Falling asleep while reading

My son did this constantly. We found several years later than he (as well as his younger brother) has Irlen Syndrome, a vision problem exacerbated by trying to read black print on white background (or trying to read any thing with letters and background in stark contrast). Letters bled off the page, blurred, or vibrated, making reading exhausting and/or giving him a headache. Irlen Syndrome can be explained online, and there are places to get tested. Dyslexia could cause the same problem.

My son was fitted with tinted lenses in glasses (some can use a tinted piece of plastic to cover reading material.

I ALWAYS fell asleep when reading textbook material (considered knowledge-based reading). I was diagnosed as a slow reader, not slow enough to be classified as LD, but my psychodiagnostic tests advised I should receive the same accommodations as a reading disabled student. It took me 5 1/2 hrs. on average to read an average textbook chapter (like history, etc.). I now use a special audio tape recorder/player devise. All my textbooks are either already on tape (from the Library for the Blind and Dyslexic or the book’s publisher) or recorded by a service if its a recent edition not yet recorded by any agency. You can view the machine at www.aph.org (American Printing House for the Blind and Reading Disabled) under ‘products.’ I’m also scheduled for orientation at the local community college to learn to use their computer adaptive equipment that will read text electronically and put it on a CD. That method will be much quicker and more efficient. If testing hasn’t been done, do it asap. Being correctly diagnosed and receiving the right accommodations is critical.