| our child struggle to read or try to avoid reading | | | | periods of time, read smoothly from line to line |
| altogether? If your child makes errors like skipping | | | | and raise self-esteem. According to the Reading |
| lines, not seeing punctuation, knowing a word on | | | | Teacher Journal,"Using colored overlays help |
| one page and not another, or has trouble | | | | eliminate (light) wave-lengths before they reach |
| comprehending, here is some information that | | | | the retina and the brain. As a result, visual |
| may turn things around very quickly. As a reading | | | | information may be more effectively analyzed." |
| specialist for over 30 years, I can tell you with | | | | The Journal of Reading Disabilities said that, "After |
| certainty, that your child's reading errors are not | | | | one week, those that received the correct |
| their fault. Many children see the page in a | | | | colored transparencies gained an average of 6.6 |
| distorted way, preventing them from becoming | | | | months in reading accuracy and 19.35 months in |
| excellent readers. Sometimes, a condition known | | | | reading comprehension." An article in the New |
| as contrast sensitivity or perceptual distortion | | | | York Times said, "In experimenting with colored |
| goes undetected, and causes your child to see | | | | filters, a prominent university researcher found |
| the page in an unusual way. Reading Journal | | | | that reading through specific filters made many |
| Studies reveal that placing colored filter overlays, | | | | children read better." Developmental optometrists |
| or plastic tinted overlays, over the printed page, | | | | often use colored filter overlays in their office, as |
| can raise their reading scores by more than a | | | | part of vision therapy exercises to strengthen the |
| year and half in just one week! In 1981, the | | | | entire visual system. Placing a filter on top of the |
| concept of using color to eliminate or reduce | | | | printed page can improve comprehension simply |
| perceptual problems began as a federal research | | | | because the way that the child sees the page |
| project and more than 50 studies since then have | | | | changes immediately. Their perceptual distortion |
| documented changes in fluency, speed, accuracy | | | | goes away. While colored filter overlays will not |
| and comprehension when a colored filter overlay | | | | solve every reading problem, I encourage you to |
| is placed over the printed page. These studies | | | | listen to your child read. Pay close attention, and |
| document actual brain chemistry and biochemical | | | | ask exactly how reading makes them feel. If |
| changes. I have used colored filter overlays with | | | | your child tells you he does not like to read, there |
| students since the late 1970's, and for some | | | | is a reason and you will want to find out more. |
| children, they solve reading problems immediately. | | | | Have your child take the free Eye-Q Reading |
| Putting a colored overlay on a printed page can | | | | Inventory at the howtolearn site to find out |
| help your child: improve reading speed, raise | | | | exactly how your child sees the printed page and |
| reading grades quickly, improve comprehension, | | | | whether colored filter overlays can improve your |
| correct word and letter reversals, read for longer | | | | child's reading ability. |