Whether you say you're dyslexic is a personal choice, offering benefits like getting necessary support and accommodations (extra time, assistive tech) but also carrying risks of prejudice, so weigh the situation: it's helpful for accessing help in school/work if you need accommodations but can be daunting due to stereotypes like "lazy," though dyslexia is about brain wiring, not intelligence.
There is no requirement to tell a potential employer that you are dyslexic and there can be advantages and disadvantages to sharing this information. Some people do not feel confident in making this disclosure, and others may worry that disclosing this information might prejudice their chances of selection.
Famous actors like Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom all have dyslexia. Pablo Picasso's teachers described him as “having difficulty differentiating the orientation of letters”.
We believe in person-first language. In other words, we believe that individuals with dyslexia are just that—people first; people who also have a disability, but that is only one part of who they are. That said, you will notice in many places on DyslexiaHelp we refer to people with dyslexia as “dyslexics”.
Elementary students can remember a pitch like, “I have dyslexia. That means my brain is wired a bit differently than yours, but different is okay. I'm not lazy or dumb, it just takes me longer to read, write, and understand information. Please be patient with me.
What are the signs of dyslexia?
No, dyslexia is not a form of ADHD; they are two separate, distinct neurodevelopmental conditions, but they frequently co-occur because they share some overlapping symptoms like inattention, memory issues, and executive function challenges, making accurate diagnosis important for proper treatment. ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder affecting focus, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, while dyslexia is a specific learning disability impacting reading, spelling, and language processing.
But if a child has a low IQ and additional problem with dyslexia, that just is going to mean that they're going to have even more difficulty learning to read. But knowing that, most people with dyslexia are, at least, average or above-average IQ. So, it is not related to intelligence at all.
These creative processing skills allow dyslexics to see the bigger picture, and visualise new solutions. This skill is really valuable to employees, in fact, 50% of NASA employees are dyslexic. They are deliberately hired because of their excellent critical thinking skills and spatial awareness.
A: While both autism and dyslexia are neurodevelopmental disorders, they are distinct conditions with different core symptoms. There is no direct causal connection between autism and dyslexia, but they may co-occur in some individuals.
Ryan Gosling has accumulated praise for movies like The Notebook, La La Land, and Barbie. However, behind this fame, his life's story was full of bravery. The Hollywood hunk faced dyslexia and Adhd as a kid. School was difficult, and bullying made it worse.
Actress Jennifer Aniston has publicly shared that she was diagnosed with dyslexia in her 20s, a diagnosis that explained lifelong struggles with reading, writing, and retaining information, leading her to believe she wasn't smart until discovering the learning disorder. She discovered this during an eye exam, where she realized her eyes jumped words when reading, and the diagnosis helped her understand past difficulties, transforming her self-perception.
Some of these successful entrepreneurs, such as Richard Branson and Charles Schwab, credit their success to dyslexia as one of the contributing factors that lead to the development of their innovative thinking and their remarkable success.
Understanding and supporting individuals with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Dyspraxia is essential for fostering an inclusive and effective learning environment. These disorders can also coincide with other conditions such as ADHD and Autism, requiring a comprehensive approach.
People with stealth dyslexia have problems sounding out (or decoding ) words just like people with “classic” dyslexia. Yet their scores on tests of reading comprehension are typically above average, or even very strong.
If you choose to disclose dyslexia, this can provide a great opportunity for you to talk about your strengths. For example, many dyslexic people have become more determined and resilient as a result of overcoming obstacles at school, or college.
Bill Gates, one of the richest people in the world didn't let his dyslexia hold him back.
Did you know that 25% of CEOs, 35% of entrepreneurs, and 40% of self-made millionaires are dyslexic? If you have a story to tell please share. 1 in 5 kids is counting on us. We need more NB success stories to show them that their talents are just what our province needs.
Jobs that require visual thinking such as graphic design or web development – jobs for those who are creative may be more suitable. People-skills jobs where dyslexic people can excel include management roles, team leaders and customer service jobs – anything involving human interaction rather than written.
Dyslexic individuals often excel in creative fields like art, design and storytelling. Our brains are wired to think visually, making us great at generating unique ideas and seeing connections where others might not.
Dyslexia occurs at all levels of intelligence—average, above average and highly gifted. Many gifted people at the top of their fields are dyslexic. While people with dyslexia are slow readers, they often are very fast and creative thinkers.
Interconnected reasoning, or I-strengths, is another common dyslexic strength that aligns perfectly with science. Dyslexic thinkers are adept at noticing relationships and drawing analogies, skills that are invaluable in understanding the complex systems found in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering.
The ADHD "30% Rule" is a guideline suggesting that executive functions (like self-regulation, planning, and emotional control) in people with ADHD develop about 30% slower than in neurotypical individuals, meaning a 10-year-old might function more like a 7-year-old in these areas, requiring adjusted expectations for maturity, task management, and behavior. It's a tool for caregivers and adults with ADHD to set realistic goals, not a strict scientific law, helping to reduce frustration by matching demands to the person's actual developmental level (executive age) rather than just their chronological age.
According to UMHS, the following conditions can present similar symptoms and difficulties to dyslexia:
General signs to look for are: