F.A.Q

Irlen Syndrome; also known as Meares-Irlen Syndrome, Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) and Visual Stress, is not a visual impairment. Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual processing disorder that affects the brain’s ability to accurately process visual information due to light sensitivity.  

The most common symptoms are:

• Eye strain
• Headaches/migraine
• Nausea 
• Fatigue
• Restlessness, anxiety, irritability, dizziness or mood changing
• Poor performance in sports
• Depth-perception problems
• Slow or inefficient reading
• Poor reading comprehension
• Text and environment look different
• Concentration problems
• Light sensitivity
• Difficulty with reading music
• Difficulty with copying
• Difficulty with maths

Irlen Syndrome affects:

12.5% of the general population

50% of the reading disabled population

33% of people with ADHD

Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. Dyslexia refers to a number of symptoms, which result in people having difficulties with specific language skills, particularly reading. Students with dyslexia usually experience difficulties with other language skills such as spelling, writing, and pronouncing words.

Irlen Syndrome is a perceptual processing disorder, meaning that it relates specifically to how the brain processes the visual information it receives. It is not a language-based disorder.