We've found most of our clients experiencing Dyslexia also suffer from Visual Stress and can usually benefit from using color instead of white for a background when reading text. Some will find their reading improves a little and they are able to read longer and don't feel so tired. Others experience a dramatic effect and have found the right colored paper or acetate overlay will stabilize text printed on a white background. Constant headaches, exhaustion and physical discomforts caused by Visual Stress disappear or ease up. Their reading becomes more fluent and accurate and they are able to see Dolch or service words (examples: and, then, there, is, would, which) and punctuation they didn't notice before. Using color filters for reading on paper and on computer screens is an important part of our program for Dyslexics suffering from Visual Stress.
What is Visual Stress?
- Individuals experience visual distortions that make it difficult to read text especially on a white background and may have other symptoms as well (see the list below).
- Though the exact cause of Visual Stress is not known at this time, it is believed to be a visual processing issue, likely originating in the visual cortex of the brain and is not a condition of the retina.
- Processing distorted images taxes the brain and can lead to headaches, eyestrain, and fatigue. We worked with one individual whose problem was so severe they saw only a blank white page though there was text written on it.
- Activities involving concentrated visual engagement, such as reading words or music with repetitive patterns tend to trigger Visual Stress. The person's brain struggles to interpret the scrambled patterns of words and blurred or irregular images as the eyes scan the page.
- Bright lights including sunlight and fluorescent lights or glossy paper can magnify the problem due to the increase in contrast and light reflection.
What are the signs of Visual Stress?
- Reading may be slow and inefficient, or there may be poor comprehension, strain, or fatigue.
- Visual Stress can also affect attention span, listening, energy level, motivation, work production, and mental health.
- People with Visual Stress are often seen as underachievers or as having behavior, attitude, or motivation problems.
- Visual Stress can also coexist with other learning problems, such as attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, or autism.
- Treatment for Visual Stress including color filters may lessen some of the effects of these disorders.
Other Common indicators of Visual Stress:
- A tendency to skip words or lines while reading.
- Rereading lines or often losing your place.
- Getting tired quickly while reading.
- The need to take frequent breaks while reading.
- Blinking or squinting while reading.
- Eyes hurt, water, or become dry while reading.
- Unusual sensitivity to bright lights, especially fluorescent lighting and a preference for reading in dim light.
- Using a finger or a marker to track text while reading.
- Reading is more challenging the longer you do it.
- A tendency to become restless or fidget during reading sessions.
- Being easily distracted while reading.
- Struggling to remember what you've just read.
- Tendency to avoid reading.
- Bright, glossy paper creates a glare making reading difficult.
- Headaches or nausea occur during or after reading.
- Looking at a computer screen is challenging.
- Problems with depth perception like walking downstairs and determining distances when driving.
- Continuously adjusting your head or body position, moving closer to or further away from the page while reading.
- Reading slowly and haltingly and having difficulty absorbing information.
- Frequent yawning or rubbing your eyes while reading.
Examples of Visual Stress Distortions:
- The print appears to jump or otherwise move on the page and sometimes appears to move off the page altogether.
- Swirling effects appear in the text.
- Whole lines of text may appear to move.
- Shimmering colors may appear on the page.
- White "rivers" may seem to run down the page, where the white background, as opposed to the black text, has become the dominant image perceived.
- Letters may double, reverse, fade or blur. Basically the image of the letters and words is unstable against the white background, and this instability can be experienced in a number of ways.
Source: www.crossboweducation.com
What Can be Done?
- One way to alleviate these issues is through the use of color filters such as acetate overlays, color computer screen applications and/or tinted color glasses.
- Every individual is different and should be assessed with a variety of color filters, both singly and in combination, to determine the most suitable color.
- Color filters appear to mitigate or eliminate the distorted images and patterns. By employing color, confusing signals to the brain are minimized, allowing the individual to perceive the page more normally.
- Additionally, color glasses may offer relief to individuals experiencing related problems like faulty depth perception or difficulties with night driving.
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Although the use of color to treat Visual Stress is a simple solution, the results can be dramatic. Use of color filters appropriate for the individual will enable them to see text on the page or screen clearly allowing them to read without strain or fatigue for longer periods of time, clearing the way for them to develop the reading skills necessary for academic success.
What you should do:
1) The first thing you should do is have an eye exam with a qualified optometrist or eye specialist to rule out any eye impairment. Visual stress is still a controversial issue so we recommend finding one who also does Visual Stress screening and treatment and can prescribe tinted color glasses if needed which require a special lens coating that is different from normal glasses. Here are some possible sources :
Canada:
https://www.visiontherapycanada.com/
UK:
https://ellisandthompson.com/visual-stress-reading-assessment
https://eyeopticians.co.uk/eyewear/visual-stress
2) The next step is a Visual Stress test. We highly recommend you take the pre-screening test at Opticalm's VSCAT site below and watch all of their videos. It's very thorough, informative and easy to follow. You may at first think some of these issues aren't a problem for you or your student but after seeing the videos you may change your mind.
https://www.visualstress.app/en/
3) If the pre-screening test indicates a high probability that Visual Stress is an issue, the next step is to do an assessment. There are several sources for these:
1. Crossbow Education has a UK and US site and offers information and several great products including an assessment kit you can use at home, color overlays, tinted exercises books and paper, computer software and reading rulers which isolate one line of text with a color overlay.
https://www.crossboweducation.com/
2. Opticalm's VSCAT site which we recommend above for the pre-screening also does referrals to clinics in Canada that do assessments:
https://www.visualstress.app/en/find-providers/
3. This site provides visual information and a list of optometrists who specialize in assessing and treating Visual Stress in the UK:
https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/medical-dictionary/visual-stress-meares-irlen-syndrome
4. This organization specializes in assessments and treatment and has testing centers in the US and around the world:
Our Sources for Visual Stress Information:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/visual-stress
https://www.crossboweducation.com/visual-stress-symptoms-and-solutions
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4401822/