Children diagnosed with Irlen Syndrome: analysis of written productions

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze different texts produced by a 10-year-old male individual diagnosed with Irlen Syndrome (IS). This is a case report; a socio-historical qualitative study. The analysis focused on the discursive and notational aspects of the production of four different writing genres: a letter (to an idol, a family member, or a friend), the rules of a game, a children’s story, and a poster. Regarding the discursive aspects, the participant was able to adequately operate the various aspects that characterize the production of the required genres, showing relevance concerning the proposed themes, objectives, and context flow. As for the notational aspects, the subject presented hypotheses and strategies that were distant from the orthographic pattern of the target language, such as changes, omissions, increase of letters and undue segmentation. The results show that children diagnosed with IS may have unique strategies, inherent to the appropriation process of written language. Based on the analysis, it is suggested that studies on IS are conducted, so that they may offer elements for health and education professionals involved with these individuals in their clinical and school practices to conduct their jobs prioritizing the processes and different dimensions involved with the appropriation of reading and writing skills.