Hundreds of school-children are struggling to read in the Midlands because of a "hidden" form of dyslexia that can be rectified by wearing tinted spectacles, a pressure group claims.
The condition, called visual dyslexia, affects about five per cent of schoolchildren according to Colour for Vision, a non-profit organisation which is holding a conference in Birmingham to raise awareness of the phenomenon.
Symptoms in sufferers range from words appearing to swim around on the page and letters fading or changing in size to nausea, dizziness and headaches.
But unlike other forms of dyslexia the condition can be easily cured with the use of coloured lenses, according to the group.
Turves Green Primary in Northfield, Birmingham , which screens pupils for symptoms , claims to have seen dramatic improvements in a number of youngsters who have been issued tinted glasses.
But Birmingham Education Authority, in common with most other councils, does not promote screening as a matter of course and Colour for Vision believes thousands of youngsters are missing out on the benefits.
Christine Fitzmaurice, spokeswoman for CFV, said: "What is important is that parents recognise a visual condition can be very much part of dyslexia. The bottom line is that the problem of visual stress is the same as dyslexia in that children find it difficult to read.
"It is therefore hard for parents to know whether this is a vision-related problem or a more complex problem.
"That is why it is very important that parents recognise the research points to visual defects being very prevalent in poor readers."
Testing for visual dyslexia involves the use of a machine called a Colorimeter used in hospital eye clinics but not widely available in opticians.
It employs coloured overlays and diagnostic questioning to find the exact colour combination that gives the greatest benefit to sufferers.
Teachers can also conduct simple tests on pupils they suspect may have the condition using plastic coloured sheets. However screening is rare due to low awareness among schools.
The CFV has highlighted a handful of authorities that promote testing, including Norfolk, but it believes the Midlands is a blindspot for identifying the condition.
"The reason for the conference is that we are frustrated by the fact that awareness is not spreading quickly enough," said Ms Fitzmaurice.
"This research has been around for 15 years, the Colorimeter was designed 11 years ago. It had a rough ride initially, because optometrists didn't want to take it on board."
The conference takes place in October and is being sponsored by The Birmingham Post and Aston University where it is to be held.
One of the main speakers will be Arnold Wilkins, professor of Visual Perception at the University of Essex, Britain's leading researcher on light sensitivity and designer of the Colorimeter.
Also speaking are Dr Frank Eperjesi, a visual researcher at Aston University, one of the first establishments to use the Colorimeter, and Elizabeth Ashby, a special educational needs officer at Norfolk Education Authority.
The event, at the university's Lakeside Conference Centre, starts at 10am on October 30 and finishes at 4.30pm.
For further information and registration contact Aston University on 0121 359 8487.
