Screening for Meares–Irlen sensitivity in adults: can assessment methods predict changes in reading speed?

Abstract

Two methods of assessing candidates for coloured overlays were compared with the aim of determining which method had the most practical utility. 58 adults were assessed as potential candidates for coloured overlays, using two methods; a questionnaire which identified self reported previous symptoms, and a measure of perceptual distortions immediately prior to testing.Participants were classified as normal, Meares-Irlen sensitive, and borderline sensitive. Reading speed was measured with and without coloured overlays, using the Wilkins Rate of Reading Test and the change in speed was calculated. Participants classified as normal did not show any significant benefit from reading with an overlay. In contrast, a significant reading advantage was found for the borderline and Meares-Irlen participants. Current symptom rating was found to be a significant predictor of the change in reading speed, however the previous symptom rating was not found to be a reliable predictor. These data indicate that the assessment of perceptual distortions immediately prior to measuring colour preference and reading speed is the most meaningful method of assessing pattern glare and determining the utility of coloured overlays.3

Visual stress, its treatment with spectral filters, and its relationship to visually induced motion sickness

“…Additionally, a recent experiment studied reading speed at a large range of chromaticities and thereby directly addressed the issue of the precision with which the coloured filters need to be prescribed so as to suit an individual . People who read more quickly with their chosen coloured overlay see more distortions in striped patterns (Hollis and Allen, 2006). These people can be identified objectively by the decrease in search speed that occurs when the search task is surrounded by a pattern of stripes (Singleton and Henderson, 2007;Allen et al, 2008).…”

Relação do processamento óptico, neurovisual e cognitivo nas dificuldades de leitura

“…Síndrome de Irlen é a com maior prevalência na população, variando de intensidade em cerca de 19-36% da população geral, com 2-5% apresentando sintomas severos (WILKINS et al, 2001;JOSEPH, 2002;HOLLIS;ALLEN, 2006;NICHOLS et al, 2009 Por outro lado, a dislexia é causada pela fraca conectividade do sistema neuronal da linguagem (RAMUS, 2014), que acarreta problemas cognitivos principalmente na já referida rota fonológica (consciência fonológica, conversão grafema-fonema, memória de trabalho fonológica) e/ou na rota lexical (reconhecimento automatizado das palavras irregulares) (BLAZELY et al, 2005;ZIEGLER et al, 2008;WYBROW;HANLEY, 2015). Seus sintomas são percebidos precocemente na criança, inclusive antes do processo de alfabetização, por meio de erros sintáticos na fala, fraca nomeação e consciência fonológica (CATTS et al, 2013 (PAULESU et al, 1996).…”

The Cortical Hyperexcitability Index (CHi): a new measure for quantifying correlates of visually driven cortical hyperexcitability

“…The items chosen for the CHi measure represent a comprehensive selection of visual experiences including a minority used in some previous questionnaire measures (Bell Halligan & Ellis, 2006;Conlon et al, 1999;Hollis & Allen, 2006;Irlen, 1983;Sierra & Berrios, 2000), those experiences reported from more objective investigations (i.e., those complemented by psychophysical, brain-stimulation and brainimaging studies on patient and control groups: Adjamian, Holliday, Barnes, Hillebrand, Hadjipapas et al, 2004;Brighina, Piazza, Daniele, & Fierro, 2002;Chronicle, Pearson, & Mulleners, 2006;Coutts, Cooper, Elwell, & Wilkins, 2012;Evans & Stevenson, 2008;Huang, Zong, Wilkins, Jenkins, Bozoki et al, 2003;Marcus & Soso, 1989;Palmer, Chronicle, Rolan, & Mulleners, 2000;Shepherd, Beaumont, & Hine, 2012;Wilkins et al, 1984;Wilkins, 1995), from experimental studies of hallucination proneness in non-clinical populations (Braithwaite et al, 2013a;2013b;Braithwaite Hulleman, Samson, Boglia & Applery, 2011), and neurological / clinical reviews of aura and their underlying mechanisms (Allen et al, 2008;Bien et al, 2000;Collerton, Perry, & McKeith, 2005;Elliot, Joyce & Shorvon, 2009a;2009b;Hadjikhani, del Rio, Wu, Schwartz, Bakker et al, 2001;Lauritzen, 2001;Manford & Andermann, 1998;Panayiotopoulos, 1999;Pietrobon & Striessnig, 2003;Siegel, 1977;Silberstein, 2004). The items included in the CHi are summarised in Table 1.…”

“…One commonly used questionnaire screening measure of the resultant visual distortions is the Meares-Irlen scale (Irlen, 1983;Hollis & Allen, 2006). Although the items on this measure have some intuitive appeal, they have never been investigated formally or established as a valid or reliable measure of visual stress or underlying cortical hyperexcitability.…”