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Dyslexia is often associated with descriptions of 'words moving on the page' and difficulties with reading black print on white paper. However it is important to note that this is in fact a different issue termed as 'Visual Stress' or 'Irlen Syndrome'.
Many students with Dyslexia also experience Visual Stress which is why the two are often associated.
Downloadable PDF - Visual Stress: Signs, Symptoms and Strategies
(Adapted from Edmonds & Slatter)
Signs to look out for:
moving closer to or away from page
becoming restless
using a finger as a marker
skipping words and lines
rubbing the eyes and blinking excessively
low self esteem
Symptoms
movement of print
blurring of print
letters changing shape or size
letters fading or becoming darker
patterns appearing, sometimes describes as “worms” or “rivers” running through print
illusions of colour – blobs of colour on the page or colours surrounding letters or words
rapid tiring
headache or eyestrain
Symptoms of Visual Stress are not always immediately obvious. Many individuals who suffer with this condition believe the discomfort they feel when reading or the distortions they experience on the page are “normal” and experienced by everyone. A student may have perfect vision but still have Visual Stress.
It is important that Visual Stress is diagnosed by a qualified optometrist or a certified Irlen's Screener.
The video below shows different ways that print can be distorted by Irlen Syndrome/ Visual Stress.
Support strategies for Visual Stress / Irlen Syndrome
Coloured overlays can help reduce the effects of visual stress and make it easier for students to read - this is a trial and error process as different colours work for different students
Once the correct colour is identified, Precision Tinted Lenses can help with reading but also reading from screens, boards, etc.
Changing the background colour on Google Docs, Google Slide etc. is easy to do and can make a text more accessible for those students managing Visual Stress / Irlen Syndrome. Although it is true that different colours work for different students, reducing the black on white glare with a pale yellow, blue or green is already a good start. Asking students what colour works best for them is also important.
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