Incidence of Meares-Irlen/visual stress syndrome in reading and learning disordersdoes fluorescent lighting in classrooms affect literacy and numeracy?

  1. Loew, Stephen J.
  2. Fernández Alba, María Estrella
  3. Watson, Kenneth
Revista:
Aula abierta

ISSN: 0210-2773

Año de publicación: 2013

Volumen: 41

Número: 3

Páginas: 23-32

Tipo: Artículo

DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openDialnet editor

Otras publicaciones en: Aula abierta

Resumen

En los últimos años ha aumentado el número artículos recogidos en revistas de Psicología de la Educación que discuten acerca de la incidencia de alumnos con bajo nivel de alfabetización y bajas habilidades aritméticas en las aulas. Por otro lado, en relación al ámbito de la educación, los medios no han tenido dificultades para obtener, de manera informal, datos de empleados y educadores que sugieren un descenso en las competencias académicas, de alfabetización y numéricas. Este trabajo examina la literatura perteneciente a los años 90 y la actualidad, donde se observan problemas relacionados con la alfabetización y las habilidades aritméticas en los países de la OCDE. También se analiza en qué medida los cambios en el contexto del aula pueden haber tenido un impacto negativo en la lectura y dificultades del aprendizaje. En concreto, se analiza el papel que puede estar jugando un déficit específico de percepción visual (síndrome Meares-Irlen / estrés visual) en los procesos de alfabetización y adquisición de habilidades aritméticas, explorando la posibilidad de que la actual tendencia a integrar iluminación fluorescente y medios visuales brillantes en las aulas, hayan contribuido a aumentar las dificultades en la adquisición de estas habilidades.

