RESEARCH

RESEARCH DOCUMENTS

Bibliography

Recent Articles

by Boyle C., & Jindal-Snape, D. (2012). British Journal of Support for Learning, 27(4), 166-171. DOI: 10.1111 /1467-9604.12001

by Stephen J. Loew and Kenneth Watson, Centre for Bioactive Discovery in Health and Ageing, School of Science & Technology, University of New England, Armidale. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 2012, 114, 3, 870-882. © Perceptual & Motor Skills 2012.

by Stephen J. Loew, Estrella Fernandez and Kenneth Watson, University of New England {Australia), University of Oviedo {Spain). Au/a Abierta 2013, Vol. 41, num. 3, pp. 23-32, ICE. Universidad de Oviedo. ISSN: 0210-2773

lrlen and the Brain

by Jeffrey Lewine, Ph.D., John Davis, Ph.D., Sherri Provencal, M.A., James Edgar, M.A., and William Orrison, Jr., M.D.

by Andrew Yellen, Ph.D. and Thomas Schweller, M.D.,

by Robert Dobrin, M. D., F .A.A. P

by Daniel G. Amen M.D. Brain in the News, Newsletter 

RESEARCH ARTICLES

by Chouinard, B.D., Zhou, C.I., Hrybouski, S., Kim, E.S., Cummine, J. (2012). Brain Topography, 25 {3), pp. 293-307.

by Huang, J., Zong, X., Wilkins, A., Jenkins, 8., Bozoki, A., Cao, Y. (2011 ). Cephalagia, 31 (8):925-36.

STUDIES

IRLEN SYNDROME STUDIES

After contacting the lrlen Dyslexia Centre you will be sent a child or adult detailed survey form by mail or email. When the form has been completed and it has been established that most answers are in the often or sometimes column (Some people will have positive responses in some sections and not in others) you should make an appointment as lrlen spectral filtered lenses are likely to be of benefit. Benefits will range from improved comfort, eyestrain and headaches to improved clarity, confidence and reading capabilities and in some – a life changing experience.

Brain Scans

American psychiatrist, Daniel Amen, has screened lrlen patients for over 10 years. He has performed before and after brain scans of patients with lrlen Lenses and found that while reading1 their brains appear more balanced. Some of these scans are reproduced above. Click the images to enlarge and view captions.

SPECT 3D Brain scans of an individual with lrlen Syndrome. Performed by Daniel Amen M.D., Medical Director, Amen Clinics Inc., Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine.

Further Brain Research

Diagnostic impressions using functional brain imaging are also confirmed by behavioural pediatrician and psychiatrist, Robert Dobrin, M.D., F .A.A.P. These are consistent with the work of psychologist, Andrew Yellen, Ph.D.1 and Thomas Schweller1

M.D., a board certified neurologist and professor of neurology at UC San Diego, who studied lrlen Syndrome utilising Visual Evoked Responses (VER) and documented the Yellen-Schweller effect.

Similar findings were presented at the 45th Annual Conference of the International Military Testing Association in Pensacola1 Florida, in the paper, Perceptual Dyslexia: It’s effect on the Military Cadre and Benefits of Treatment, by Susann L. Krouse and James H. Irvine. The U.S. Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) sponsored the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory (NAMRL) to assess the prevalence and possible impact of lrlen Syndrome.

The findings of Daniel Amen M.D. are also consistent with a Magnetoencephalographic study by Jeffrey David Lewine, Ph.D., John Davis, Ph.D., Sherri Provencal, M.A.,

James Edgar, M.A., and William Orrison, Jr., M.D., conducted at The Center for Advanced Medical Technologies, The University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Department of Psychology, The University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Published Journals

Developmental Dyslexia has been documented in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, with maior studies into lrlen Syndrome published in Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, Australian Journal of Remedial Education, Behavioural Optometry, Focus on Dyslexia Research, Journal of Correctional Education, Journal of Research in Reading, Journal of the American Optometric Association, Ophthalmological and Physiological Optometry, Perceptual and Motor Skills, The Australasian Journal of Special Education and The Bulletin for Learning Disabilities.

BRAIN IMAGING STUDIES

by Jeffrey Lewine, Ph.D., John Davis, Ph.D., Sherri Provencal, M.A., James Edgar, M.A., and William Orrison, Jr., M.D.

by Drew Yellen

by Robert Dobrin, M.D., F.A.A.P

Brain in the News Newsletter by Daniel G. Amen M.D.

PEER REVIEWED JOURNALS

ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Yellow Filters can improve Magnocellular Function: Motion Sensitivity, Convergence, Accommodation and Reading

Synopsis: Yellow Filters should be tried in all children with reduced convergence and accommodation and reading before prisms, corrective lenses or exercises are prescribed.

