text blurring and shaking

[madamearcati]

I have recently noticed that my 8 yo often closes on eye when she is reading.When I asked her about it she said it was to stop the words moving.After further investigation it seems that when she is reading a block of dense text the text goes double and wobbles up and down.
Looking on the internet ,I mentioned to her that coloured overlay might be useful.She said that at school she reads through her pink clear ruler because she found it helped .
On the internet sites it seems that choice of shade is very important.
Do schools generally have the expertise/inclination to assess children for the right overlay or is it something I am better having done privately.

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

I've got no idea, but just want to congratulate your daughter on her ingenuity in the coloured ruler thing. Brilliant.

[thinkingaboutdrinking]

Possibly obvious question but has she had her eyes teseted recently? Could be a sign of short/ long sightedness.

[madamearcati]

Thanks Kreecher! (smile)

thinking - she had an eyetest about 6m ago and he said her vision was perfect.

[RupertTheBear]

At our school we test for IRLENS syndrome (which is when the text jumps around) and give the children the correct colour overlay if they need it. Might be worth asking your dds teacher (or SENCO) if they have heard of this and whether they can organise a test. We have a couple of LSAs who have been trained and do the testing so it doesn't have to be an expert from outside school or anything. Might also be worth googling.

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

I think what you're describing is Irlen syndrome. AFAIK it's controversial whether it exists as a separate condition or is "just" dyslexia.

I would suggest asking the school about the possibility of dyslexia and getting an assessment for that; whether or not Irlen is in reality a separate condition she'd probably show up as being dyslexic and be "in the system" which is helpful. You could then ask about coloured overlays as a follow-up. In the meantime I'd be inclined just to get a bunch of different shades of coloured acetate and see whether she thinks they help and if so which helps most.

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyLoveSlave]

Cross-posted with Rupert as I was trying to do different things on two PCs at once...

[ChazsBarmyArmy]

Madame Arcati if you are anywhere near London then City Uni optometry dept have public clinics that include kids clinics, colour vision clinics (Myers Irlen) and Specific Learning Difficulties. I was thinking of taking DS1 there as he is currently being assessed for dyslexia.
link here

[madamearcati]

School have got back to me and have arranged for a specialist to come and assess her at school.
Thanks for your help !

[LIZS]

When I took ds to an opthalmic optician to look for visual tracking issues she said she had also worked with children whose problems could be helped with coloured overlays . Maybe worth asking the school or ringing around some independent opticians inclduignthe one who tested her before to see if they, or another they know, can offer similar. A regular eyetest alone wouldn't pick it up.

[teamcullen]

My DS2 was assessed at school as he had difficulties with reading and writing. He has Irlens syndrome NOT dyslexia. He uses a turquoise overlay when reading and also finds it less distracing to write on coloured paper.

Other things he prefares are, reading in a dim lighted room or with nateral light, he likes his book to be on a book stand rather than flat. He doesnt like sunny days as the glare from surfaces distracts him and is uncomfortable.

We are going to save up and buy him Irlen's lens (coloured glasses) but they cost around £200.