What Is Irlen Syndrome
Irlen Syndrome is relatively unknown however can have hugely significant impacts on the lives of people who suffer from it. It is a perceptual processing disorder that can affect how the brain will process visual information. Therefore causing struggles completing tasks such as reading and writing.
Who does it affect?
Irlen syndrome affects people of any age or gender, however research helps to suggest that it occurs a lot more in people with learning difficulties such as Dyslexia and ADHD. It is also estimated that around 12-14% of the whole population experience symptoms related to the syndrome.
How does it affect individuals?
Many people living with Irlen Syndrome face a large number of challenges in their day to day lives, especially in a work or academic setting. This creates a disadvantage for some students and workers. The more common symptoms include increased sensitivity to some colour combinations and to bright lights. This can create eyestrain and headaches, making reading a lot more difficult for the individual as they may have to re-read lines due to losing their place. Some people can face difficulties with depth perception and the words on white paper may begin to swirl. This can massively effect people’s day to day lives at work and at school.
So, How Can Pukka Pads Help?
The Pukka Pads range can offer some assistance to individuals with Irlen Syndrome by providing specialized paper products designed to reduce visual stress and improve readability. Here are a few ways in which Pukka Pads can be helpful:
1. Tinted Paper: Pukka Pads offers a variety of notebooks, notepads, and paper products in different colours, including pastel shades such as light blue, cream, and pale pink. These colours are carefully chosen to reduce the contrast between the text and the background, which can help individuals with Irlen Syndrome read more comfortably and with less visual stress.
2. Reduced Glare: The smooth, high-quality paper used in Pukka Pads can minimize the glare caused by bright lights or reflections, which can be particularly problematic for people with Irlen Syndrome. By reducing glare, these products can contribute to a more comfortable reading experience.
3. High Contrast Options: In addition to tinted paper, Pukka Pads offers some products with high contrast options. These notebooks and pads feature bold, dark lines on white paper, which can improve clarity and ease of reading for individuals who struggle with contrast sensitivity.
Pukka Pads are taking an active roll in trying to help support individuals that are affected by Irlen Syndrome through creating specialised paper that can be used in schools and at work. This aims to help make life less difficult in an education environment and therefore helps to level out the playing field. You can find the full range of products here.
