Coloured filters improve exclusion of perceptual noise in visually symptomatic dyslexics

Abstract

Previous studies of visually symptomatic dyslexics have found that their contrast thresholds for pattern discrimination are the same as non‐dyslexics. However, when noise is added to the stimuli, contrast thresholds rise markedly in dyslexics compared with non‐dyslexics. This result could be due to impaired noise exclusion in dyslexics. Some dyslexics report a reduction in discomfort experienced while reading and show increased reading speed when using coloured lenses. We hypothesised that coloured lenses work by aiding noise exclusion. Thus the coloured lenses should help performance best under conditions of high visual noise. We measured contrast thresholds for discriminating symbols in the absence and presence of visual noise. The results showed that visually symptomatic dyslexics, who otherwise had elevated contrast thresholds for discriminating symbols in visual noise, had thresholds similar to non‐dyslexics when wearing coloured filters. These findings provide evidence that in visually symptomatic dyslexics coloured filters can improve noise exclusion to normal levels.

Colored Overlays and the Reading Fluency of Middle School Students with Cognitive Disabilities

“…Consent will be obtained through a passive consent form letter, as with the experimental group. Studies (Northway et al, 2010;Dain et al, 2008;Carbo, 2010) have been used to show that students with Specific Reading Disabilities and reading difficulties benefit from the use of colored overlays. Students with SRD will be used in the control group as a comparison to those in the experimental group because of this past success with colored overlays.…”

“…Many studies (Northway et al, 2010;Dain, Floyd & Elliot, 2008;Ludlow et al, 2008;Trout et al, 2007;Carbo, 2010) have been conducted and suggest that the use of colored overlays increases the reading fluency of students with a variety of disabilities. Students with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Specific Reading Disorders, and those considered at risk have participated in studies involving colored overlays.…”

“…First, the researcher will seek to replicate the results of previous studies (Northway et al, 2010;Dain et al, 2008) suggesting that colored overlays improve the reading fluency of students with Specific Reading…”

“…If students are to comprehend what they read, they must be able to read with fluency. This study will examine one classroom intervention that previous studies (Ludlow, Wilkins & Heaton, 2008;Northway, Manahilov & Simpson, 2010;Trout & Epstein, 2007) have shown to improve the reading fluency of students with autism spectrum disorders, specific reading disabilities, and ADHD. However, the focus of the study will be on students identified with cognitive disabilities.…”

Reading conditions in schools: a review of fluorescent lighting, ultra-white paper, unexplained learning difficulties, and visual stress in the classroom

“…Identification of VS morbidity can be challenging, as similar or identical symptoms have been identified in a number of independent disorders, including: developmental dyslexia (Northway, Manahilov, & Simpson, 2010;Rodriguez-Pérez, González-Castro, Álvarez, Álvarez, & Fernández-Cueli, 2012;Wright & Conlon, 2009); attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder Taurines et al, 2010); chronic fatigue syndrome (Loew et al, 2014;Robinson, McGregor, Roberts, Dunstan, & Butt, 2001;Wilson, Paterson, & Hutchinson, 2015) as well as photosensitive epilepsy and migraine (Wilkins, Huang, & Cao, 2007). Accordingly, research findings indicating that 12-14% of the general population regularly experience at least moderate symptoms of VS could be viewed as reasonable (Kriss & Evans, 2005;Kruk, Sumbler, & Willows, 2008).…”