I saw a post this morning saying this from a literacy intervention specialist: 

“Rainbow Words

Write tricky words in different colours. Seeing them in colour helps your brain remember!”

Some evidence supports the statement that using different colours to write tricky words helps memory; however, it is not universally proven to help with dyslexia, and when I am talking about busting dyslexia myths, this is something I bring up in every presentation I do.

I’d like to be clear on the fact that for those with dyslexia, it is definitely not the primary intervention. It oversimplifies the cognitive processes involved with learning to read and write. 

Let’s look at the evidence for colour and memory. When looking at the population in general (i.e. not neurodiverse), research does suggest that colour may assist with memory formation. This is related to how colour acts to create visual cues and to draw attention. 

Colour can also enhance attention by attracting attention more effectively than black and white text. Different colours can draw the reader’s focus to different parts of a word, which could lead to better memorisation. 

Colour can also be known to support a learner in making an emotional connection. Some research suggests colours associated with positive emotions may enhance memory; however, this can vary.

In terms of memory integration, some studies have shown that when colours and information are woven into the learning process, memory performance can be better

So how does this all fit in with dyslexia? So the effectiveness of colour strategies for people with dyslexia is complex and debated in the scientific community, and there is a lack of scientific consensus that rainbow words, coloured overlays and lenses help people with dyslexia. Here, we move more into the realm of coloured overlays.

At its root, dyslexia is a language problem, NOT a vision problem, and there is a lack of broad scientific consensus. Major medical and research bodies, such as the American Academy of Paediatrics and the American Psychological Association, do not, for example, endorse tinted filters as an effective, evidence-based treatment for dyslexia. 

What we can say is that there is a lot of individual variation, and some people do say that they experience more comfort with reading using a coloured overlay; however, this is more than likely just comfort, and doesn’t necessarily improve reading fluency.

We have to be really careful about the potential harm of non-evidence-based claims, as these can have negative consequences such as investing funds in things that do not work, and it’s also important to note that focusing on unproven visual interventions like “rainbow words” can cause a delay in implementing robust, evidence-based reading interventions which we know is what works best for dyslexia. For dyslexia, research-backed approaches, such as structured literacy programs, are considered the most effective support.

To conclude, the initial statement, I believe, oversimplifies a really complex topic. While colour can help with memory in some contexts by grabbing attention, the specific claim that “rainbow words” are a solution for dyslexia or will “help your brain remember” is not supported by broad scientific evidence. Be careful out there.

Further reading:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264793327_Colors_colored_overlays_and_reading_skills

https://nasenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1471-3802.2012.01237.x

https://www.nessy.com/en-gb/dyslexia-explained/understanding-dyslexia/dyslexia-and-vision