Irlen syndrome

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Irlen syndrome
Pseudomedical diagnosis
Risks Nocebo

Irlen syndrome (or scotopic sensitivity syndrome) is a purported medical condition of disordered visual processing, which, it is proposed, can be treated by wearing colored lenses. The ideas of Irlen syndrome are not supported by scientific evidence, and its treatment has been described as a health fraud.

Contents

History

The condition was proposed in the 1980s. [1] Early studies investigating Irlen syndrome as a treatable condition have been criticized for taking a biased and subjective approach to the research. [1]

The ideas of Irlen syndrome are pseudoscientific and not supported by scientific evidence. [2] [3] [4]

Irlen method

The Irlen method uses colored overlays and tinted lenses in the form of glasses or contact lenses. The method is intended to correct visual processing problems; it is claimed the resultant retiming of visual signals in the brain improves symptoms associated with Irlen syndrome. [5]

Treatment of Irlen syndrome has been described as a health fraud that takes advantage of vulnerable people. [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Irlen Syndrome | Science-Based Medicine". 7 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Cotton M, Evans K (1990). "A review of the use of Irlen (tinted) lenses". Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology. 18 (3): 307–12. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9071.1990.tb00625.x. PMID   2261178.
  3. ↑ Miyasaka, Jordan Da Silva; Vieira, Raphael V. Gonzaga; Novalo-Goto, Elaine Shizue; Montagna, Erik; Wajnsztejn, Rubens (March 2019). "Irlen syndrome: systematic review and level of evidence analysis". Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria. 77 (3): 194–207. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X20190014 . PMID   30970133. S2CID   108293945.
  4. ↑ LaBrot Z, Dufrene B (2019). "Chapter 5: Learning". In Hupp S (ed.). Pseudoscience in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: A Skeptical Field Guide. Cambridge University Press. pp. 66–79. doi:10.1017/9781316798096.007. ISBN   9781107175310. S2CID   240819473.
  5. ↑ "The University of Newcastle, Australia". The University of Newcastle, Australia. 13 November 2015. Archived from the original on 12 January 2007.
  6. ↑ Travers JC, Ayers K, Simpson RL, Crutchfield S (2016). "Fad, Pseudoscientific, and Controversial Interventions". In Lang R, Hancock T, Singh N (eds.). Early Intervention for Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder –Evidence-Based Practices in Behavioral Health. Springer. pp. 257–293. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-30925-5_9. ISBN   978-3-319-30923-1. [We] consider this method to be a classic example of a commercial enterprise preying on vulnerable and desperate individuals in search of simple solutions for developmental disorders and disabilities
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