Alan Penn Irlen Clinic
Alan Penn - Irlen Specialist
Personally trained and mentored by Helen Irlen at the Irlen Institute in California, achieving the highest level of Irlen Clinic Director.
Utilizing the proven Irlen Method, I assess and provide improved comfort and better performance to adults and children experiencing Irlen Syndrome, often referred to as Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome or Visual Stress.
My commitment lies in working diligently to achieve the best outcomes for my clients, regardless of the challenges they face. Individuals who are struggling deserve the opportunity to experience a calmer, more organized brain, enabling them to engage fully in their work and learning. I believe everyone should have the chance to pursue their dreams and goals, even those they once considered too difficult to attain.
- THE DIFFERENCE IS CLEAR -
What is Irlen Syndrome?
Irlen Syndrome causes a variety of symptoms including visual processing deficits and light sensitivity. This is a brain processing problem and not a vision problem corrected with conventional glasses. Vision perception is a higher order processing of visual information and involves the brain’s ability to accurately understand, process and use visual information easily and efficiently without stress.
Correction is completely non-invasive, and most people find that wearing Irlen Filters brings quick, easy, and immediate relief from their symptoms.
Irlen Spectral Filters
When worn as coloured tinted glasses or contact lenses, Irlen Spectral Filters are the preferred solution for those having significant page distortions or discomfort. They are also essential when bright or artificial lighting increases distortions or discomfort or induces new symptoms.
Irlen Overlays
When not wearing Irlen spectral filters, some initial or minor correction can be achieved by using Irlen coloured overlays to cover a white page, using dull or coloured paper, or by modifying electronic devices to make text easier to read. Of course this will not help with lighting induced problems, which often overide the impact of the printed page.
Irlen Method
The Irlen Method is an assessment protocal that has two distinct assessment stages.
Stage 1: Irlen Screening: determines whether or not colour can make a difference and whether the improvement will be slight, moderate, or significant. In addition, you find out all the areas that can improve with the Irlen Spectral Filters. Only individuals for whom colour will make a moderate to significant difference are referred onto the second stage (so, you don't waste time or money).
The Irlen Screening involves a set of tasks that are designed to elicit the full area of physical symptoms and distortions so that Irlen can address ALL of your symptoms not just some. This provides the maximum possible benefit. You will be educated about your symptoms (as most people have no idea what they have been experiencing all their lives is actually not normal). This knowledge is critical to be able to provide changes in all the areas, not just reading, which are affected by visual processing. In the final portion of the screening, the Irlen Screener can identify what coloured overlay or combination of overlays works to greatly reduce or eliminate symptoms and allow you to read easier for longer with better comfort.
Important: Although the key information obtained from a Stage 1 screening can be usueful during a Stage 2 Filter evaluation, it is not essential to perform a Stage 1 Irlen screening when it is clear that a person requires an Irlen Filter evaluation.
Stage 2: Irlen Filter Evaluation: usually 2 hours in length. During this appointment, the Irlen Diagnostician has a variety of tasks that they go through to help determine your individualized lens colour which will calm the brain allowing for accurate and comfortable ability to function inside, outside, reading, driving, and a variety of other activities. Irlen does not just address reading. Irlen Spectral Filters can improve a sensitivity to light, especially fluorescent light, sunlight, headlights, depth perception, providing maximum benefit for reading, copying, maths and other academic tasks. The Diagnostician uses a set of diagnostic tasks that are systematically cycled through and used in combination with client feedback, as well as non-verbal behaviour and task performance to fine-tune and determine the optimal colour for an individual.
This precise tint will be individually added to your lens (with or without standard optical correction) by the lab in California.
For additional Irlen information visit:
www.irlen.com (The Irlen Institute)
How to Get Tested for Irlen?
Those who live in Central England or those who wish to travel are welcome to visit our new assessment facility. This is located in the village of Draycott (DE72 3NB) in the idyllic county of Derbyshire . The clinic is located in an Grade Two listed building within an old mill site which was once Europe largest lace producers.
For London and other areas, home visits are currently the preferred appointment of choice for greater convenience and flexibility; some clients prefer a workplace; school or university visit which is no problem.
You can book a test directly through this website page, Book a Test Page or Contact Us for any Irlen Syndrome advice.