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FEATURE | DYSLEXIABACK TOCONTENTSBad science?Are UK dyslexia charities misleading parents and professionals about the benefits of colour lenses?By Special WorldAn editorial in the prestigious British MedicalJournal (BMJ 2014;349:g5160) has criticisedsix major UK dyslexia charities for ‘giving aninaccurate account of the evidence for the useof coloured lenses and overlays for managing reading difficulties’.Authors Lisa M Henderson, Robert H Taylor, ProfessorBrendan Barrett and Philip G Griffiths, reviewed informationon the use of overlays and tinted lenses provided by thewebsites of 11 dyslexia charities: eight in the UK and threein other English speaking countries. They found that six ofthe eight UK charities provided information about colouredoverlays and lenses in dyslexia and that, ‘in all sixcases the message was one of endorsement’.None of the six discussed the conflictingevidence base.The three overseas charitiesfared much better. DyslexiaIreland includes the use of overlaysunder its section on alternativeor complementary therapies.The International DyslexiaAssociation and Specific LearningDifficulties Australia both providelinks to academic websites that take asceptical view of the existence of ‘visualstress’ (subjective experiences of visual distortionsthat lead to discomfort during reading)and treatment with overlays.Professional bodies whose members encounter childrenand adults with reading difficulties are also sceptical.A recent joint statement from the American Academyfor Pediatrics, Council for Children with Disabilities,American Academy of Ophthalmology, AmericanAssociation for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus,and the American Association of Certified Orthoptistsconcluded that, ’scientific evidence does not support theefficacy of…<strong>special</strong> tinted filters or lenses in improving longterm educational performance.’Similarly, a review prepared on behalf of the RoyalCollege of Ophthalmologists concluded that, ‘manipulationof the visual system using colour to facilitate readinglacks scientific support.’The BMJ editorial says that the consensus view amongresearchers is that dyslexia is a verbal not a visual disorder,which is best dealt with by interventions that target underlyingweaknesses in phonological language skills and letterknowledge. It adds that while those with dyslexia mayexperience the symptoms associated with ‘visual stress’these are not unique to dyslexia.The authors acknowledge that the proponents of colouroverlays or lenses do not claim that theiruse directly addresses the underlying causeof reading difficulties, but say they doargue that the reduction in visual distortioncolour overlays or lenses bringabout can improve reading accuracyand fluency. The problem, they say,is that, ‘the existing evidence basedoes not support this conclusion.’Yet despite this, and the absenceof any validated diagnostic tests forvisual stress, ‘coloured overlays andlenses have become widespread inclassrooms and higher education institutionsas a core part of the remediation forreading difficulty.’ A number of factors mayexplain this but an important one ‘is endorsementfrom dyslexia charities’.The editorial concludes, ‘Dyslexia charities have animportant role in presenting constructive and helpfulmessages to people with dyslexia and their educators. Ourobservation does not detract from the positive role of thesecharities—advice on coloured overlays and lenses is only asmall part of the information provided. However, an evidencebased approach from UK dyslexia charities educatedby good science would enable the public to make a moreinformed choice.’ ·56WWW.SPECIALWORLD.NET | ISSUE 1 | SEPTEMBER 2014
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