The effect of coloured overlays on reading ability in children with autism
Open accessAbstract
Abnormalities of colour perception in children with autistic spectrum disorders have been widely reported anecdotally. However, there is little empirical data linking difficulties in colour perception with academic achievement. The Wilkins Rate of Reading Test was administered with and without Intuitive Coloured Overlays to 19 children with autistic spectrum disorders and to the same number of controls individually matched for age and intelligence. Findings showed that 15 out of 19 (79%) children with autism showed an improvement of at least 5% in reading speed when using a coloured overlay. In contrast only 3 of 19 (16%) control group children showed such an improvement. The findings suggest that coloured overlays may provide a useful support for reading for children with autism.
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There are a large number of anecdotal reports of unusual responses to colour among people on the autism spectrum.
“There are a large number of anecdotal reports of unusual responses to colour among people on the autism spectrum (e.g.Williams, 1999; see also Franklin, Sowden, Burley, Notman, & Alder, 2008;Ludlow et al., 2006).”
From Vision in autism spectrum disorders (2009) · cites this paper as Ludlow et al., 2006
In Ludlow et al. (2006), the ASD group showed a modest but significant average improvement in reading speed of 13% with coloured overlays in place.
“The ASD group showed a modest but significant average improvement in reading speed of 13% with the overlays in place.”
From Vision in autism spectrum disorders (2009) · cites this paper as Ludlow et al. (2006)
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- Authors
- Ludlow, A. K., Wilkins, A. J., & Heaton, P.
- Affiliations
- University of London (GB)
- University of Essex (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Ludlow, Amanda K.
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2006-04-06
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 507-516
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- OpenAlex
- W2134730350
- Cited by
- 95
- References
- 49
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- University of Hertfordshire Research Archive (University of Hertfordshire) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Developmental and Educational Neuropsychology
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, reading skills, reading speed, color perception, reading difficulties, children
- MeSH terms
- Achievement, Adolescent, Autistic Disorder, Child, Color Perception, Dyslexia, Humans, Visual Perception, Vocabulary
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