Irlen's Syndrome

sal-ad_daze

Hi Guys

My son is in his first year at Uni and has been diagnosed (by an Ed Psych at the Uni) with Irlen's syndrome, the Psych's report recommends a GP referral to an Opthamologist so ds went to the GP today to request the same and the GP hadn't heard of Irlen's!!
He sort of implied that it's not a recoginsed 'illness' and can't refer ds unless he has more information.
So, what do you think who's right the GP or the Psych? There is an Irlen's centre at the Uni apparently but everything stops until the GP takes action.
Ds needs to do something soon as he needs glasses but is having to wait for this to be clarified because he may need coloured lenses.
It's all quiet confusing as I have to admit I've never heard of Irlen's before!!!

Armchair23

I know nothing about this but we have various eye health problems that run in our family, so being nosy I googled it.

http://www.nlg.nhs.uk/services/orthoptics/hospital.asp

So maybe your doctor knows it by another name or maybe they should keep their training up to date.

I hope there's a positive outcome XX

WWLA_Irlen_Clinic_Aus

Maybe call in to the irlen Centre in the uni and find out how to get Irlen filters prescribed for your son, or try googling "irlen" in your country for Irlen Diagnostic Clinics near you.
It is not a 'vision' problem, but a visual processing disorder (the brain isn't processing what the eyes are seeing). Your son should be seen by an Irlen Diagnostician as they are trained to diagnose the tint that is specific for them, to reduce or eliminate completely, all distortions and discomfort they are experiencing from the black print on a white page.

I am an Irlen Diagnostician in Western Australia and see the benefits of Irlen Filters for clients every day. Clients here don't need to be referred by a GP. Persevere for a solution - it's worth it!!
For more information try irlen.com

GlasweJen

I'm in Scotland and I am a technician who administers tests for MI syndrome.

The NHS do not fund these tests, they are private and cost £50+, you get them done at opticians with the equipment and it will be an optom or a technician like me. If you want a free test you need to join the waiting list for the university to test, that can take 6 months.

The lenses are also not prescribed on the NHS, Plano lenses (with no prescription) are made up as part of my service, if you require a prescription lens this costs more depending on the prescription.

GPs up here wouldn't know about MI as they do not refer, ophthalmology would wring the neck of any optom who dared refer to this expensive service for something like MI.

nedmundo

Also google Colorimetry and Orthoscopics in your area- they all do similar things. I suspect the Irlen centre route would be the most expensive. How, if, why and when they work isn't really well understood, but it certainly doesn't do any harm.

Definitely not Ophthalmologists domain - they are concerned about eye diseases and not psychological jiggery-pokery. A referal would be a total waste of time and NHS resources if it for scotopic sensitivity or whatever it's called.

floss2

OP, ask your son to get the Ed Psych to refer him to the uni's dyslexia specialist, as they will then be able to refer him onto an Irlen specialist. You / he will have to pay upfront, but check out the Disabled Student Allowances and get an application in, as the costs can be reclaimed, as can the cost of glasses and filters.

My DS2 was diagnosed dyslexic in his first year of uni and was given a laptop, broadband costs, glasses, filters, extra exam time, book costs....he got a high 2.1 and is now doing his Masters

sal-ad_daze

floss2 wrote: »

OP, ask your son to get the Ed Psych to refer him to the uni's dyslexia specialist, as they will then be able to refer him onto an Irlen specialist. You / he will have to pay upfront, but check out the Disabled Student Allowances and get an application in, as the costs can be reclaimed, as can the cost of glasses and filters.

My DS2 was diagnosed dyslexic in his first year of uni and was given a laptop, broadband costs, glasses, filters, extra exam time, book costs....he got a high 2.1 and is now doing his Masters

Thank you for this floss, this is what has happened to my ds we were amazed when we got the report back from the Ed Pysch, it made sense of such a lot of stuff! It just seemed a shame it took so long to diagnose.
I will show him this thread and he can go see the relevant people at Uni.
Thanks to you all

lolseh

I've got Irlens and got special glasses on the NHS for it. I don't use them though because I've had it so long I've learnt to adapt with it and find the glasses a hassle more than anything even though they do help