A WOMAN wants to raise awareness of a condition which hardly known about in her community.

Hannah Miller, 20, from Field View Close in Penarth, has Irlen syndrome which is a perceptual problem rather than a visual one.

She has to have special spectral filter glasses but they cost a lot of money due to the lack of funding of the condition.

It can affect children and adults and cause words to seem to move on the page when reading. It can also manifest itself in light sensitivity and headaches.

Miss Miller is concerned this will put people, especially youngsters, off reading because of the difficulty they have and therefore make learning more of a challenge.

She is worried that the lack of recognition and funding for Irlen syndrome means people are not aware of its existence.

Now Miss Miller is calling for schools to become more aware of the problem so they can help those who may have it.

An Irlen syndrome awareness week (ISAW) took place between October 19-23 to highlight the issues surrounding the syndrome.

Irlen syndrome got it's name from Helen Irlen, an American woman who is the leading researcher into the condition and an expert in visual and perceptual problems and has written books on the subject.

Miss Miller said: "I want people to be more aware of Irlen syndrome. It causes problems under fluorescent lighting and can bring on headaches, make you skip words or lines when reading, read slowly and maybe even avoid reading altogether. There are more symptoms but light sensitivity usually causes these problems.

No schools really know about Irlen syndrome. There is no NHS funding to pay for the spectral filters they cost around £350. I think it's time there is funding for them."

There is a special centre in Cheltenham which covers the South West and South Wales and Miss Miller is encouraging anyone who feels they may have the syndrome to contact them for support.

More information on Irlen syndrome visit www.irlen.org.uk.