X-linked, red-green colour blindness (CVD) is a congenital condition affecting 8% of men (0.4% of women). Depending on type and severity, affected individuals have significant difficulties discriminating a wide range of colours facing wide-ranging challenges on a day-to-day basis (e.g. interpreting colour-coded information at the workplace or recreational environments). A growing impact is expected in educational settings due to an increasing reliance on colour resources in schools. Unfortunately, a study using a birth cohort from 1958 (Cumberland et al, 2004) has reported a lack of impact of colour blindness on Maths and reading ability but fails to account for the increase in colour in classrooms in recent years. Regrettably the publication led to the cessation of CVD school screening in 2009, preventing children from accessing more appropriate resources.
In contrast, a number of authors have argued that CVD can increase difficulties experienced in a range of school subjects including Sciences, Maths, Art, PE and Geography as such subjects may use colour to explain concepts, give instructions and require it in problem solving tasks. Alongside any academic implications, CVD has been found to have an effect on social, psychological and emotional outcomes. For example CVD children may experience teasing from classmates.
We here propose to investigate the potential impacts of CVD on education and emotional outcomes in a more recent cohort.