Famous Dyslexics
Henry Ford
Jay Leno
Albert Einstein
Greg Louganis
Walt Disney
Whoopi Goldberg
Dyslexics minds work in exactly the same way as the minds of great geniuses. It is important for them to know that having a problem with reading, writing, spelling, or math does not mean they are dumb or stupid.
The same mental function that produces a genius can also produce these problems.
The mental function that causes dyslexia is a gift in the truest sense of the word: a natural ability, a talent. It is something special that enhances the individual.
These gifts of mastery develop in many and in many areas. For Albert Einstein, it was physics; for Walt Disney, it was art; for Greg Louganis, it was athletic prowess.
Warning Signs of Dyslexia
In Preschool
- delayed speech
- mixing up the sounds and syllables in long words
- chronic ear infections
- severe reactions to childhood illnesses
- constant confusion of left versus right
- late establishing a dominant hand
- difficulty learning to tie shoes
- trouble memorizing their address, phone number, or the alphabet
- can't create words that rhyme
- a close relative with dyslexia
In Elementary School
- dysgraphia (slow, non-automatic handwriting that is difficult to read)
- letter or number reversals continuing past the end of the first grade
- extreme difficulty learning cursive
- slow, choppy, inaccurate reading:
- guesses based on shape or context
- skips or misreads prepositions (at, to, of)
- ignores suffixes
- can't sound out unknown words
- terrible spelling
- often can't remember sight words (they, were, does) or homonyms (their, they're, and there)
- difficulty telling time with a clock with hands
- trouble with math
- memorizing multiplication tables
- memorizing a sequence of steps
- directionality
- when speaking, difficulty finding the correct word
- lots of "whatyamacallits" and "thingies"
- common sayings come out slightly twisted
- extremely messy bedroom, backpack, and desk
- dreads going to school
- complains of stomach aches or headaches
-
may have nightmares about school
In High School
All of the above symptoms plus:
- limited vocabulary
- extremely poor written expression
- large discrepancy between verbal skills and written compositions
- unable to master a foreign language
- difficulty reading printed music
- poor grades in many classes
-
may drop out of high school
In Adults
Education history similar to above, plus:
- slow reader
- may have to read a page 2 or 3 times to understand it
- terrible speller
- difficulty putting thoughts onto paper
- dreads writing memos or letters
- still has difficulty with right versus left
- often gets lost, even in a familiar city
- sometimes confuses b and d, especially when tired or sick
Dyslexics' have certain mental functions in common:
They can utilize the brain's ability to alter and create perceptions
They are highly aware of the environmentThey are more curious than averageThey think mainly in pictures instead of wordsThey are highly intuitive and insightfulThey think & perceive multi-dimensionallyThey can experience thought as realityThey have vivid imaginations