For some people, SSS is much more than a simple reading problem. It can affect academic success, sports performance, driving, musical ability, coordination, and self-concept. It really has an effect on life! SSS seems to go beyond the title of the book, Reading by the Colors. But don’t worry. It all ties together.

People might have trouble with many different aspects of their lives. The problems might appear to be separate, but that doesn’t mean they are separate. For example, someone might say, “I’m clumsy” and think that’s one problem, “I can’t read music” and think that’s another problem, and then add, “”I’m not successful in school. I’m stupid-people are constantly telling me I’m not trying hard enough or I’m lazy. I can’t catch a ball. Mom always yells at me because I spill things.” Those problems might not be all separate. They might all have one source: SSS. How do you know who has problems because of SSS and who has other types of problems? Other than going by what the person reports, you really can’t tell till the person is tested.

Taken from Reading by the Colors the Updated Edition, pages 30-31, by Helen Irlen, with permission by the author.

Symptoms of learning disabilities to watch for include delays in language development, problems with speech, difficulties with coordination, and a short attention span. Children who have learning disabilities might have difficulty understanding what they see or hear. But remember, the existence of any of those symptoms does not necessarily mean the child has a learning disability. Parents who have questions or concerns about their childs development should speak to the child’s physician or an education expert.What else can parents look for? Watch for any child who is putting more energy into the learning process than would normally appear necessary. Parents need to be sensitive to how many and how often compensatory strategies are used to survive in the classroom.

Parents might ask, “Do I read the assignments to my child? Do I edit my child’s work before it is turned in? Must I work alongside my child for work to be completed? Does it take my child hours to complete simple homework assignments? Does my child have difficulty putting ideas down on paper? Does my child resist doing written work? Does my child dictate his work and then copy what I have written down?

Taken from pages 86-87 in Reading by the Colors Updated Edition by permission of Helen Irlen, the author.

With the discovery of Irlen Syndrome, professionals need to become more senstitive to the fact that a person’s being labelled dyslexic does not bar a partial or even a total solution to the problem. If a case of dyslexia has SSS (scotopic senstitivity syndrome) (or better known as Irlen Syndrome) or one of its layers, then a partial answer is possible; and if a declared case of dyslexia is instead a mislabelled case of SSS, then a full solution might be reached.

It is important to understand the diverse rather than singular nature of dyslexia. People whose reading problems have many different etiologies are being diagnosed as dyslexic. It would be simplistic to assume that someone who is dyslexic has only SSS, attention deficit disorder, or some other neurological-based disorder. It might be damaging to stop searching for other answers. But even if treatment for SSS does not cure dyslexia, just as it does not cure learning disabilities, it can still be one important element of the equation.

Ever since Kevin, a businessman in California, began reading, the words would turn yellow and green and even disappear. He saw words and phrases backward. Reading this sentence might have looked like this for him, and the longer he read the worse it became: “Gnidear hi sentence might ekil dekool evah this him, and eht dear eh regnol the worse it me.” He said “I was given prescription lenses to read with, but they did nothing more than make words bigger and darker. I was given eye exercises. The tutor I had was more beneficial. She taught me study skills and organization techniques. But nothing helped my reading. I was diagnosed as dyslexic. I was told I just had to try harder.

I was never able to read more than one chapter of any textbook. When taking tests I would become physically ill because of the movement of the words. Reading was never anything but a humiliating and exhausting experience.

I saw the show on 60 Minutes called “Reading by the Colors.” I found myself staring at the TV with my mouth wide open in amazement. The descriptions given and the stories hit me hard. Not only were they describing me and what I went through growing up but, more importantly, for the first time someone was able to effectively explain my problems.

I called the dyslexia society after seeing the 60 Minutes show to find out how to get help with colored lenses. They told me this method could not help me. They said the glasses may stop the written word from moving, but they won’t help me learn. I became angry at these professionals who couldn’t understand that if one cannot perceive the page correctly, the learning process will be impeded. These people were telling me that not being able to see the printed page had no impact on my dyslexia!

I have been wearing the (Irlen tinted) lenses for a year and a half now. My reading skills have tripled. I can read for as long as I want without feeling sick. I have had to learn to process information much faster, as my reading speed has greatly increased.

The preceeding was taken from pages 106-108 of Reading by the Colors by Helen Irlen, the revised edition with permission by the author.