Does Dyslexia mean I am not smart?

Question

Dyslexia does not affect overall intelligence, and many individuals with dyslexia are highly creative and excel in problem-solving and critical thinking. Early intervention, tailored reading programs, and support strategies can help dyslexic individuals manage their difficulties and develop strong reading and writing skills over time.

Answer 1

Quite the opposite. Dyslexia just means the person’s brain requires a different approach to learning written language. In actuality, written language is not a skill the human brain does naturally. Our brains are naturally wired for oral language skills, which involve three parts of the brain. Those three parts need to be taught how to rewire themselves for accurate and proficient reading to occur. That is where the ‘different approach’ comes in. Done correctly, every person with dyslexia can learn to read, allowing them to manifest their intelligence with even more strength and power. In fact, many famous, bright, intelligent professionals have dyslexia, such as Albert Einstein, Steven Spielberg, Richard Branson, Steve Jobs, and Keira Knightley, to name a few.

Answer 2

Far from it. It just means that your brain processes the written word differently. I have had students with dyslexia who excelled in other areas like art, math, or computers. Once you find the strategies (and there are a lot of strategies) that can help you overcome the difficulties your dyslexia is causing, you will never doubt your intelligence again. Look for a tutor that can help you find the right strategies for you. 

Answer 3

The education system needs to progress in acceptable methodology in dyslexia instruction. Many of the world's brightest minds have dyslexia (look it up if you don't believe me). Problem-solving and critical thinking are strong areas for dyslexia. This is an issue when memorization and silent reading remain as key methods for education. These reasons combine and create a student who is frustrated over symptoms emerging in school, a student that will begin to shut down to avoid this frustration hindering learning, teachers that are not adequately trained to notice the shutdown continue to mark poor grades, and the cumulation of the student feeling unintelligent. We are losing out on some of the greatest minds in the world due to this repetitive cycle. Intervention and strategies instructed correctly provided the best support system. (Personal note: I currently homeschool my son with dyslexia and adhd. He was struggling in school and suffering from similar feelings. Sadly, his intervention in school consisted of a little pull-out of class time and a paraprofessional doing his work. He works on a homeschool program designed for a math/engineering brain. The first 2 weeks with the program provided higher grades to the point I moved him up a grade level in math, added coding and pre-engineering, and an emotion class. Placed on the proper learning style he flourishes. He was failing 7th grade subjects, but now has A and B's without any assistance. )