Referencias bibliográficas

  • Allen, P.M., & Hollis, J. (2008). Meares-Irlen syndrome: a need for increasing awareness in the general public. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 28, 291-292.
  • Berman S.M., Fein, G., Jewett, D.L., & Ashford, F. (1993). Luminance controlled pupil size affects Landolt C test performance. Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 22, 150-165.
  • Berman, S.M., Fein, G., Jewett, D.L., Benson, B. R., Law, T.M., & Myers, A.W. (1996). Luminance controlled pupil size affects word reading accuracy. Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 25, 51-59.
  • Berman, S.M., Jewett, D.L, Benson, B.R., & Law, T.M. (1997). Despite different wall colors, vertical scotopic illuminance predicts pupil size. Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 26, 59-68.
  • Berman, S.M., Jewett, D.J., Fein, G., Saika, G., & Ashford, F. (1990). Photopic luminance does not always predict perceived room brightness. Lighting Research Technology, 22, 37-41.
  • Bouma, H. 1962, Size of the static pupil as a function of wavelength and luminosity of the light incident on the human eye. Nature, 193, 690691.
  • Boyce, P.R. (1994). Is full-spectrum lighting special? In J.A. Veitch (Ed.), Full-Spectrum Lighting Effects on Performance, Mood, and Health (pp. 30-36). IRC Internal Report no. 659, National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Research in Construction.
  • Chen, J.R., Hsu, S.F., Hsu, C.D., Hwang, L.H., & Yang, S.C. (2004). Dietary patterns and blood fatty acid composition in children with ADHD in Taiwan. Nutritional Biochemistry, 15, 467472.
  • Dehaene, S. (2009). Reading in the Brain: the science and evolution of a human invention. New York: Viking Penguin, Penguin Group USA.
  • Evans, B.J.W. (2004). The role of the optometrist in dyslexia. Part 3: Coloured filters. Optometry Today, 44, 35-41.
  • Evans, B.J.W., & Joseph, F. (2002). The effect of coloured filters on the rate of reading in an adult student population, Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 22, 535-545.
  • Flynn, J.R. (2009). Requiem for nutrition as the cause of IQ gains: Raven’s gains in Britain 1938–2008. Economics and Human Biology, 7, 18-27.
  • Gundlach, E., Woessmann, L., & Gmelin, J. (2001). The decline of schooling productivity in OECD countries. Economic Journal, 111, C135–C147.
  • Haag, M. (2003). Essential fatty acids and the brain. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 48, 195-203.
  • Hanushek, E.A. (1997). The productivity collapse in schools. In W. Flowler Jr. (Ed., 1996), Developments in School Finance (pp. 183-95). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics.
  • He, S., Dong, W., Deng, Q., Weng, S., & Sun, W. (2003). Seeing more clearly: recent advances in understanding retinal circuitry. Science, 302, 408–411.
  • Hoxby, C.M. (2001). School Choice and School Productivity (or Could School Choice be a Tide that Lifts All Boats? Mimeo: Harvard University.
  • Hughes, P.C. (1980). The use of light and colour in health. In A.C. Hastings, J. Fadiman and J.S. Gordon (Eds), The Complete Guide to Holistic Medicine: Health for the Whole Person, (pp.294-308). Boulder: Westview.
  • Irlen, H. (1994). Scotopic sensitivity/Irlen syndrome: hypothesis and explanation of the syndrome. Journal of Behavioral Optometry, 5, 62-65.
  • Jeanes, R., Busby, A., Martin, J., Lewis, E., Stevenson, N., Pointon, D., & Wilkins A.J. (1997). Prolonged use of coloured overlays for classroom reading. British Journal of Psychology, 88, 531548.
  • Kriss, I., & Evans, B.J.W. (2005). The relationship between dyslexia and Meares-Irlen Syndrome. Journal of Research in Reading, 28, 350-364.
  • Kuller, R., & Laike, T. (1998). The impact of flicker from fluorescent lighting on well-being, performance, and physiological arousal. Ergonomics, 41, 433-447.
  • Kruk, R., Sumbler, K., & Willows, D. (2008). Visual processing characteristics of children with Meares-Irlen syndrome. Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics, 28, 35-46.
  • Leigh, A., & Ryan, C. (2011). Long-Run Trends in School Productivity: Evidence from Australia. Education Finance and Policy, 6, 105-135.
  • Loew, S.J., & Watson, K. (2012). A prospective genetic marker of the visual perception disorder Meares-Irlen syndrome. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 114, 1-13.
  • Loew, S.J., & Watson, K. (2013). The prevalence of scotopic sensitivity/Meares-Irlen syndrome in subjects diagnosed with ADHD: does misdiagnosis play a role? Croatian Review of Rehabilitation Research, 49, 50-58.
  • Navvab, M. (2001). A comparison of visual performance under high and low color temperature fluorescent lamps. Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 30, 170-175.
  • Navvab, M. (2002). Visual acuity depends on the color temperature of the surround lighting. Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 31, 70-84.
  • Ott, J. (1976). Influence of fluorescent lights on hyperactivity and learning difficulties. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 7, 22-27.
  • Ray, N. J., Fowler, S., & Stein, J. F. 2(005). Yellow Filters can improve Magnocellular function: Motion Sensitivity, Convergence, Accommodation, and Reading. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 1039, 283-295.
  • Richardson, A.J. (2004). Clinical trials of fatty acid treatment in ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and the Autistic spectrum. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, 70, 38390.
  • Robinson, G.L. (1994). Coloured lenses and reading: a review of research into reading achievement, reading strategies and causal mechanisms. Australian Journal of Special Education, 18, 314.
  • Robinson, G. L., Hopkins, B. R., & Davies, T. (1995). The incidence of symptoms of Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome in secondary school populations: A preliminary study. The Bulletin for Learning Disabilities, 5, 36-56.
  • Robinson, G.L., McGregor, N.R., Roberts, T.K., Dunstan, R.H., & Butt, H. (2001). A biochemical analysis of people with chronic fatigue who have Irlen syndrome: Speculation concerning immune system dysfunction. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 93, 486-504.
  • Rose, J. (2009). Education the UK Way, audio podcast, EdPod Radio National, ABC Radio, Sydney, 1 October, viewed 18 November 2009 <http://www.abc.net.au/rn/edpod/stories/2009/2 696717.htm>
  • Sparkes, D.L., Robinson, G.L., Dunstan, H., & Roberts, T.K. (2003). Plasma cholesterol levels and Irlen Syndrome: preliminary study of 10to 17-yr.-old students. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 97, 743-52.
  • Taurines, R., Schmitt, J., Renner, T., Conner, A.C., Warnke, A., & Romanos, M. (2010). Developmental comorbidity in attentiondeficit/hyperactivity disorder. ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, 2, 267-289.
  • Thorington, L., Parascandola, J. & Cunningham, L. (1971). Visual and biologic aspects of an artificial sunlight illuminant. Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 1, 33-41.
  • Tyrrell, R., Holland , K., Dennis, D., & Wilkins, A. (1995). Coloured overlays, visual discomfort, visual search and classroom reading. Research in Reading, 18, 10-23.
  • Veitch, J.A. (2001). Lighting quality contributions from biopsychological processes. Journal of the Illuminating Engineering Society, 30, 3-16.
  • Veitch, J.A., & McColl, S.L. (1995). On the modulation of fluorescent light: Flicker rate and spectral distribution effects on visual performance and visual comfort. Lighting Research and Technology, 27, 243-256.
  • Veitch, J.A., & McColl, S.L. (2001). A critical examination of perceptual and cognitive effects attributed to full-spectrum fluorescent lighting. Ergonomics, 44, 255-279.
  • Wilkins, A.J., Huang, J., & Cao, Y. (2007). Prevention of visual stress and migraine with precision spectral filters. Drug Development Research, 68, 469-475.
  • Winterbottom, M., & Wilkins, A. (2009). Lighting and discomfort in the classroom. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 29, 63-75.
  • Wurtman, R.J. (1975a). The effects of light on the human body. Scientific American, 233, 68-77.
  • Wurtman, R.J. (1975b). The effects of light on man and other mammals. Annual Review of Physiology, 37, 467-483.
Fuente de los datos: Dialnet