Colored Overlays

Colored overlays are thin

colored/tinted pieces of
film/plastic that are used for
students who have a hard time
processing or reading printed
text. Color overlays are used by
placing them directly on the text
that is being read, not above the
text or over the eye, but directly
on the text. Another version of
overlays are called lenses, the
lenses are typically used for
reading text on a computer screen
and not printed text.

How/why do Color Overlays work?

Who do colored overlays work for?
How can
teachers
use studies
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There have colors
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Overlays
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the
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colored
overlays
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What
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with overlays
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selectively
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just reading
problem text,
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the light
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Colored
long paragraphs
stories,
from
the
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page
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it
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overlays
also been found
to help
printed can
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students
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After theoverlays
colored eliminate
overlays are
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Autism.
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have
even
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students
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on aADHD
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of
taught the
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to use the
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cases
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with
a
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text.
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doing
so
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need Colored
to be overlays have
disability).
overlays
reduce
the
symptoms
visual
instructedeven
that
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to beof
appeared
to help are
students
who do not
stress
such
as
headaches
and
watery
placed directly
on the disability
printed text
that
have a reading
or anything
of
eyes.
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read,
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up
in
the
air
over
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by
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reading
speed
and
Colored overlays come in many
the text or
over the eyes.
Whilecolored overlays
understanding.
Although
different
colors
and
tints
to fit
have provided
had many positive
results for a lot of
teachers can
colored overlays
each
need.
students if
itindividual
has been shown
that they do not
to allstudents
students,
resources
are
work
with
all
at-risk
readers.
Sometimes
a
student
will
use
a
limited those who benefit most should
mixture
of aide
colors
order
receive the
thatin
they
need.to Ifhelp
a
child
seems
to
be
struggling
in
this
him or her read the printed text.
area but the colored overlays are not
proving to be affective it is important
as a teacher to look into what might be
the actual issue so that the student is
ensured a valuable education.

Rickelman, R.J. & Henk, W.A. (1990). Colored

Overlays and tented lens filters. Reading Teacher,
44(2), 166-168.
Iovino, I. R. (1998). Colored Overlays for visual
perceptual deficits in children with reading
disability and attention deficit/hyperactivity
disorder: Are they differentially effective?. Journal
Of Clinical & Experimental Neuropsychology,
20(6), 791.
Wilkins, A. (2002). Coloured overlays and their
effects on reading speed: a review. Ophthalmic &
Physiological Optics, 22(5), 448-454.
Ludlow, A.P. (2006). The effect of coloured
overlays on reading ability in children with
Autism. Journal of Autism & Developmental
Disorders, 36(4), 507-516.