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Improving reading with coloured overlays

Blog
The YPO Team
01 Jul 2025

For many students, reading is more than decoding letters—it's a cognitive workout impacted by how the brain processes visual information. This is especially true for individuals with dyslexia or Irlen Syndrome, who may experience visual distortions that turn reading into a source of frustration. That's where reading overlays, also known as dyslexia coloured overlays, come into play.

What are reading overlays?

Overlays are transparent coloured sheets placed over printed text to reduce visual stress and improve reading comfort. Used widely in educational settings, they are designed to support individuals who struggle with symptoms such as:

Words appearing to move, flicker, or blur
Difficulty tracking from one line to the next
Sensitivity to light and glare
Eye strain or fatigue while reading

These symptoms are often associated with Irlen Syndrome (Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome). This visual-perceptual disorder can overlap with conditions such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder.

How do coloured overlays work?

Coloured overlays work by altering the contrast and light wavelengths hitting the eye, creating a calmer visual field for the brain to interpret. This helps alleviate symptoms like low reading rate, poor comprehension, and inaccurate word recognition—making reading less daunting. Although research shows mixed results (Wilkins 2001, Suttle 2018, BMJ 2015) many users report subjective improvements, particularly in focus and reading fluency. According to some studies, overlays may reduce visual stress, especially in individuals with Meares-Irlen Syndrome.

What colour overlay is best for dyslexia?

There is no universal "best" colour. Each person responds differently, depending on their unique visual processing needs. That's why YPO offer a variety of scientifically selected shades such as Aqua, Sky, Yellow, Grass, and Deep Blue to help users choose the most effective tint. Combining overlays can create over 30 custom tints, allowing even finer adjustments for individual needs.

The benefits of using reading overlays

Improved reading speed – Many users find they can read faster with less strain.
Better comprehension and retention – By making text more comfortable to read, overlays help the brain focus on meaning instead of decoding.
Reduced visual stress – They soften the high contrast between black text and white paper, making the page easier on the eyes.
Longer reading endurance – Less fatigue means students can concentrate longer.
Decreased light sensitivity and glare – This is especially helpful for those with Irlen Syndrome or migraines.
Enhanced enjoyment – Reading becomes a less stressful and more positive experience overall.

Accessibility in the classroom

Creating an inclusive classroom means meeting different learning needs. Coloured overlays can help by making reading easier and more comfortable for some students by:

Empowering student choice through colour preference.
Reducing reading fatigue, making study more sustainable.
Supporting focus and understanding, particularly for neurodivergent learners.
Encouraging independence in reading tasks.

Pairing overlays with other evidence-based interventions, such as phonics instruction, assistive tech, or text-to-speech tools, further boosts literacy outcomes. The phonics teaches the relationships between sounds which help build decoding skills, when used with overlays, the reduces distractions can ease visual discomfort. By incorporating assistive technologies like text-to-speech tools with overlays, a dual-channel experience can reinforce understanding and memory. By integrating these methods, multiple learning needs can be supported whilst increasing accessibility and reducing frustration. This will naturally lead to a boost in confidence when reading and help students develop their independence in the classroom.

Who can benefit from coloured overlays?

Coloured overlays may be helpful for:

Individuals with dyslexia who experience visual discomfort while reading
Students diagnosed with Irlen Syndrome
Learners with ADHD, autism, Tourette Syndrome, or photosensitivity
Individuals prone to migraines or light-induced eye strain

Features of YPO's coloured overlays (844171)

Made of crystal-clear PET plastic for clarity and durability
Each overlay has a gloss side and a matt side for personal preference.
Sized for A4 pages (216 × 298 mm), with rounded corners
Easy to use—peel off the protective film and place it over the text
Packaged in protective storage slips to prevent damage

Winner of SEN Product of the Year (non-ICT) - Education Resources Awards 2014

YPO offer a wide range of reading aids in addition to A4 page overlays including:

Plain window reading rulers
Duo window eye level reading rulers
A range of coloured monitor overlays
Coloured overlay assessment pack
C-pen readers
Visual stress relief starter packs in Yellow, Pink, Blue and Green which contain
- 1 Duo Window Reading Ruler
- 1 Plain Window Reading Ruler
- 1 Page Overlay
- 1 A4 Refill Pad 100 pages

While coloured overlays aren't a cure for dyslexia or visual processing difficulties, they offer a promising route to greater reading comfort for many. They’re not a one size fits all approach, but a helpful tool that can be used in a broader toolkit of visual support strategies.

Explore our range of reading aids ideal for all learning environments.

Author

The YPO Team

YPO supplies products and services to a wide range of customers including schools, local authorities, charities, emergency services, public sector and other businesses such as nurseries and care homes. YPO are 100% publicly owned, by 13 local authorities, which means the profits made are returned to public sector customers, delivering even better value for money.