Does viewing text through yellow or blue filters help dyslexic children to learn to read?

ISRCTN ISRCTN39964318
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN39964318
Secondary identifying numbers CUREC - YB2015, Date and Version No: 06.08.15 version 1:2
Submission date
02/02/2018
Registration date
02/03/2018
Last edited
24/02/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Signs and Symptoms
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Up to half of all children with reading problems find it difficult to see text clearly; letters appear to blur, glare, go double or move around, and these problems can give them headaches. These visual symptoms probably result from reduced precision of timing visual events. There are good physiological reasons for supposing that viewing text through either simple blue or yellow coloured filters may improve the brain’s timing functions. We have found that we can predict which children are likely to benefit from blue or yellow or no filters. Using the appropriate filter for reading is often followed by rapid reading and spelling progress. However, there is no agreement about whether coloured filters can really help more than as a placebo. Clearly this question needs to be settled because if simple and cheap blue or yellow filters can really help reading difficulties, this low cost technique should be used wherever appropriate, in order to help a substantial proportion of the 10% of primary school children who have great difficulties learning to read. This study aims to assess the effects of blue and yellow coloured filters to see if it helps children with dyslexia learn to read.

Who can participate?
Children age 7 to 11 years with visual reading problems

What does the study involve?
Based on their visual symptoms, participants are allocated to a blue filter group or yellow filter group. Then, selected at random, the ‘blues’ are asked to wear either blue or placebo grey filters for 3 months, then all switch to blue. Likewise the ‘yellows’ are randomised to yellow or placebo grey, then all switch to yellow after 3 months. Participants use their filter when reading, and are followed up with reading history, psychometric (pen and paper tests) of their reading, spelling and general abilities together with the routine eye assessments at 3, 6 and 9 months.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
The participants may benefit from improved reading from using the appropriate colour filter more than by the placebo grey filter. None of the colours are likely to harm the children in any way.

Where is the study run from?
Dyslexia Research Trust Clinic (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
September 2014 to October 2024

Who is funding the study?
Dyslexia Research Trust (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Prof John Stein (Public)
John.stein@dpag.ox.ac.uk

Contact information

Prof John Stein
Public

DPAG
Sherrington Building
Parks Road
Oxford
OX1 3PT
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0001-5843-8986
Phone +44(0) 1865 272552
Email john.stein@dpag.ox.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)School
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format yet, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleThe Effect of Yellow and Blue lenses on Reading and Spelling Skills
Study objectivesCurrent study hypothesis as of 24/02/2022:
Can children with visual reading problems will be helped to learn to read by viewing text through blue or yellow filters?


Previous study hypothesis:
Children with visual reading problems will be helped to learn to read by viewing text through blue or yellow filters.
Ethics approval(s)Oxford University Medical Sciences Div. Research Ethics Board, 01/09/2014, ref: MSD-IDREC-C -2014-024
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedChildren's visual reading problems (dyslexia)
InterventionBased on their visual symptoms, participants are allocated to a blue filter group or yellow filter group. Then, selected at random, the ‘blues’ are asked to wear either blue or placebo grey filters for 3 months , then all switch to blue. Likewise the ‘yellows’ are randomised to yellow or placebo grey, then all switch to yellow after 3 months.
Participants use their filter when reading, and are followed up with psychometric and visual assessments at 3, 6 and 9 months.
Intervention typeDevice
Pharmaceutical study type(s)
Phase
Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s)
Primary outcome measureSingle word reading progress is measured using BAS reading and spelling at baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months
Visual reading symptoms are measured using visual symptoms questionnaire at baseline, 3, 6 and 9 months
Secondary outcome measuresOptometric status is measured using standard optometric tests at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months
Overall study start date01/09/2014
Completion date28/10/2024

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupChild
Lower age limit7 Years
Upper age limit11 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants200
Key inclusion criteria1. Children with visual reading problems
2. Age 7-11
3. Male and female
Key exclusion criteria1. English not first language
2. Any medical or neurological diagnosis
Date of first enrolment01/09/2016
Date of final enrolment28/10/2024

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Dyslexia Research Trust Clinic
179a Oxford Road
Reading
RG1 7UZ
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

Dyslexia Research Trust
Charity

Magdalen College
Oxford
OX1 4AU
United Kingdom

Phone +44(0) 1865 276000
Email john.stein@dpag.ox.ac.uk
Website www.dyslexic.org.uk

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Dyslexia Research Trust

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date28/10/2025
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryStored in non-publicly available repository, Available on request
Publication and dissemination planDyslexia Research Trust newsletter www.dyslexic.org.uk
Planned publication in educational and medical peer-reviewed journals.
Study protocol and additional documentation also available from Prof J Stein.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are/will be available upon request from Prof J Stein, Sherrington Building, Parks Road, OX1 3PT.

Editorial Notes

24/02/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment end date has been changed from 28/10/2022 to 28/10/2024.
2. The overall trial end date has been changed from 28/10/2022 to 28/10/2024 and the plain English summary has been updated to reflect this change.
3. The intention to publish date has been changed from 28/10/2023 to 28/10/2025.
4. The study hypothesis has been updated.
5. The statement "Stored in non-publicly available repository" has been added to the IPD sharing summary.
08/07/2020: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/03/2019 to 28/10/2022.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 31/08/2019 to 28/10/2022.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 01/01/2020 to 28/10/2023.