Frequently Asked Questions

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The assessment process is separated into two testing sessions. The first session is called the Screening. You will do various perceptual tasks with a certified Irlen Screener or Diagnostician. The testing creates an awareness of the various distortions you are experiencing when reading, educates as to what a page should be like, and determines if your symptoms are slight, moderate or severe. At this first session, we establish the color of the overlay (plastic sheet) which will provide the greatest benefit for reading. You will be given this overlay to take home to use when reading. You will be able to see for yourself immediate changes and improvement when reading in one or more of the following skills:

• Reading rate• Flow and fluency• Comfort• Tracking• Comprehension• Sight vocabulary• Sustained attention• Ability to skim or speed read• Error rate

For those that the Irlen Colored Overlays improve reading, they go on for the second session, Tint Assessment. During the tint assessment, you work with different colored lenses to create your own unique color. This color filters out your offending wave lengths of light. Each person ends up with their own unique color. By filtering only certain wave lengths of light, reading, attention, light sensitivity, headaches and other physical symptoms improve or disappear.

The color you will wear as lenses is usually different from the overlay color. Thus, do not tint glasses the same color as your overlay. The overlay makes the page look colored. With the Irlen lenses, the page will still look white; but the print will be clear, stable and comfortable. Irlen lenses will not change the color of what you are looking at or make things darker.

 Around 50% of children and adults with reading, learning, or attention problems have Irlen Syndrome. For some, the Irlen Method is the solution. For others, the Irlen Method is just part of the puzzle as there will be other reading/learning problems that need to be addressed. Irlen Filters will make the print clear, stable, easy to see and comfortable. The Irlen Method is not a method of reading instruction or remediation but using Irlen colored overlays and lenses will allow your child to make progress and benefit from reading instruction. For many, the Irlen Method will allow you or your child to utilize your reading skills with ease and comfort. With the Irlen Method, the child and adult will be able to read for long periods with good comprehension. 

 About 12 – 14% of good readers and even gifted students can benefit from the Irlen Method. For these individuals, using Irlen colored overlays and lenses will allow them to finish work faster, get better grades, do better on standardized tests, and eliminate headaches and other symptoms of strain and fatigue. Good readers no longer avoid reading and find they can read for hours comfortably. 

 No. Only if you have a type of perceptual processing problem. Processing problems affect flow, fluency, accuracy, and comprehension. Difficulty with phonics and language can also interfere with learning to read, and these problems are not corrected by the Irlen Method.

Problems related to language differences and poor phonic skills and sight vocabulary can only be helped with appropriate reading instruction.

Visual problems should be corrected before testing since the Irlen Method does not correct visual problems nor does it replace the need for glasses. 

Anyone over the age of  7 can be tested, and occasionally younger students have been screened.

Irlen Syndrome is unfortunately not covered by medical insurance.