Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability. It causes individuals to have difficulty with language skills particularly in reading and most often includes a weakness in spelling, writing, and word pronunciation.
It is estimated that 1 in 10 people are dyslexic and over 40 million American adults have dyslexia – yet only 2 million know it. For those of you wondering if dyslexia is tied to one’s IQ the answer is no. To illustrate my point Albert Einstein had an estimated IQ of 160 and 50% of the NASA employees are dyslexic.
In school, I was a B/C student at best. I was one of those kids that had to study my butt off to make decent grades. I remember being in the 5th grade braking into a cold sweat at the mere possibility of being called on to read aloud. Every day I was pulled out of class to attend what they called back in 1982, “Special Ed”. I was labeled a slow learner. I often felt dumb, ashamed, and isolated from my friends during school.
At the age of 23, I was diagnosed with severe dyslexia. This was music to my ears! I was not dumb after all, nor was I a slow learner. I was simply dyslexic. This would explain why I hated English Lit, struggled in math, and was a horrible speller. Below are a few learned behaviors that helped me conquer dyslexia.
10 Helpful Habits to Conquer Dyslexia
- Read aloud to yourself to improve understanding and memory recall
- Follow your finger while reading to control reading speed and eye movement
- Break large projects into smaller tasks to prevent becoming overwhelmed
- Request for direct and explicit instructions for detailed projects
- Schedule deadlines on a physical calendar to support good time management
- Listen to audio articles, publications, and books to promote learning
- Develop consistent routines to support healthy learning behaviors
- Apply Brain Power essential oil to your temples and nose to promote concentration
- As Charlie Brown, would say, “Never, ever, ever give up!”
- Be patient with yourself and have fun