Visual Stress Assessment

Diary is open for assessments in the Easter holidays. Online or face to face. Pm me to book your slot.

Dates open in my diary for visual stress assessment- in-person or online.
Pm me for more info or email me @ [email protected]

VERY LONG POST - But worth knowing.
Why book your Dyslexia assessment with me:
"Schools are obliged by law to consider the results of any independent assessment but this does not mean that they have to implement what the report recommends." From Dyslexia Scotland.

Not all Dyslexia Assessments are the same.

As a Dyslexia assessor I have changed the way in which I assess dyslexia so that I am now in line with the new national recommendations and research. I hope that this new system will make it easier for children and young people to be assessed and receive an identification of dyslexia where required.
The process is as follows:

Concern is raised by child or an adult
↓
Dyslexia Scotland Checklist looked at to identify possible signals of dyslexia
↓
Baseline dyslexia assessments are carried out (online or in person)
↓
An initial period of six months of assessments and interventions is carried out (online)
(This may be shortened if there is an existing bank of evidence already gathered)
↓
If evidence of entrenched difficulties in line with dyslexia are identified, an identification of dyslexia may be made where the main areas of difficulty are stated and recommendations shared as a report.

PLEASE do not go with an assessor who is going to give you a quick assessment, or an assessor who discusses Dyslexia as a 'diagnosis'. Dyslexia is not a medical condition so therefor a 'diagnosis' is not ever made.

As stated above schools are obliged by law to 'consider' the results of an independent assessment - however if there is no proof of evidence being gathered and collected over time PLUS interventions put in place to support literacy development, your school is very unlikely to value and implement the recommendations. Before paying for any private assessment please contact your school to confirm this.

My assessment process will take around 6 months from initial assessment to final report - unless you are able to provide supporting evidence of interventions carried out over a period of time.

I will provide online intervention for the person being assessed and track and monitor using a Dyslexia tracker.

This is a timely process - but worth it so that the school value and implement the findings.

Thank you for reading. If you have any questions please pm me or email me at [email protected]

Want to discuss a Dyslexia or Visual Stress assessment?
Message me here or Email me at [email protected]

School actually starts again on Wednesday for us in the Highlands… but apart from that the rest is useful advice. :)

Why book your Visual Stress assessment with me:

✓ I have been trained on how to carry out Cerium Visual Stress assessments and follow up report and recommendations.
✓ Through my work I have carried out in excess of 50 assessments - so as well as being qualified I am also experienced.
✓ I am a qualified teacher with over 25 years experience including over 7 years experience working as an Additional Needs Teacher.
✓ After your assessment I will provide a written report that will contain practical recommendations which can be shared with the school or place of work.
✓Assessments can be carried out in person or online to suit your availability.
✓ If a visual stress is identified you have the option to purchase the coloured overlay at your appointment (an additional £5).
✓ Visual Stress assessment cost is £40 - which is inclusive of the assessment and the report with recommendations.
✓ Limited same day appointments available.

Visual stress is perceptual processing disorder, rather than visual impairment. I would always recommend that prior to a visual stress assessment that a visual eye exam is carried out at an optometrists - however, as visual stress is perceptual and not a medical problem it is not something that is picked up, or assessed for, on regular eye exam.

Happy New Year.
🥳I hope 2026 is your year.

Visual stress is not the same as dyslexia… however a high proportion of people who are dyslexic have a visual stress (which is often unidentified).
Hope this photo might help someone.

What is visual stress?
Visual Stress, also known as Meares-Irlen syndrome, is a sensitivity to visual patterns. In some individuals the condition can result in visual perceptual problems that can cause interference when reading. The symptoms can occur despite normal vision.

All or some of the following symptoms may be present:

Movement of the printed text
Blurring of print
Letters changing size or shape
Patterns in the print (sometimes described as rivers or worms)
Halos of colour surrounding letters or words
Tiring easily whilst reading
Headaches or visual discomfort
Visual stress can affect all ages, however it is common to associate visual stress with other conditions including:

Dyslexia
Autism
ADHD
Photosensitive migraines or epilepsy
Frustration and low self-esteem can occur in those who experience visual stress therefore early diagnosis is essential.

Message me to discuss an assessment or to ask any questions.

Diary now open - message me with any questions you have.

A lovely review sent to me by someone who is not a facebook user - but has given permission to share:

Our son is 10 years old and has struggled with literacy since he has been at school. We have always encouraged him to read at home but it has always been a challenge to get him to focus for any length of time, we put this down to him being an energetic boy who always wanted to be outdoors playing.
Although his reading ability has improved slightly over the years, it became clear to us during lockdown that he was not at the same level as other kids his age. It was also obvious that he was not confident when reading and was not getting any enjoyment from it.
After returning to school his teacher Dianne Ross identified that our son might in fact have a visual stress. She carried out a test using a coloured overlay and his reading improved immediately. As a result his confidence levels soared and since this point he has come on leaps and bounds. His reading ability is perhaps not at the same level as some of his class mates but the change in a short period of time has been significant.

Stephen and Michelle Bremner