Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome
Called A Form of Dyslexia - Distorts Words
Dyslexia is a very frustrating disability. For one form, Scotopic Syndrome, there is a successful, non-traditional approach with no doctors, no surgery, no medication.
Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome is commonly called perceptual dyslexia. Many disagree that it is actually dyslexia but it can raise havoc in a learning environment. Recent research at Harvard discovers physical evidence for SSS. Watching an SSS child try to read will bring tears to your eyes. If you don't have this disability, you have no idea what the eyes see.
These students don't want to read aloud because it is just so embarrassing. They don't see clearly and think everyone is seeing what they are seeing. They are not. That's the problem. What they see is not what everyone else sees.
And the teacher, trying to be helpful, says things like, "Sound out the letters." "You need to read more." "We had this word last week. You should remember it." "Pay attention." Of course, the student is focusing and paying attention. In fact, this student is probably focusing more than anyone else in the class. Many students with SSS are above average in intelligence and suffer great frustration being trapped by this disability. Many have been helped by using the Kurzweil computer program where the computer reads the text for the student.
SSS individuals see the printed page differently than others. The following are a few examples.
- Letters move on the page like ants.
- Flipping: a "b" can become a "d" and back to a "b" in seconds.
- River effect: spacing occurs at random.
- Melted letters: letters actually shrink to the point that you can no longer tell what they are.
- Washout effect: the centers of the letters disappear.
- Swirl effect: the only portion of the page that is clear is perhaps one inch at a time.
- Blurry effect: this looks like the same writing went through the copier 4-5 times.
- Seesaw effect: letters appear in waves instead of a straight line.
Helen Irlen, a school psychologist and learning disability specialist, developed a method that helps individuals with SSS see clearly.
There are two methods used to treat SSS:
- colored overlays
- colored lenses
Irlen spent over five years perfecting her diagnosic tools and treatments. There are thousands of professionals trained by Irlen throughout the country. Trained Irlen screeners will find the exact color or shade of color that allows the eyes to see without distortion and then send a clear message to the brain. At times, it takes three colors blended together to come up with just the right shade. Since there are hundreds of colors that could work, this is not something to try and do yourself.
This condition is a perception problem and not a vision problem. The eyes distort what they see. So, the message to the brain gets scrambled. This can happen with 20/20 vision which leaves parents confused. It is common to hear parents say, "It can't be their eyes, they just had an exam and see perfectly." They may see that tree across the street perfectly, but not the textbook in front of them.
Students that have found the exact color to help them say it is like a miracle. Different comments have been, "Is this what the rest of you see?" "I can read the interstate signs now!" "The words stand still!" "No more headaches when I read." "I don't need someone to read to me now."
The glasses have also helped some people with autism. The estimate is that this may help one out of five people with dyslexia-like problems. Many find that this method will not help their form of the disability. However, if you are one of the lucky ones, your life is changed forever.
More information on SSS, includes more symptoms, interview link with Helen Irlen, book review on her book, Reading By The Colors, additional research and tips on how to help children in the classroom.
Related article: Coming Soon: A Dyslexia Test
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2006 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
