There’s a good chance, if not you personally, you know or have met someone with Developmental Dyslexia. Research shows that one in fifteen of us have it, so the condition is clearly widespread throughout the UK. Dyslexia is characterised as a language related learning disability, with specific problems around reading and spelling. But is disability too strong a word? It would appear so, judging from the outstanding achievements of some sufferers. From top Hollywood actors and chart-topping musicians, to best selling authors and genius billionaires, a great amount of successful people have difficulties relating to Dyslexia, proving it is possible to work past them and be as successful as you want to be! People of all ages have different severities of dyslexia and problems within the dyslexic spectrum. Cube spoke to Principal Educational Psychologist Barry Johnson, of Sheffield’s Dyslexia Action, who told us, “a classically Dyslexic person will have delayed literacy difficulties with things like single word reading and spelling.” In fact 60% of Dyslexics struggle to sort out sounds in words making them hard to pronounce and spell. Numbers are also often a problem, especially relating to memory. Even doing simple sums without paper can be a struggle. Although research into dyslexia is increasing now that it is a recognised disability, it is still a mystery why some of us have it and some don’t. Many scientists argue that there is a strong genetic component. It is thought the brain of a dyslexic child has to work 6 times harder due to some helpful cells not being where they should be in dyslexic sufferers.Statistics show that 88% of Dyslexics have a relative who has similar problems with reading and spelling. Barry told us “If you have a mother or father who has Dyslexia, there is roughly a 1 in 4 chance of them having a child that is Dyslexic.” Top author and poet Benjamin Zephaniah, is optimistic about his Dyslexia. He told Cube in an issue 8 interview “Being Dyslexic doesn’t measure your intelligence. Some of the most creative people I know are Dyslexic. What Dyslexia has made me do is compensate in other areas.” And clearly any difficulties he has with words haven’t stopped him from using large quantities of them. In fact research suggests many dyslexics make up for their shortfalls in other ways. A lot of young people with the condition seem to have a much more creative mind, using visual and kinaesthetic (hands-on, practical) learning methods of thinking and completing tasks, supposedly more so than those without the condition. Barry Johnson agrees that there are advantages to Dyslexia; “You’ll find some very high achieving people who have claimed that their Dyslexia has encouraged them to think in certain ways.” He also told us that people with Dyslexia generally “aren’t bothered about the small print, and prefer to concentrate on the bigger picture.” And isn’t that more important when you think of people like Bill Gates!? A lot of sufferers jump to the conclusion that if they’re Dyslexic, they’re going to have incompetent branded on their foreheads for the rest of their lives. This just isn’t the case. Bullying at school may be an issue and can seriously affect an individual’s self esteem, but remember, the definition of Dyslexia is not stupidity. The definition of bullying however is. This kind of ignorance is temporarily endured and it’s very unlikely you’ll find it beyond your school years. It’s natural for someone to feel held back due to the condition but having something to overcome also makes us stronger and more aware, which is never a bad thing! If as a young person you aren’t aware you have dyslexia you could misinterpret yourself as dumb or slow and this could seriously mess with your confidence. It’s important if you think you suffer in any of the areas mentioned that you ask your school to test you. An official diagnosis of the condition allows you to get support from your school such as extra time in exams. Many of us are approaching GCSEs and A-Levels and if you have been diagnosed, up to 25% extra exam time may be given to you. Nowadays there is a huge range of help available in schools, further education and the world of work for dyslexic people. Dyslexia is no longer something to feel embarrassed about. So if you are reading this having been diagnosed with Dyslexia or about to go for a test, you can see there is no need to despair. Just take a look at sufferers who have outshone the majority of ‘regular learners’, even though their condition may have dug away at their self esteem, and others may have dismissed their difficulties as laziness or stupidity. Be thankful for how your brain does works and allow your mind to fill its capacity through different methods. Just let your mind soar! By Isabel Dixon
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