hyperlexia versus Dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome. What is the difference?

Hyperlexia versus Dyslexia. Dr Paul Whiting explains the difference in this video from Youtube.

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome - Dyslexia and brain scans

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome - Dyslexia and brain scans: "American psychiatrist, Daniel Amen, has screened Irlen patients for over 10 years. He has performed before and after brain scans of patients..."

Irlen Syndrome - Dyslexia and brain scans

American psychiatrist, Daniel Amen, has screened Irlen patients for over 10 years. He has performed before and after brain scans of patients with Irlen Lenses and found that while reading, their brains appear more balanced. Three of these scans are reproduced below.
A 3D picture of someone reading tha does not have Irlen Syndrome. Notice that only a small portion of the brain is being used.

Here is a scan of the brain of a person with Irlen Syndrome,
while reading or under bright lighting. Notice how more parts of the brain are in red and being used. This explains why people with Irlen often are tired and have headaches.

The next picture is of a person with Irlen Syndrome reading with coloured lenses or overlays. Notice how the red areas are reduced thereby reducing the strain on the brain.

 

What is Irlen Syndrome? - Helen Irlen is a psychologist and founder of the Irlen Method

Helen Irlen is a psychologist and founder of  the Irlen Method. Read the interview with Helen here.
http://www.autism.com/fam_page.asp?PID=363

Irlen Syndrome: Helen Irlen is a psychologist and founder of the ...

Irlen Syndrome: Helen Irlen is a psychologist and founder of the ...: "Helen Irlen is a psychologist and founder of the Irlen Method. Read the interview with Helen here. http://www.autism.com/fam_page.asp?..."

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome is estimated to be 70% hereditary

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome is estimated to be 70% hereditary: "Irlen Syndrome is a visual perception problem. According to some experts, it is considered to be up to 70% inherited. That's incre..."

Irlen Syndrome is estimated to be 70% hereditary

Irlen Syndrome is a visual perception problem. According to some experts, it is considered to be up to 70% inherited. That's incredible when you really think about it. Irlen Syndrome affects approximately 14-18% of the world population. With this condition, the brain is working overtime and that is why you will find that individuals will often have headaches, be tired and lack energy. We now have a very sophisticated machine called the DESA (Digital EEG Spectral Analysis) that can explicitly explain this phenomenon.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/the-reason-of-irlen-syndrome-2088498.html#ixzz1Dn9dReL5

Irlen Syndrome: Individuals with Irlen Syndrome do not see words o...

Irlen Syndrome: Individuals with Irlen Syndrome do not see words o...: "Individuals with Irlen Syndrome do not see words on the page in the same way as proficient readers. They may experience some of the followin..."

Individuals with Irlen Syndrome do not see words on the page in the same way as proficient readers

Individuals with Irlen Syndrome do not see words on the page in the same way as proficient readers. They may experience some of the following symptoms:

• Words seeming to fall off the page.
• Words moving together.
• Letters moving around - going backwards and rotating. This is particularly difficult for letters that are visually similar such as b,d,q,p etc.
• Letters switching around.
• The background may pulsate.
• The background may twist, flash.
• The background is too bright, glarey.

For myself, reading print on a white background is very difficult. It is very bright and uncomfortable for my eyes. On my next post, I will explain some ways we can help with this bright background.
Please leave a comment or question.

Irlen Syndrome: Interactive whiteboards and Smartboards pose for s...

Irlen Syndrome: Interactive whiteboards and Smartboards pose for s...: "You may not know this, but the white background used on our computers, whiteboards and smartboards all pose a challenge for students with Ir..."

Interactive whiteboards and Smartboards pose for students with Irlen Syndrome.

You may not know this, but the white background used on our computers, whiteboards and smartboards all pose a challenge for students with Irlen because of the glare that bounces off them. Recently, a researcher in Ireland has noted the extra challenge that Interactive whiteboards and Smartboards pose for students with Irlen Syndrome.
Have you noticed this in your classrooms?

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome Stories

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome Stories: "It would be great if you would share your personal experiences about Irlen Syndrome. You can contact me at christine.hawkins11@gmail.co..."

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome Stories

Irlen Syndrome: Irlen Syndrome Stories: "It would be great if you would share your personal experiences about Irlen Syndrome. You can contact me at christine.hawkins11@gmail.co..."

Irlen Syndrome Stories

It would be great if you would share your personal experiences about Irlen Syndrome.
You can contact me at christine.hawkins11@gmail.com or post on this blog.
Cheers. Christine

Irlen Syndrome: Here is another amazing success story of someone w...

Irlen Syndrome: Here is another amazing success story of someone w...: "In the previous post, I started to highlight amazing success stories from the 'Yes I Can' award program of children and adults that hav..."

Here is another amazing success story of someone with Irlen Syndrome

In the previous post, I started to highlight amazing success stories from the 'Yes I Can' award program of children and adults that have risen above adversity and are now living successful lives. The next story is also incredible. Henry Richards is an eight year old boy from the UK. Here is part of the amazing story of this brave little boy.

"His father is a certified Irlen Screener who writes that “Irlen Filters have truly changed my son’s life.”  Before his Irlen Filters, Henry could not read, could hardly write, and was very angry and withdrawn.  Although good at gymnastics, competition proved stressful.  He has worn his Irlen Filters all day, every day, for the past 8 months; and with hard work is in the top literacy group…reading two years above his actual age.  He sleeps well, speaks and writes fluently, is calm, organized, and a regional gymnastic champion." (www.irlen.com)