Many thanks to Jo Spataro, Psychologist, for contributing the following interesting and informative post about dyslexia!
What do Agatha Christie, Richard Branson and Albert Einstein all have in common? If you said they were all very successful in their own fields, you’d be right. The lesser-known factor that links them, is that they all have dyslexia.
Dyslexia affects up to 10% of the population and is the most common learning difficulty. Here are some interesting facts you may not know about dyslexia:
1. People with very high IQs can have dyslexia. Albert Einstein was the greatest mind of his generation. Although there is no record of his IQ ever having being assessed (as cognitive assessment was an emerging science in the 1930’s), Einstein was estimated to have an IQ of about 160. However, he struggled with learning to read when he was a child, leading some to conjecture that he may have had dyslexia. Many children with above average IQs today are diagnosed with a specific learning difficulty in reading. [for more information about IQ assessment, click here]
2. People with dyslexia are literate. There are many reasons somebody might be illiterate, and these are related to access of appropriate education. If children with dyslexia have adequate schooling, they can make sense of the written word. They can learn to read and write. Many read for enjoyment or information. It is unusual for a person with dyslexia to be unable to read. Many writers have dyslexia. Agatha Christie was thought to have dyslexia, due to her spelling difficulties and her habit of dictating her stories when writing. Australia’s Jackie French is another dyslexic author. Her output continues to be quite high.
3. People with dyslexia can become very creative or innovative. This is due to being faced with challenges everyday – and finding ways around them. Sir Richard Branson, known for his entrepreneurial success, did not let his dyslexia to stand in the way of success. It forced him to dig deeper and to try harder. It also forced him to acknowledge his difficulties, and to surround himself with the best people to fill those gaps.
4. Dyslexia can affect maths. People with dyslexia can have difficulties with maths due to reading numbers incorrectly (i.e., mixing up 2 and 5) or else having difficulties recalling numbers facts or sequences. They may also experience difficulties with worded mathematical questions. When they have overcome these hurdles, children with dyslexia are as proficient at numeracy as any other child their age.
5. Learners with dyslexia can experience social or emotional difficulties at school. This is not the cause of dyslexia. Rather, it is the result of frustration and lack of understanding of their needs within the school. Parents need to liaise with the school to ensure that the teaching strategies match their children’s learning needs. A thorough assessment is vital to support your child’s learning needs [for more information about dyslexia assessment, click here]
