Get The Educator Toolkit - Irlen Syndrome Foundation

They may seem frustrated, become distracting or easily distracted or develop behaviour problems. These are often coping strategies to manage their Irlen symptoms. Telling them to pay more attention or to keep trying may not be helpful.

Irlen syndrome is a difficulty with visual perceptual processing and is not an 'eye' problem. It affects well over half of autistic people but also occurs in approximately 15% of the neuro-typical population.

Irlen Syndrome is a neurologic condition resulting in an over-active or over-stimulated brain. This extra brain activity affects lots of different areas of functioning including: health and well-being, attention, concentration, behavior, depth perception, and academic performance.

Many of the symptoms shown below are shared with Irlen Syndrome. Irlen Syndrome can co-exist with ADD and ADHD but can also be the sole cause of a child's difficulties.

Available in all the colours of the rainbow, the glasses are synonymous with Irlen syndrome, described as "a visual perceptual problem". The only problem is, ing to most medical experts, Irlen syndrome does not exist.

Irlen Syndrome can result in ADHD-like symptoms in some individuals, but unlike individuals with true ADHD, the environment and lighting conditions are what create over-activity in the brain that leads to difficulties in focus and concentration and even physical symptoms like feeling jittery or anxious.

Research also suggests Irlen Syndrome is commonly comorbid with dyslexia (as well as autism, ADHD, and brain trauma). This comorbidity and symptomatic overlap has caused some to use both terms synonymously, leading to a regular misdiagnosis of Irlen Syndrome as dyslexia.

RANZCO's Irlen Syndrome position statement states that “Despite Irlen Syndrome being first described in the early 1980s, there is still no sound theoretical basis or evidence that the condition actually exists. A diagnosis of Irlen Syndrome is based solely on symptoms with no quantitative physiological correlation.”