Here are some of the reading difficulties people may encounter with Irlen Syndrome:

(But keep in mind that you may only experience a few of these things)

• Skips words or lines
• Repeats or rereads lines
• Loses place on the page
• Reads in a stop and go rhythm
• Reads word by word rather than in phrases
• Does not focus on the pages more than a few minutes
• Omits small words
• Tires when reading
• Headache while reading
• Words move around
• Words jump off the page
• Trouble focusing
• Words spin
• Words move around
• Words may shift around or move off the page
• Poor reading comprehension
• Strain or fatigue
• Tired or sleepy
• Headaches or upset stomach (feels sick when reading)
• Fidgety or restless
• Reading becomes harder as you continue (read for less than an hour)
• I always had the TV on when I was trying to read because I could not focus.
• Rereads for comprehension (low comprehension)
• Reversals of letters
• Reads slowly or hesitantly
• Takes frequent breaks
• Avoids reading (although he/she likes to be read to)
• Reads in dim lighting
• Misreads words
• Has test anxiety
• Bothered by glare
• Bothered by shiny pages or whiteboard
• Eyes and lids get red
• Eyes get watery
• Eyes itch or burn
• Rubs eyes frequently
• Complains of eyes hurting
• Feel light is insufficient or there is too much light
• Words disappear
• Shades the page with hand
• Moves head from left to right when reading
• When I would try to sit down to read I would start falling asleep after just a couple of pages and struggle to continue. I never understood why and I was so frustrated. And I never comprehended what I had just tried to read! In fact after I resolved my Irlen Syndrome I called my sister, Joyce Boice with a question. “I know this is a strange question, but do you have to stand up to read? ” There was a long pause, and then she answered “Yes.” I always fell asleep if reading sitting down.
• In college at the U. of M. when I would eat the starchy dinner served to us then sit at my desk tryng to study under the fluorescent lamp at the desk I became immediately exhausted beyond comprehension and had to go to bed always no matter how I tried to stay awake.
• When I tried to read my own lecture notes in college my comprehesion was lacking even though I had written them myself.
• uses finger or a marker to keep place
• Strong preference for reading in columns as in newspapers or magazines
• Misreading small words like of, off, the and a. Might change endings of words from -ing to -ed or -s, skipping whole line, and jumping to sentences above or below the line being read.

To learn more about Irlen Syndrome, visit www.Irlen.com