Subject: Misdiagnosed with ADD when the problem is Irlen Syndrome.

Gail has a 4 year history of academic problems thought to be due to difficulty with attention and concentration.  She has a short attention span, difficulty with concentration and staying on tasks,  She has learning difficulties, reading problems, messy handwriting, moodiness, behavior difficulties with explosive tendencies.  She takes medication for ADD and receives special services.  Her neuropsychological report did note that Gail has frequent headaches which may also be affection her ability to focus on school work and her overall endurance for learning.  But the full impact of physical symptoms on attention and learning was not fully recognized.  

What was not identified by the school and testing is Irlen Syndrome.  Because of her Irlen Syndrome she not only got headaches but felt tired, irritable, anxious and dizzy with fluorescent lighting and reading and other visual activities.  This clearly affected motivation, attention, behavior control, and class room performance.  Typical of someone with Irlen Syndrome, when she was reading and doing other visual activities in the classroom she not only experiences all of the above physical symptoms but her eyes would get watery, hurt, ache.  The background would overpower the print as it would breathe and expand around the letters.  There was a constant flickering and flashing of lights in the white background and glowing auras around the letters.  With her Irlen Filters she no longer experienced visual distortions and physical symptoms.  Obviously, she could now read for long periods, concentrate in class, stay on task.  She no longer takes medication and her teachers no longer feel that she has ADD.  She is rapidly catching up academically.