Distortions
People with Irlen Syndrome may suffer from a range of distortions. These may be on the page, computer and white
boards when trying to read but they may also be in the environment.
Distortions on the page include:
- Words moving in various ways.
- Words fading, disappearing, swirling and blurring.
- Coloured patterns and shapes which can move.
- The white of the page dominating, pulsating, moving.
- Flickering or flashing lights.
- White patterns and shapes which can move.
- Problems with white and/or coloured patterns and shapes.
- Sparkles & auras around words and images.
- Letters and words floating, changing size, going 3D, fading.
- Words merging or having too much space.
- Lines of words waving.
You can see below some examples of distortions on the printed page that are experienced by people with Irlen
Syndrome.
© 1991. This material was reproduced from Reading by the Colors by Helen Irlen, Penguin Putnam/Perigee Publishing. All rights reserved.
Distortions in the environment include:
- Lack of perspective and depth.
- Blurriness.
- Objects moving in various ways.
- Glare and brightness from certain colours.
- Patterns moving, blurring, changing.
- Glare and light shining off objects.
- Sparkles and auras around objects.
- Difficulty judging distances, heights and speeds.
- Auras and after effects with moving objects.
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The first day my son wore his Irlen glasses to school, the teacher called me in at the end of the day. She said she w... 
