What is visual stress?

Visual stress (Meares Irlen Syndrome) is sensitivity to visual patterns. This can cause visual perception problems which can interfere with reading even if the child has normal vision. Symptoms include: Movement of print/words. Print blurring.

What is meant by visual stress?

It is thought that when some people try to read the 'stripy' effect of the lines of print, it causes similar symptoms affecting their ability to read the text. This is known as Visual Stress or Meares-Irlen Syndrome. Visual Stress is NOT Dyslexia but is more common amongst dyslexic individuals.

What is visual stress caused by?

Visual Stress is a perceptual processing condition that causes reading difficulties, headaches and visual problems from exposure to patterns in text, such as lines of text. Visual Stress is linked to dyslexia and similar visual learning difficulties. Sufferers experience print distortion and fatigue when reading.

Is visual stress a form of dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a term used to describe various specific learning difficulties that affect the ability to learn to read and spell correctly. Visual Stress is NOT Dyslexia but can be particularly prevalent in Dyslexic individuals.

Does visual stress go away?

Does Visual Dyslexia go away? Generally, no; although there are cases reported where the contrary has been the case. Sensitivity does seem to change though, especially in a changed response to coloured filters.

How to check for visual stress (step-by-step)

How do I know if I have visual stress?

Signs to look out for that may indicate visual stress: Misreading text or reading words in the wrong order. Missing out words or whole lines of text. Losing the place on a page when reading.

What are signs of visual stress?

Does visual stress get worse?

For visual stress to occur, the visual system goes through several steps. Understanding these steps can help you to stop the process by reducing the triggers and making changes to your visual environment. If you do not make changes and the cycle continues to escalate, the stress accumulates, and symptoms will worsen.

How do you deal with visual stress?

Visual Stress can be reduced by the use of coloured filters. This works by placing a coloured overlay directly over text, or by wearing coloured lenses in spectacles. The reduction occurs only when the colour is selected to suit the individual.

Who can assess for visual stress?

While adults may recognise symptoms, children may not be aware of them, as this is how they always experience reading. For this reason, any child who is a struggling reader should be assessed by an optometrist to either rule out or treat visual difficulties.

Is visual stress the same as Irlen Syndrome?

Visual stress, also known as Irlen syndrome or Meares-Irlen syndrome, is not an optical problem, but a problem relating to perceptual processing (i.e. the brain's ability to process visual information). For example, eye strain may result from reading or you may develop headaches from certain visual patterns.

Does visual stress affect spelling?

Dyslexics have trouble processing written language, resulting in poor reading and spelling that can affect their self esteem and academic performance. Visual stress or visual dyslexia causes people to have trouble reading printed text.

What is visual stress NHS?

Visual stress (also known as Meares-Irlen syndrome or scotopic sensitivity) is thought to be stimulated by the stripy effect of the writing which overstimulates the visual cortex in the brain and produces symptoms. An overlay is prescribed with a tint unique to each child.

Can anxiety cause visual disturbances?

Anxiety can cause blurry vision, tunnel vision, light sensitivity, visual snow, and potentially seeing flashes of light. Each of these has a different cause and may need to be addressed in specific ways to each visual problem. Only a comprehensive, long-term anxiety treatment will prevent future vision problems.

Can anxiety affect eye pressure?

When we are severely stressed and anxious, high levels of adrenaline in the body can cause pressure on the eyes, resulting in blurred vision. People with long-term anxiety can suffer from eye strain throughout the day on a regular basis.

What's visual dyslexia?

When a child struggles to remember what they saw on a page, they may have visual dyslexia. This type affects the visual processing, making it so that the brain doesn't get the complete picture of what the eyes see.

What does a person with Irlen Syndrome see?

Some of the often-seen symptoms include: Sensitivity to light – especially sunlight and fluorescent light. Difficulty reading – especially chapter books with smaller text and lots of lines. Fidgety when reading.

What are the 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.

Is Irlen Syndrome related to autism?

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.

What type of disability is Irlen Syndrome?

IRLEN SYNDROME IS A PERCEPTUAL PROCESSING DISORDER

It is not an optical problem. It is a problem with the brain's ability to process visual information. This problem tends to run in families and is not currently identified by standardized educational, psychological, optometric, or medical tests.

Is Irlen Syndrome a Recognised disability?

Irlen syndrome is not recognised by most medical professionals and is diagnosed by a licensed Irlen diagnostician.

What is the difference between dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome?

Differences. This is where dyslexia differs the most from Irlen Syndrome, as Irlen Syndrome is a visual perception problem, where difficulties cannot necessarily be explained by phonetic deficits or by a weak sight vocabulary. Faulty reading occurs, often characterised by omissions and additions.

Is visual processing disorder the same as dyslexia?

Myth:Dyslexia and visual processing disorder have the same symptoms. Fact: Individuals with dyslexia struggle to connect letters to sounds; those with visual processing disorder struggle to understand visual information, whether letters, shapes, or objects.

Can adults develop Irlen Syndrome?

Around 50% of children and adults with reading, learning, or attention problems have Irlen Syndrome.