What is Irlen® Syndrome?
Irlen Syndrome IS
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a brain processing issue.
The brain overreacts to light and visual stimuli, so it cannot effectively process them
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a spectrum disorder.
Symptoms fall on a continuum from-
slight (symptoms begin after 40 minutes of visual attention) to
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severe (symptoms begin after 20 minutes), or
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very severe (symptoms begin immediately)
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caused by a range of factors:
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genetic - inheriting it from a parent or grandparent
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illness, medical procedures, or
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traumatic brain injury/concussion.
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more common than expected
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affects 12-14 % of the general population and about 50% of individuals with dyslexia
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Irlen Syndrome IS NOT
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a learning disability
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but can cause specific learning problems and can be part of a diagnosis of ADD, Dyslexia, ASD
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a visual difficulty
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but can cause visual stress.
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an "eye problem"
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but a problem with the brain processing visual information.
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Optometrists and Irlen practitioners look for
and use different information
What Irlen Syndrome CAUSES​​​​​​​
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Visual symptoms:
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Words and print may appear blurry, moving, or unstable, making reading slow and exhausting (Visual Dyslexia)
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Physical symptoms:
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Light sensitivity triggers headaches, eye strain, fatigue, nausea, and physical discomfort
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Cognitive symptoms:
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Reading comprehension, concentration, and information processing become difficult and inefficient
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Emotional symptoms:
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Frustration, anxiety, low motivation, and reduced self-esteem develop from ongoing visual struggles
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Neurological symptoms:
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The brain's overreaction to light creates processing difficulties that affect learning and daily function.
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Examples of difficulties caused by
Irlen Syndrome
Stress in bright or busy
visual environments
Difficulties in bright /glare environments
Can prevent good communication-
noticing cues, changes of expression/emotion