Being dyslexic can make some tasks more challenging, but it also comes with unique strengths. Here is an overview of what it’s like to live with dyslexia.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects reading, writing, and processing language. People with dyslexia may have trouble with:
- Reading fluency and accuracy
- Spelling and writing
- Sounding out unfamiliar words
- Rhyming
- Memorization and retrieval of facts
- Organization and time management
These difficulties are neurological and tend to run in families. Dyslexia is not related to intelligence. In fact, many people with dyslexia are very bright and creative thinkers.
The exact causes of dyslexia are still being researched, but it seems to originate from differences in how the brain processes language. People with dyslexia may have weaker connections between areas of the brain related to language skills.
Signs and symptoms
Some common signs of dyslexia include:
- Difficulty learning and remembering letter names and sounds
- Struggling to sound out written words
- Trouble spelling accurately
- Slow and choppy reading
- Misreading words (e.g. confusing “saw” and “was”)
- Omitting or substituting small words when reading aloud
- Difficulty recognizing rhyming patterns
- Challenges learning a foreign language
- Trouble organizing written ideas
- Difficulty telling left from right
- Messy handwriting
The severity of symptoms can range from mild to profound. Some very smart people are able to partially compensate for dyslexia through persistence and learned coping strategies.
Many (but not all) people with dyslexia will have a history of reading struggles or delays in elementary school. But dyslexia is a lifelong condition that continues to affect learning and work well into adulthood.
Strengths associated with dyslexia
While dyslexia creates difficulties with language tasks, it also comes with a number of cognitive strengths. People with dyslexia often excel in areas such as:
- Visual-spatial skills
- Mechanical aptitude
- Reasoning and problem-solving
- Creativity and imagination
- Seeing the big picture
- Thinking outside-the-box
Many thrive in hands-on careers in fields like architecture, engineering, visual arts, and entrepreneurship. Their visual-spatial abilities aid with tasks like designing, illustrating, photographing, piloting, surgery, and working with tools and diagrams.
Dyslexics often have excellent reasoning skills and intuition. They tend to be perceptive about people and situations. Many are especially talented at solving novel problems and thinking of new ideas. Their creativity helps them envision alternative solutions.
Looking at the gestalt or whole picture, rather than being distracted by details, is another relative strength. This helps dyslexics grasp concepts and see logical connections.
Challenges at school
Because traditional academics heavily emphasize reading, writing and memorization skills, students with dyslexia face extra hurdles in typical classroom environments.
Some of the most common challenges include:
- Learning letters and their corresponding sounds
- Accurately sounding out written words
- Spelling accurately and remembering spelling rules
- Reading fluently with good pacing, accuracy, and prosody
- Slow and laborious writing that lacks detail and clarity
- Difficulty organizing long written assignments
- Memorizing math facts, vocabulary words, dates, formulas
- Following multi-step oral instructions
- Processing spoken language and lecture content
- Tracking time and managing long assignments
- Note-taking skills
- Test-taking skills
Without proper support, these difficulties make it hard to keep up in areas like reading, writing, foreign languages, history, and even math and science. Many bright students with dyslexia struggle in school or are perceived as lazy or unfocused.
Social and emotional impact
Dealing with learning challenges that others don’t fully understand can take an emotional toll. Many students with dyslexia experience frustration, anxiety, low self-confidence and feelings of shame.
Some common social-emotional effects include:
- Anxiety about reading aloud or taking timed tests
- Self-conscious about poor spelling
- Hesitation to try new activities for fear of failure
- Embarrassment about needing extra help
- Frustration about the extra time and effort required
- Confidence plummets after years of academic struggle
- Withdrawal from social situations
- Confusion and self-doubt about otherwise strong abilities
- Depression due to constant academic stress
Sadly, many internalize negative messages about being lazy, dull or unintelligent. But in reality, these challenges with written language and rote memorization do not indicate low overall intelligence.
Benefits of diagnosis
Getting assessed by an experienced professional can provide clarity and direction. A clear diagnosis opens up access to accommodations and support services.
