Irlen Revolution, The

The Irlen Revolution begins with an overview of learning disabilities and a look at standard treatments. It then examines the Irlen Method and explores the scientific basis of the program. Finally, the author discusses the individual disorders—what they are, and how the Irlen approach may be used to treat them successfully. An extensive resource section provides additional guidance for readers who want to learn more about the program.

When 60 Minutes featured a dyslexic child being “cured” with

the Irlen Method, the world was introduced to a safe and effective tool to combat dyslexia. Now the battle lines have been expanded, and many more people can benefit from The Irlen Revolution.

The widely accepted notion that everyone sees the exact same thing when looking at the objects around them is wrong. For instance, while one person can pick up a printed page and read it with ease, another may be frustrated by words and letters that appear to move and jump around. Fortunately, there is a noninvasive, effective solution—the Irlen Method. After three decades of revolutionizing the treatment of reading issues with the use of colored filters, Helen Irlen has turned her attention to children and adults who suffer from light sensitivity, headaches, attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities, dyslexia, and a host of other visual perception-related conditions. Here, finally, is hope for everyone who has been misdiagnosed and needs real help for a real problem.

The book begins with Helen's extraordinary journey, focusing on her work with struggling readers and detailing how she eventually discovered the Irlen Method. A detailed description of an Irlen Screening is provided, including strategies you can try at home. Finally, the author discusses the individual issues and disabilities that can get in the way of learning”mdash;what they are and how the Irlen Method can be used to treat them effectively. Each chapter deals with a different disability and includes questionnaires that you can use to become your own detective and find the root cause of the difficulty. Rounding out the book is an extensive appendix, which explores an array of other possible causes of attention, concentration, performance, and academic problems; provides recommendations for treatment; and offers helpful resources.

Problems in processing visual information can cause physical symptoms and fragmented vision that affect attention, concentration, and performance. Thankfully, there is an easy, cost-effective solution—the Irlen Method.

Library Journal

In her second book (after Reading by the Colors), Irlen describes how the therapy she invented for Irlen syndrome—in which the brain does not correctly process what is seen by the eyes and causes words to appear to move on the page—has progressed over the last two decades, including the history of how the therapy was developed. Her belief is that many children's problems with reading and math are caused by Irlen syndrome, but those difficulties can be corrected with lenses that filter certain colors. Irlen addresses the barriers she has faced in establishing her therapy and making it possible for parents to test their children. In addition, she goes on to discuss how this syndrome could exist in children or even adults who are labeled learning disabled or have light sensitivity, headaches, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, visual conditions, and head injuries. VERDICT An interesting description of a condition that is often hard to recognize but has a relatively simple cure. Recommended for parents and teachers.—Terry Lamperski, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh

Helen Irlen is a graduate of Cornell University and an internationally known educator, researcher, therapist, scholar, and expert in the area of visual perception problems. While working with adults with learning disabilities, Irlen made a startling discovery that resulted in a marked improvement in her students’ reading ability. Today, there are over 80 affiliated Irlen Clinics worldwide, and over 7,000 educators have been trained in the Irlen Method.