Symptoms of
Irlen Syndrome

Symptoms of Irlen Syndrome

 

Light Sensitivity:

• Bothered by glare, fluorescent lights, bright lights, sunlight and sometimes lights at night

• Some individuals experience physical symptoms and feel tired, sleepy, dizzy, anxious, or irritable. Others experience headaches, mood changes, restlessness or have difficulty staying focused, especially with bright or fluorescent lights.

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Reading Problems:

• Poor comprehension

• Misreads words

• Problems tracking from line to line

• Reads in dim light

• Skips words or lines

• Reads slowly or hesitantly

• Takes breaks

• Loses place

• Avoids reading

• Discomfort:

• Strain and fatigue

• Tired or sleepy

• Headaches or nausea

• Fidgety or restless

• Eyes that hurt or become watery

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Attention and Concentration Problems:

• Problems with concentration when reading and doing academic tasks

• Often people can appear to have other conditions, such as attention deficit disorder, and are given medication unnecessarily.

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Writing Problems:

• Trouble copying

• Unequal spacing

• Unequal letter size

• Writing up or downhill

• Inconsistent spelling

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Other Characteristics:

• Strain or fatigue from computer use

• Difficulty reading music

• Sloppy, careless math errors

• Misaligned numbers in columns

• Ineffective use of study time

• Lack of motivation

• Grades do not reflect the amount of effort

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Depth Perception:

• Clumsiness

• Difficulty catching balls

• Difficulty judging distances

• Additional caution necessary while driving

 

Distortions:

• Words on the page lack clarity or stability; i.e., may appear to be blurry, moving, or disappear