Global Activities and Events Planned for October 20-24, 2014
Long Beach, CA (September 24, 2014) – The Irlen® Institute announces that the first annual International Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week will take place from October 20-24, 2014. Approximately 15% of the general population suffers from Irlen Syndrome, the brain’s inability to process visual information, affecting daily functioning. Patients of all ages and ethnicities may experience Syndrome symptoms, which include light sensitivity, headaches or migraines, difficulty or discomfort when reading, eye strain, and distorted print text or environment.
Irlen Syndrome affects huge sectors of the population, but is not yet identified by standard educational or medical tests. The Awareness Week will draw attention to staggering numbers: 50% of individuals with reading and learning difficulties, 30% of people with ADHD and autism, and approximately 15% of the general population struggle with Irlen Syndrome. Unfortunately, most of these sufferers remain unaware of the true source of their problems. Irlen Syndrome has also been linked to brain injury, chronic headaches and migraines.
The Institute’s Founder Helen Irlen says, “Irlen Syndrome is more common than heart disease or asthma, and affects daily quality of life in serious ways. By increasing awareness, we hope to move away from costly misdiagnoses and help sufferers access readily available solutions .”
Irlen’s academic research, first conducted under a federal grant decades ago, indicated that visual processing could be significantly improved with personalized spectral filters. Irlen®’s color-based technology has helped millions of individuals around the world with its lenses and overlays.
Failure to identify and treat Irlen Syndrome can have severe consequences, ranging from academic and workplace failure or ongoing physical and emotional symptoms, to increased likelihood to enter the criminal justice system. International Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week highlights the importance and ease of correctly identifying and treating Irlen Syndrome.
AWARENESS WEEK EVENTS
The public is asked to learn and share information about Irlen Syndrome through the Week’s webinars, lectures, free mini-screenings for Irlen Syndrome, and by raising awareness on social media. Celebrity Irlen testimonials will highlight personal experiences. A “Turn Out the Lights” event Tuesday, October 21 at 10 a.m. local time asks supporters everywhere to turn out their fluorescent lights for one minute in support of Irlen Syndrome sufferers. Complimentary Irlen® self-tests are also available online at Irlen.com.
HOW TO SUPPORT
The Irlen® Institute works in cooperation with nonprofits and other organizations in the United States and around the world to facilitate prompt diagnosis, treatment and care of individuals with Irlen Syndrome. Partners include the Learning Research Association and The Semper Fi Fund. A full list of affiliated organizations may be found on the Irlen® website.
ABOUT THE IRLEN® INSTITUTE
The Irlen® Institute is dedicated to identifying and helping individuals suffering from visual processing disorder, or Irlen Syndrome. Irlen® offers a range of research-supported solutions for sufferers, using proprietary color technology to immediately correct visual perception. Helen Irlen and the Irlen® Method have been featured in 60 Minutes, Good Morning America, BBC, ABC Worldwide News with Peter Jennings, NBC News, National Geographic and numerous tv shows around the world. Today, more than 170 Irlen®-affiliated clinics and thousands of certified screeners are available to identify Irlen Syndrome worldwide. For more information about the Irlen® Institute and International Irlen Syndrome Awareness Week or to find the practitioner nearest you, please visit www.Irlen.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Sandra Tosta, Ph.D.
Phone: (562) 496-2550
sandy@Irlen.com
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