Blaskey, P., Scheiman, M., Parisi, M., Ciner, E. B., Gallaway, M., & Selznick, R. (1990). The effectiveness of Irlen Filters for improving reading performance: A pilot study . Journal of Learning Disabilities , 23 (10), 604–612. https://doi.org/10.1177/002221949002301007

Journal Article

Blaskey, P., Scheiman, M., Parisi, M., Ciner, E. B., Gallaway, M., & Selznick, R. (1990). The effectiveness of Irlen Filters for improving reading performance: A pilot study. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 23(10), 604–612. https://doi.org/10.1177/002221949002301007

Tags

Color contrast device or software; Elementary; High school; Intelligence test; K-12; Middle school; Multiple ages; Postsecondary; Reading; U.S. context; Visual impairment (including blindness)

Summary

Accommodation

One group of participants received Irlen filter treatment. Irlen filters are tinted lenses selected from a range of 150 color possibilities.

Participants

Twelve males and 18 females with vision problems were included in the study. The ages of the participants ranged in age from 9 to 51 years old. They were placed in one of three groups: an Irlen filter treatment group, a vision therapy treatment group, or a control group.

Dependent Variable

A vision examination, battery of reading tests, intelligence test (WISC-R or WAIS-R) and an optometric symptom questionnaire was administered to each participant before and after treatment.

Findings

Both the vision therapy and Irlen filter groups felt more comfortable after treatment. Only the vision therapy group showed improvement in vision functioning. Participants in the Irlen filter group did not show any significant gains in reading rate, word recognition in context, or comprehension.