Benefits include:
- Understanding strengths and weaknesses
- Access to assistive technology for reading and writing
- New self-advocacy skills
- Reduced anxiety and self-doubt
- Modified teaching strategies
- Extra time for assignments and tests
- Confidence to pursue alternate learning paths
- Specialized reading and writing instruction
- Transition planning for college or career
Targeted support provides opportunities to develop tools and coping methods to bypass language challenges. This allows bright students to demonstrate their true abilities.
Impact on daily life
Dyslexia affects daily life in many ways. Here are some examples:
Reading
Reading is slower, more laborious, and prone to errors. It requires extra time and energy. Audiobooks and text-to-speech tools provide accessible alternatives.
Writing
The mechanics of writing from spelling to punctuation to structure are challenging. Typing with spell check on a computer is easier than handwriting.
Memory and recall
Rote memorization of facts and lists is often difficult. As a workaround, utilize visual associations, hands-on methods, mnemonic devices, and frequent repetition.
Organization
Managing time and tasks can be hard due to difficulties with executive functioning. External structure from lists, reminders, calendars and alarms helps create order.
Focus and concentration
Some people with dyslexia are easily distractible. Minimizing clutter and distractions and allowing movement can enhance focus.
Speech and listening
There may be mispronunciation of words, monotone voice or choppy speech rhythm. Careful listening and patience are needed.
Direction and sequences
Following step-by-step directions or remembering the order of events and facts may be troublesome. Breaking things into small, visual chunks makes it more manageable.
Verbal expression
It may require great effort to retrieve precise vocabulary words or descriptive phrases on demand during speaking or writing. Allowing more time aids word retrieval.
Math
Learning math facts and procedures and managing sequential steps presents hurdles. Concrete examples, diagrams, digital supports, and drilling math facts lead to success.
Foreign languages
Learning a language with a new alphabet, sounds, grammar, and memorization demands causes significant challenges for many with dyslexia. Allowing alternate methods of engagement with material can help overcome barriers.
Physical coordination
Some dyslexics struggle with tasks like driving a car with manual transmission, dribbling a ball, or dance steps. Practice establishes motor memory to build coordination.
Coping strategies and supports
There are many helpful supports, accommodations, and compensatory strategies that enable students and adults with dyslexia to showcase their strengths.
School
– Audiobooks and text-to-speech technology
– Note-taking assistance
– Extra time on assignments and tests
– Quiet setting for testing
– Modified reading and writing demands
– Access to recorded lectures
– Alternatives to written exams
– Tutoring for reading and writing skills
– Written step-by-step instructions
Writing
– Speech-to-text dictation software
– Electronic spellcheckers
– Word prediction software
– Diagrams and visual organizers
– Templates
– Digital notebooks and scanners
Reading
– Audiobooks
– Text-to-speech software
– E-readers with adjustable font and spacing
– Colored overlays to reduce visual stress
– Tracking tools like reading windows
Studying and learning
– Multi-sensory methods
– Mnemonic devices
– Flow charts and graphic organizers
– Recorded lectures and notes
– Hands-on models
– Oral testing
Memory and organization
– Checklists
– Calendars
– Reminders and alarms
– Note-taking tools
– Highlighting important information
– Navigation systems
Focus
– Fidget toys for occupying hands
– Doodle pads for occupying mind during lectures
– Study music or white noise to block distractions
– Minimizing clutter in work area
Verbal communication
– Conversation scripts
– Over-learning conversation topics
– Allowing extra response time
– Alerting others verbal expression is a weakness
Assistive technology
– Text-to-speech software
– Audiobook apps
– Speech-to-text software
– Bookshare for accessible ebooks
– Electronic dictionaries
– Word prediction software
– Digital highlighters and annotation tools
– Specialized reading software
– Alternative computer input options
Tips for parents
Parenting a child with dyslexia comes with unique challenges. Here are some tips for supporting your dyslexic child at home:
Get an assessment
Seek an evaluation with a professional experienced in assessing dyslexia. Formal identification opens the door to support services and accommodations.
