Is Irlen Syndrome Recognised by the NHS?

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Unfortunately, no, the NHS does not recognise irlen syndrome as a separate diagnosis. They still view it as a learning difficulty, so if you have concerns about your child’s learning, you should discuss your concerns with your child’s school or a member of your local learning and support team.

Irlen syndrome is a type of learning disability characterized by difficulties in higher-level cognitive functions, particularly in the areas of reading and spelling, as well as problems with organization and attention.

Although it is not officially recognised by the NHS, some health professionals believe that it is possible that up to 20% of the population is affected by this disorder. A formal diagnosis can be made by an experienced doctor who will assess whether or not there is a relationship between your symptoms and difficulty with reading and writing.

Irlen syndrome is known as a variety of dyslexia, and it is often referred to as a type of dyslexia with auditory difficulties.

The NHS does not officially recognise Irlen Syndrome but it does list dyslexia as a learning difficulty. If you believe that you or your child may have this condition, it is advisable to seek help from an educational psychologist.

Irlen syndrome is not formally recognized by the NHS, and only a small number of dyslexic children are formally diagnosed with it.

Currently, the NHS does not officially recognise the condition. However, if you have been told that you have dyslexia, and you have difficulty reading, it is likely that a professional will have referred you to an optometrist. This is because they are often the first point of contact in the quest to find a solution for the condition. There are no tests or exams that can confirm that you have dyslexia, so your doctor may refer to you to an optometrist to determine if you have difficulty focusing on text. If your optometrist determines that you do have difficulty focusing, they will refer you to an ear, nose and throat doctor. Your doctor will examine your throat and ears to determine if there may be a physical cause for your reading difficulty.

This is due to the fact that there is no clear-cut test for it.

There are no tests for irlen syndrome, and it can be hard to know if you have it. If you believe you have symptoms that could be linked to the condition, it’s important to talk to your doctor about it. Doctors are more likely to help patients with learning disabilities who learn about their condition and discuss their symptoms.

Additionally, it is difficult to identify children with Irlen syndrome because of the difficulty in diagnosing dyslexia in general.

While the NHS does not officially recognise it, it is possible to make a free diagnosis with an experienced professional. They will take a thorough history and perform a comprehensive eye test to rule out any causes of vision problems other than the inability to perceive letters correctly. If you suspect that you or your child has difficulty reading due to the inability to see letters correctly then it is important to seek help from an optometrist or an ophthalmologist.

Children who develop Irlen syndrome usually also have difficulties with some other aspects of learning, and it’s difficult to know which difficulties are due to dyslexia and which are due to Irlen syndrome.

No, the NHS does not recognise Irlen syndrome as a condition. Some people claim that it is a form of dyslexia, but the two conditions are entirely different. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty and is one of the most common learning disorders in the world. It’s estimated that dyslexia affects between 15-20% of the population.

Children may also have difficulties with other sensory systems, such as vision or hearing, and these can be mistaken for dyslexia or Irlen syndrome.

No, dyslexia and Irlen syndrome are not officially recognised by the NHS, which makes it harder for people to access support. Nevertheless, research has shown that approximately 10% of dyslexic children also have a type of learning difficulty called ‘sensory processing disorder’. This is similar to dyslexia but has different causes, which are not necessarily genetic.

Conclusion

Although the NHS does not officially recognise it, they have acknowledged that people with dyslexia and hyperacusis can have a form of learning difficulty linked to having difficulty processing language.