Abilities OT & Irlen Diagnostic Center

The most dramatic, and least expected impact when DS#2 got his Irlen filters was that his debilitating anxiety quieted dramatically. He was “a different kid” from day one. Ten days after he started wearing his Irlen filters, I glanced over his shoulder when he was doing his homework and was shocked to see that his handwriting was markedly improved. Until that point, DS#2’s handwriting hadn’t changed much since he learned to write. We were constantly reminding him to use a capital at the beginning of a sentence, punctuation at the end, and to put spaces between the words. Now, suddenly, with no prompting, ALL those elements were in place, along with paragraph indents and better spelling than we’d ever seen. He reported that he could see those things when he read now, so of course he used them when he wrote.

Within 6 months, DS#2’s reading speed had tripled, and within a year it was ~6x what it had been with the overlays. He did forget his glasses every once in a while, and that’s when his anxiety would spike. He told me one morning on the way to carpool that it would be better to miss the day of school than to go without his glasses. He’s now a sophomore in high school, “bored” with how easy the high school classes are, focused on friends and artistic pursuits and a new passion with architecture. English is still his most challenging subject, mostly because of the reading involved, but so far, he’s been able to manage it.

Irlen lenses have really changed the trajectory for both our boys by helping to quell anxiety and sensory overwhelm and by increasing reading speed and fluency. It is truly remarkable that these benefits come so quickly — some of them instantly — instead of through untold hours of therapy and hard work. We are so grateful to have found this “missing link” that has helped them to flourish. I wish we had found it so many years sooner!

One thing I’ve thought a lot about as this journey has unfolded is that we often spend a lot of time trying to impact the outputs for our children — how they hold the pencil, handwriting, posture, spelling, manners, etc. Those outputs will never fall into place, no matter how much practice and patience are applied, if the inputs are being misread. If you do not see spaces between your words when you read, you will not put spaces between your words when you write. If the light makes you squint and turn away, then it’s impossible to have a nice expression on your face when you greet someone. Given this, the first screenings for kids who are having trouble should be for things that impact how they take in and use information — things like Irlen Syndrome. If Irlen is the issue, and you figure it out before you spend years on more difficult strategies, then what a huge savings of time, money, energy and suffering!

After taking Shoshana's Irlen Screener Certification seminar, I realized the importance of accurately diagnosing children and adults with sensory issues. Profound and immediate benefits can be achieved through targeted interventions. After having applied the valuable tools learned in the seminar, I have seen clients dramatically improve in learning, reading, math skills, handwriting, attention span and focus! Previously undiagnosed (or misdiagnosed) issues can now remedied! I highly recommend their trainings and services!!!