Focus on strengths
Build up their confidence by praising areas of strength like art, building, empathy, and problem-solving. Create opportunities for success through alternate activities.
Connect with resources
Local and online dyslexia communities provide moral support as well as practical wisdom. Consult specialists like therapists, specialist tutors, assistive technology trainers.
Modify learning methods
Use hands-on, multi-sensory methods for tasks like learning letters, reading, spelling, math and memory. Emphasize real-world examples. Break tasks into smaller steps.
Make accommodations
Provide audio books, speech-to-text tools, graphic organizers, memory aids and other accommodations to support weaknesses while protecting self-esteem.
Reinforce strengths
Balance support in weak areas with opportunities to flex visual-spatial, creative, analytical and practical skills. Help them “work around” language challenges.
Advocate and educate
Politely educate teachers, family members, peers and community members about dyslexia. Advocate for appropriate accommodations and support.
Promote emotional health
Boost confidence through unconditional love and setting high, realistic expectations. Encourage interests and friendships outside school. Monitor mental health and provide counseling if needed.
Foster independence
Equip them with strategies, accommodations and assistive technology to take control of their learning differences. Provide support but avoid excessive dependence.
Tips for adults
Dyslexia is a lifelong condition. Here are some tips for managing dyslexia as an adult:
Identify strengths and passions
Leverage your innate strengths in careers involving visual-spatial skills, physical building and design, analysis, reasoning, entrepreneurship, creativity, empathy, and interpersonal intuition. Develop expertise in high-interest areas.
Seek assessment and support
Get a professional assessment even if diagnosed as a child. Updated recommendations open up helpful workplace accommodations and access to assistive technology.
Own your journey
Be open about your dyslexia while focusing discussions on your strengths and accomplishments. Be your own best advocate in school and the workplace.
Train your brain
Practice literacy skills challenged by dyslexia every day, using multisensory techniques. Target reading accuracy, fluency, vocabulary, grammar, writing, memory and study strategies.
Make lifestyle adjustments
Manage energy by playing to your strengths and streamlining weaknesses. Use tools like calendars, navigation aids, task lists, and household organizational systems.
Make technology your friend
Leverage text-to-speech, audiobooks, grammar check, word prediction, cloud notes, calculators, calendar alerts, digital recorders and other assistive apps.
Accommodate your needs
Request academic and workplace accommodations like note-takers, audio formats, speech-to-text tools, alternate assignments, and quiet testing rooms.
Find community
Connect with other dyslexics online and locally for moral support. Join advocacy groups to raise awareness and make societal changes.
Practice self-care
Monitor mental health impacts like anxiety and depression. Develop interests and social connections unrelated to your learning challenges.
Famous and successful dyslexics
Many highly accomplished innovators and pioneers across diverse fields are dyslexic. Here are just a few examples:
| Name | Field |
|---|---|
| Albert Einstein | Theoretical physicist |
| Leonardo da Vinci | Renaissance polymath |
| Steve Jobs | Tech entrepreneur |
| Richard Branson | Business entrepreneur |
| Henry Winkler | Actor, director, producer |
| Tommy Hilfiger | Fashion designer |
| Keira Knightley | Actress |
| John Lennon | Musician |
| Whoopi Goldberg | Actress, comedian |
| Tim Tebow | Athlete |
This list demonstrates that dyslexia need not be a barrier to high achievement and making outstanding contributions to society. With proper support and encouragement, those with dyslexia can leverage their strengths to accomplish great things.
Conclusion
Dyslexia presents an array of daily challenges with reading, writing, language, focus and organization. But it also comes with standout strengths in visualization, problem-solving, hands-on building, creativity and intuition. By playing to their strengths while providing appropriate accommodations and assistive technology, people with dyslexia can achieve academic and career success on their own terms. Increased societal awareness, supportive educational policies, advances in technology and dedicated advocacy continue to improve the opportunities and quality of life for those with dyslexia.