Article

Visual disturbances that make it difficult to read text are often termed
"visual stress". Coloured filters in spectacles may help some children overcome
reading problems that are often caused by visual stress. It has been suggested
that for optimal effect each child requires an individually prescribed colour for
each eye, as determined in systems such as the "Harris Foundation" coloured
filters. Alternatively, it has been argued that only blue or yellow filters, as
used in the "Dyslexia Research Trust" (DRT) filter system, are necessary to
affect the underlying physiology. METHOD: A randomised, double blind trial with
73 delayed readers, was undertaken to compare changes in reading and spelling as
well as irregular and non-word reading skills after 3 months of wearing either
the Harris or the DRT filters. RESULTS: Reading improved significantly after
wearing either type of filter (t = -8.4, p < 0.01), with 40% of the children
improving their reading age by 6 months or more during the 3 month trial.
However, spelling ability (t = 2.1, p = 0.05) and non-word reading (f = 4.7, p <
0.05) improved significantly more with the DRT than with the Harris filters.
CONCLUSION: Education and rehabilitation professionals should therefore, consider
coloured filters as an effective intervention for delayed readers experiencing
visual stress. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Any disability that impacts on a
child's capacity to read has serious implications for academic development as
well as the ability to participate independently in activities of daily living.
One reading disability, generally termed "visual stress", is related to visual
disturbances that make it difficult to read text. This research demonstrates the
beneficial use of coloured filters for promoting visual reading capacity for
children with visual stress. Professionals who are involved in the needs of
children with reading delay, may like to consider the benefits that coloured
filters can afford children with visual reading problems.

Langue : ANGLAIS