9 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DYSLEXIA

As humans, we hate to feel like we’re not “normal.” We want to be able to do things as well as most other people, and we often feel self-conscious and embarrassed if it looks like we are not as smart as others. Dyslexia is a disorder that can make lots of routine tasks much more difficult. It’s important to understand that having dyslexia does not mean someone is “stupid.” It’s a condition that some people are born with, the same way some people are born with blue eyes or brown hair. It also doesn’t mean that someone with dyslexia cannot be successful in life, there are, in fact, a lot of very successful people who have dyslexia. These people include Jim Carrey, Jay Leno, Henry Ford, Steven Spielberg, John Lennon, Thomas Edison, and even Albert Einstein! If you think you may be dyslexic, check for these common signs.

1. SPELLING DIFFICULTY

Let’s face it, lots of people aren’t too good at spelling. For dyslexics, however, spelling is a particularly difficult challenge due to the problems they have with remembering how things are ordered. The same might be true when it comes to remembering things like telephone numbers because dyslexia hampers the brain’s ability to put things in the proper order and keep them there.

2. LEFT AND RIGHT

This sounds so simple, and it is, but again, dyslexia causes difficulty when someone tries to remember how something is ordered or arranged. It is not uncommon for dyslexics to have difficulty remembering which side is left and which side is right. It can be an embarrassing problem to deal with, but in no way does it indicate that someone is less intelligent than other people.

3. DISORGANIZATION

Dyslexia’s ability to create difficulty remembering how things are ordered can extend into all aspects of life, including keeping personal belongings or a work space organized, or even remembering what time to pick the kids up at soccer practice. Anything you can think of that requires order can present a special challenge for someone with dyslexia.

4. READING

As we all know, order is a crucial element of being able to decipher the written word. Dyslexics often have trouble reading, and will often find that their reading is very slow compared to others. The thought of reading a book could be something that really stands out as a challenge for someone who is dyslexic.

5. FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS

What might be considered a simple act of following a recipe or a set of instructions to assemble a children’s toy could be a difficult challenge for someone with dyslexia.

6. REPEATS

Sometimes dyslexia causes problems for people who are asked to repeat something that someone else told them. This is another simple way to test for dyslexia since it can cause the order of spoken words to become jumbled and difficult to repeat in the proper order when someone with dyslexia tries to recall them.

7. PRONUNCIATION

At times dyslexia can even cause problems with speech. This is more likely to be a problem if someone is using a particularly long word and not so much for everyday conversation.

8. MISSED APPOINTMENTS

People with dyslexia are a lot more likely to experience some confusion when dealing with specific dates and times. Because of this, they may be more likely to miss appointments or show up on the wrong day.

9. FORMS

The relatively simple and often mundane task of filling out a form such as a job application or insurance form at the doctor’s office could present a difficult and confusing challenge for someone who has dyslexia.