What is Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that impacts reading, spelling, writing, and sometimes speech. Individuals with dyslexia often struggle with phonological awareness, which involves understanding the sounds within words, as well as decoding, the process of breaking down words into their component sounds, and recognising words quickly.
It is dimensional, ranging from mild to very severe, making it difficult to measure precisely. Dyslexia typically manifests early in life and persists throughout one's lifetime, often running in families. In the United Kingdom, it is the most prevalent specific learning difficulty, affecting approximately 1 million young people in education alone.
Importantly, dyslexia is not indicative of a lack of intelligence or motivation to learn; rather, it stems from differences in how the brain processes language-related information.
Early identification and the implementation of appropriate interventions are crucial for individuals with dyslexia to excel academically and in various aspects of their lives.
Disorder or Difference?
This lecture describes what is known of the causes and consequences of reading difficulties and how they relate to other common conditions that affect learning. It will look at the importance of early intervention and how best to support children with dyslexia.
By Professor Maggie Snowling a Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of Oxford, and Research Fellow, St. John’s College. She is also professionally qualified as a clinical psychologist and was appointed CBE for services to science and the understanding of dyslexia in 2016.
The Positives
People with dyslexia possess a range of positive traits and strengths.It's important to recognise and appreciate these strengths alongside the challenges associated with dyslexia, as they can contribute significantly to their success and personal growth.
Creativity
Many individuals with dyslexia have highly creative minds. They may excel in thinking outside the box, problem-solving, and generating innovative ideas, they may have vivid imaginations and a knack for thinking creatively. This can be an asset in fields such as writing, storytelling, entrepreneurship, or the arts.
Strong visual thinking
Dyslexic individuals often think in images rather than words. This can lead to strengths in areas such as spatial reasoning, visual-spatial skills, and holistic thinking. With heightened spatial awareness, enabling them to excel in fields such as art, design, architecture, or engineering..
Resilience
Overcoming challenges associated with dyslexia often requires persistence and resilience. Many individuals with dyslexia develop strong determination and perseverance in the face of difficulties.
Strong problem-solving skills
Dyslexia encourages individuals to approach problems from different angles. This can lead to the development of strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Innovative thinking
Dyslexia can foster unconventional thinking patterns, which may lead to innovative solutions and approaches in various domains.
Intuition
Some people with dyslexia have strong intuition and instincts. They may be able to grasp complex concepts or make connections that others might overlook.
“There are two people walking along a road, and they come to a wall. The non-dyslexic person walks around it easily, navigating to the other side. However, the dyslexic one looks at it and digs under the wall, perhaps meeting a mole and finding some treasure, definitely getting dirty, and using quite a lot of energy. But they make it to the other side, having had one hell of an adventure and definitely feeling a bit stronger.”
— Charlotte Noble
