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Helen Irlen, the Executive Director of the Irlen Institute International Head Quarters – the coloured lenses expert. Helen talks about what coloured lenses can do for your child, her new book, and her own challenges.
Profile:
Helen L. Irlen, MA, BCPC, MFT is a credentialed School Psychologist; Educational Therapist; Adult Learning Disability Specialist; Professional Counsellor. She is also the author of Reading by the Colors: A Piece of the Puzzle and The Irlen Revolution: A Guide to Changing Your Perception and Your Life. As an internationally recognized educator, researcher, and therapist, Helen has featured on BBC Specials and numerous TV news shows around the world. There are today over 140 affiliated Irlen Centres worldwide.
How do coloured lenses help with reading?
ZooBooKoo
educational toys and games.
Helen Irlen, the Executive Director of the Irlen Institute International Head Quarters – the coloured lenses expert. Helen talks about what coloured lenses can do for your child, her new book, and her own challenges.
Profile:
Helen L. Irlen, MA, BCPC, MFT is a credentialed School Psychologist; Educational Therapist; Adult Learning Disability Specialist; Professional Counsellor. She is also the author of Reading by the Colors: A Piece of the Puzzle and The Irlen Revolution: A Guide to Changing Your Perception and Your Life. As an internationally recognized educator, researcher, and therapist, Helen has featured on BBC Specials and numerous TV news shows around the world. There are today over 140 affiliated Irlen Centres worldwide.
How do coloured lenses help with reading?
Reading involves both the eyes and the brain. The eyes are the camera that sends the message to the brain where it is processed. The information is sent to the brain in the form of wavelengths of light which are colours. For some, black print on white is difficult for the brain to process accurately, creating distorted print and physical symptoms. When we use coloured lenses, we are filtering out the offending colours so that words, letters, numbers, and musical notes are clear, stable, and comfortable to read. Now students can read with comprehension.
It all sounds so incredible. What statistics are there to demonstrate the effectiveness of coloured lenses?
It sounded incredible 30 years ago, but presently there are over 100 published researched studies showing the Irlen Method improves reading fluency, comprehension, speed/rate, and comfort. Students can read without losing their place, misreading letters and words, being distracted, and with comprehension.
What percentage of the UK population is likely to be affected?
The percentage of the population who can be helped is the same for countries such as the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the USA. 46% of individuals with reading problems, dyslexia, specific learning differences, and ADD or ADHD are either being misdiagnosed and can be helped, or Irlen is a part of their difficulties.
What can a concerned parent do to establish if their child needs coloured lenses?
Help is around the corner. There are many Irlen testers in the UK who can determine if this is the problem. For a list of testing sites, visit http://www.irlen.com/ or http://www.irlenuk.com/ .
Please, tell us about your new book.
The Irlen Revolution: A Guide to Changing Your Perception and Your Life was written for the many people who were good readers but were struggling with other academic problems, light sensitivity, headaches, migraines, or poor depth perception. I wanted people to understand that perception affects every aspect of your life. If your eyes are open, your brain is processing visual information. Individuals with autism, TBI, concussions, head injuries, anxiety, panic disorders, and other medical and visual conditions may find that the root cause for some of their symptoms is light. The book provides self-tests so that an individual can find out if this is his/her problem and, if so, know that there is a solution using colour.
What is your greatest achievement to date in the field of visual perception?
There are so many…a 35 year old woman who couldn’t read and didn’t know that she saw ants running around the page instead of letters. Her Irlen Spectral Filters turned the ants into letters and words. Helping a Vet returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with many concussions be able to read again and eliminate his constant headaches. Eliminating the constant headaches and migraines for a 15 year old girl who had been so distressed that she tried to commit suicide.
And what has been the worst moment, professionally?
Having other professionals try to duplicate my technology without the knowledge and background of how it works. There are so many optical shops and opticians selling coloured lenses which do not help and often make the problem worse.
And finally, what do you enjoy most when you are not working?
I enjoy being with my family and especially my 2 year old granddaughter who is headstrong and goofy. I enjoy scuba diving, white water river rafting, kayaking, repelling, hiking, and biking. I also enjoy visiting primitive cultures and living with the people.
Please contact http://www.irlenuk.com/ or http://www.irlen.com/ for more information.
Follow The Irlen Institute on Facebook
It all sounds so incredible. What statistics are there to demonstrate the effectiveness of coloured lenses?
It sounded incredible 30 years ago, but presently there are over 100 published researched studies showing the Irlen Method improves reading fluency, comprehension, speed/rate, and comfort. Students can read without losing their place, misreading letters and words, being distracted, and with comprehension.
What percentage of the UK population is likely to be affected?
The percentage of the population who can be helped is the same for countries such as the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the USA. 46% of individuals with reading problems, dyslexia, specific learning differences, and ADD or ADHD are either being misdiagnosed and can be helped, or Irlen is a part of their difficulties.
What can a concerned parent do to establish if their child needs coloured lenses?
Help is around the corner. There are many Irlen testers in the UK who can determine if this is the problem. For a list of testing sites, visit http://www.irlen.com/ or http://www.irlenuk.com/ .
Please, tell us about your new book.
The Irlen Revolution: A Guide to Changing Your Perception and Your Life was written for the many people who were good readers but were struggling with other academic problems, light sensitivity, headaches, migraines, or poor depth perception. I wanted people to understand that perception affects every aspect of your life. If your eyes are open, your brain is processing visual information. Individuals with autism, TBI, concussions, head injuries, anxiety, panic disorders, and other medical and visual conditions may find that the root cause for some of their symptoms is light. The book provides self-tests so that an individual can find out if this is his/her problem and, if so, know that there is a solution using colour.
What is your greatest achievement to date in the field of visual perception?
There are so many…a 35 year old woman who couldn’t read and didn’t know that she saw ants running around the page instead of letters. Her Irlen Spectral Filters turned the ants into letters and words. Helping a Vet returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with many concussions be able to read again and eliminate his constant headaches. Eliminating the constant headaches and migraines for a 15 year old girl who had been so distressed that she tried to commit suicide.
And what has been the worst moment, professionally?
Having other professionals try to duplicate my technology without the knowledge and background of how it works. There are so many optical shops and opticians selling coloured lenses which do not help and often make the problem worse.
And finally, what do you enjoy most when you are not working?
I enjoy being with my family and especially my 2 year old granddaughter who is headstrong and goofy. I enjoy scuba diving, white water river rafting, kayaking, repelling, hiking, and biking. I also enjoy visiting primitive cultures and living with the people.
Please contact http://www.irlenuk.com/ or http://www.irlen.com/ for more information.
Follow The Irlen Institute on Facebook
