by What do Richard Branson, Delia Smith and Tom Cruise have in common? And no, this is not the beginning of bad news. The unifying link is that they all have dyslexia.
Around 10 per cent of the population is estimated to have dyslexia, according to the British Dyslexia Association (BDA). The condition, which is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder, mainly affects reading and writing skills but can also affect information processing, memory, coordination and organizational skills.
Dyslexia is regarded as a disability under the Equality Act 2010 so individuals can expect “reasonable adjustments” in education and the workplace. Here, experts dispel the myths about this condition.
People with dyslexia are lazy readers and need to try harder
“Individuals with dyslexia or reading impairments are very difficult,” says Dr. Nadine Gaab, associate professor of education at Harvard University.. “But the usual way or intensity used to teach them to learn to read is not enough to turn them into a reader.”
For someone with dyslexia, it’s not a case of not wanting to try – it’s a case of different needs and a different way of doing things. “Everyone with dyslexia or a reading disability can learn to read but it takes intensive evidence-based intervention (which varies across individuals) and dedicated staff to reach the same level as typically developing children,” explains Dr. Gaab.
Dyslexia is a sign of low ability
People still seem to think that dyslexia is a sign of low intelligence, says Jemma Zoe Smith, Oxford graduate, private tutor and education expert. “As someone with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry, a masters specializing in human genetics, and a PGCE in secondary science with a scholarship from the Royal Society of Chemistry, I’d like to think I prove that misconception wrong.”
Smith was not diagnosed with dyslexia until his first year at university, and found that a diagnosis helped put things into perspective. “My tutors pulled me aside to explain that my oral responses did not match my written work. It was my tutors who suggested I get a dyslexia assessment.
“Looking back, I remember having penmanship lessons in year five and struggling to write essays, but since I took science and maths at A level, essay writing wasn’t a big issue.”
You should wait until children are older to screen them for dyslexia
“Earlier diagnosis can have several advantages,” says John Gabrieli, professor of cognitive neuroscience at Harvard-MIT’s Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences.
“We know that dyslexia is genetic – it tends to run in families and a number of risk genes have been identified. It is therefore appropriate to screen children for the language difficulties that lead to dyslexia when they start school.
“Here in the United States, almost every state, in recent years, has required screening in kindergarten (which starts at age five). This is important because it is known that the best educational interventions that help children are effective in the early years, and less so after years three or four.”
Dyslexic people need a lot of support at school
Dyslexia can manifest itself in many different ways, from delays in language development, to speech, to issues with listening or processing skills. A few small tweaks to the way dyslexic children learn can make all the difference, notes Dr Stanbridge of the British Psychological Society’s Division of Educational and Child Psychologists (DECP).
“Information that is already available in most classrooms (phonics screening checks, teacher assessments and so on) can help identify children who are not making progress in their literacy and specifically which aspects of literacy who need support,” she noted.
Assistive technology, such as speech recognition software, audio players and graphic organizers, can also make a big difference in helping dyslexic students access learning, says Dr Stanbridge.
Dyslexic people are more creative
“This is a harmless myth, although there is evidence that a greater proportion of school pupils with dyslexia do better in arts subjects,” explains Dame Uta Frith, emeritus professor of cognitive development at University College London (UCL.)
“However, that may be because they find the more traditional academic subjects challenging and naturally follow and nurture their favourites.”
Adults with dyslexia may have difficulties in further education
“Higher education institutions and universities are well set up for dyslexic students,” says Dr Debbie Gooch, a lecturer in developmental psychology at the University of Surrey.
“There is a lot of support available for dyslexic students in universities and higher education institutions. Usually there is a [disability and dyslexia] department at hand and they are required to make reasonable adjustments, to ensure that the student has all the necessary support.”
At the University of Surrey, for example, all students have a personal tutor who can refer them to the university’s disability and neurodiversity service for assessment and support if needed.
“There are a number of things we strive to do as a standard of teaching to support all students, including those with dyslexia or other learning needs. For example, lectures are recorded so students can listen back later, and slides, materials and handouts are provided in advance,” says Dr Gooch.
Students seek a diagnosis to gain extra time in exams
While it is true that a dyslexia diagnosis can have some practical benefits, including access to Disability Student Allowance, many of the benefits of being diagnosed are psychological.
“Diagnosis can help explain long-term difficulties with a range of tasks. This is often a relief for the individual and can have a positive impact on their self-esteem and confidence. It can also be a huge support for them in terms of understanding their strengths and challenges and giving them ideas for support that can make a world of difference,” says Lynn Lovell of the British Dyslexia Association (BDA. )
Alison Davies, learning difficulties tutor and assessor at Individual Assessments, says: “Most importantly, for the individuals I work with, including adults, a diagnosis enables them to work at their own pace.
“Learning at a rate that ultimately builds confidence and means a person will be more willing to try new and different things, and have a positive attitude.”
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