Source: ANN. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1039: 283-293 (2005). doi.10.1196/annals.1325.027
Authors: N J. Ray, S Fowler and J F. Stein

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF LEARNING DISABILITIES

A Controlled Field Study of the use of coloured overlays on reading achievement

Synopsis: 71 Third Grade students in 2 US schools identified as having Irlen Syndrome were subject to immediate and delayed treatment with Irlen filters, and their improvements measured for rate, accuracy and comprehension. Improvements over 3 months were between 1.5 years and 2.7 years, with a plateau effect thereafter for one group.

Source: Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities 9,2, June 2004, 14-22.
Authors: Noble, Orton, Irlen & Robinson

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF REMEDIAL EDUCATION

Irlen coloured lenses for reading: A six year follow-up

Synopsis: 94% of wearers of Irlen filters reported ongoing improvements after six years.
These results are compared with other studies.

Source: Australian Journal of Remedial Education 26,3 133-18 (Now The Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities.)
Authors: Whiting, Robinson & Parrott

BEHAVIOURAL OPTOMETRY

The effects of Irlen Coloured Filters on Eye Movement: A long-term placebo controlled and masked study

Synopsis: Found improvements in a range of visual tasks in 113 subjects with reading diffilculties using Irlen Filters. There were also linear effects for age.

Source: Behavioural Optometry 1,7,4, 5-18
Authors: Robinson & Foreman

FOCUS ON DYSLEXIA RESEARCH

The Family Incidence of a visual-perceptual subtype of dyslexia

Synopsis: In three studies, 83% of children with Irlen Syndrome had one or both parents with similar symptoms. Family history would be a useful factor in identifying children likely to have visual processing problems and reading difficulties.

Synopsis: 80% of 155 inmates participating in prison education programs had a high incidence of symptoms of Irlen Syndrome, cf.12-14% in the general population. Using coloured overlays, 56% showed considerable improvement and 33% moderate improvement.

JOURNAL OF CORRECTIONAL EDUCATION

The Incidence of Scotopic Senstivity Syndrome in Colorado Inmates

Synopsis: 80% of 155 inmates participating in prison education programs had a high incidence of symptoms of Irlen Syndrome, cf.12-14% in the general population. Using coloured overlays, 56% showed considerable improvement and 33% moderate improvement.

Source: Journal of Correctional Education 51,3, Sept 2000, 294-299.
Authors: Whichard, Feller & Kastner

JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN READING

The relationship between dyslexia and Meares-Irlen Syndrome

Synopsis: Children with dyslexia seem to benefit more from coloured overlays than non-dyslexic children.
MIS and dyslexia are separate entities and are detected and treated in different ways.

Source: Journal of Research in Reading, ISSN 0141-0423 Volume 28, Issue 3, 2005, pp 350-364.
Authors: Kriss, I., and Evans, B.J.W.

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN OPTOMETRIC ASSOCIATION

Eye Movement efficiency in normal and reading disabled elementary school children: effects of varying luminance and wavelength

Synopsis: Blue filters resulted in a significant improvement in the number of fixations and regressions and rate of reading in reading disabled children.

Source: Journal of the American Optometric Association (1998).
Authors: Solan, Ficara, Brannan & Rucker

OPHTHALMOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL OPTOMETRY

Coloured Overlays and their effects on reading speed: A Review

Synopsis: Coloured overlays can reduce symptoms of visual stress and increase reading speed, and are not placebo.

Source: Ophthalmological and Physiological Optometry 22, 448-454 (2002). The College of Optometrists. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. UK.
Author: Wilkins, A.

Coloured Overlays in Schools: Orthoptic and Optometric findings

Synopsis: The benefit children received from a coloured overlay was not related to orthoptic of optometric findings. Concludes that children with visually precipitated symptoms and/or reading difficulties need both evaluation of their accomodative and binocular status and investigation of the effect of coloured filters.

Source: Ophthalmological and Physiological Optometry 22, 156-165 (2002). The College of Optometrists. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. UK.
Authors: Scott, McWhinnie, Taylor, Stevenson, Irons, Lewis, Evans, Evans & Wilkins

The effect of Coloured Filters on the rate of reading in an Adult Student population

Synopsis: Irlen Syndrome likely to be as common in adults as in children, and improvements using Irlen filters similar.

Source: Ophthalmological and Physiological Optometry 22, 535-545 (2002). The College of Optometrists. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. UK.
Authors: Evans & Joseph

Both Coloured Overlays and Coloured Lenses can improve reading fluency, but their optimal chromaticities differ

Synopsis: For improvement in reading rate, overlay colours provide no clinically reliable guide to optimal lens colour.

Source: Ophthalmological and Physiological Optometry 19,4, 279-285 (1999). The College of Optometrists. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. UK.
Authors: Lightstone, A., Lightstone T., & Wilkins, A

PERCEPTUAL AND MOTOR SKILLS

Biochemical Anomalies in people with Irlen Syndrome

Synopsis: Adds to the evidence for a biochemical basis for dyslexia and Irlen Syndrome. Discusses some of the complexities surrounding interpretation and practical applications of such findings.

Source: Australasian Association of Irlen Consultants Inc. 2004.
Authors: Robinson, Sparkes, Roberts & Dunstan
See also Robinson, G.L., McGregor, N.R., Roberts, T.K., Dunstan, R.H., & Butt, H. (2001) A biochemical analysis of people with chronic fatigue who have Irlen Syndrome: Speculation concerning immune system dysfunction. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 93, 486-504.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

Physiological and anatomical evidence for a magnocellular defect in developmental dyslexia

Synopsis: Dyslexic individuals showed diminished visually evoked potentials to rapid, low-contrast stimuli but normal responses to slow or high-contrast stimuli. Post-mortem studies showed abnormalities in the magnocellular but not the parvocellular visual pathways.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. 88, Sept 1991. 7943-7947
Authors: Livingstone, Rosen, Drislane & Galaburda

THE AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Interpretation of Emotion from facial expression for children with Irlen Syndrome

Synopsis: Children with Irlen Syndrome had significantly lower scores for interpreting emotion from facial expression than children with reading difficulty but no Irlen Syndrome, and children without reading difficulty.

Source: The Australasian Journal of Special Education 27,2,2003, 50-67.
Authors: Robinson & Whiting

THE BULLETIN FOR LEARNING DISABILITIES

The incidence of symptoms of scotopic sensitivity syndrome in a sample of Australian and New Zealand schools

Synopsis: Identified 12.5% of 856 school children as having “good” symptoms of SSS, and 8.5% as having “excellent” symptoms. Strong tendency for low teacher estimates of literacy competence and school achievement to be associated with such symptoms. Robinson, Hopkins & Davies found that 22% of 350 secondary school students in years 7 and 11 seemed to have significant symptoms of Irlen Syndrome.

Source/Authors: Robinson, G.L., Hobbs, M., Thomas, G., Freney, P., & Wilson, E. Unpublished paper. See also Robinson, G.L., Hopkins, B., & Davies, T., (1995) The incidence of scotopic sensitivity syndrome in secondary school populations: A prelimary survey. The Bulletin for Learning Disabilities 5(1), 36-56 and Robinson G.L., Foreman, P.J., & Dear. K., (1996) The familial incidence of scotopic sensitivity. Perceptual and Motor Skills 83, 1043-1055.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

IRLEN CONFERENCE PAPERS

Please use the following links to access research papers presented at conferences by Greg Robinson BA, Dip Ed, MEd (Hons), PhD, MAPsS. (1944 – 2008). These discuss possible causes of Irlen Syndrome; investigate the effects of Irlen coloured filters on reading achievement; and survey the family incidence of symptoms of Irlen Syndrome.

by Robinson, G.L., Sparkes, D.L., Roberts, T.K., & Dunstan, H., presented at the Eighth International Irlen Conference, Brugge, Belgium, 7-11 July, 2004.

by Robinson, G.L., Sparkes, D.L., Roberts, T.K., Dunstan, H., & Conway, R.N.F., presented at the International Dyslexia Association, San Diego, CA, 12-15 November, 2003.

by Robinson, G.L., Sparkes, D.L., Roberts, T.K., Dunstan, H., McGregor, N.R. & Conway, R.N.F., presented at the Seventh International Irlen Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 11-14 July, 2002.

by Whiting, P.R. & Robinson, G.L., presented at the Seventh International Irlen Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 11-14 July, 2002.

Understanding the Causal Mechanisms of Visual Processing Problems: A Biochemical Analysis of People with Chronic Fatigue Who Have IRLEN Syndrome

by Robinson, McGregor, Roberts, Dunstan, and Butt has been published in a modified form in the Australian Journal of Learning Disabilities, Volume 4, No. 4, pp.21-30, December, 1999.

The Use of IRLEN Coloured Filters and Reading Achievement: A Long-Term Placebo Controlled and Masked Study of Reading Rate, Accuracy and Comprehension

by Robinson has been published in a modified form in Perceptual and Motor Skills, Volume 89, pp.83-113, 1999.

The Familial Incidence of Symptoms of Scotopic Sensitivity/IRLEN Syndrome: A Review of Two Studies

published in a modified form in Perceptual and Motor Skills, Volume 91, pp.707-724, 2000.