Dyslexia is a condition in which the dyslexic person sees things differently from other people. It is based on the interpretation by the brain of signals received from the eyes. It frequently causes problems with reading and manipulating the written symbols for words and numbers.
According to statistics on dyslexia, approximately 10% of the total population has some form and degree of dyslexia.
School age children are now routinely screened for this, but most of those of us who graduated from elementary school more than about 15 years ago have never been screened or tested.
These statistics on dyslexia mean that there are millions of adult dyslexics out there. 95% of these do not know that dyslexia is the root cause of their problems with reading and manipulating the symbols used for words and numbers. They all desperately need to take an adult dyslexia test, but they don’t know it…
Most of what we now know about dyslexia, we have learned in the last 15-25 years. Before that our educational systems made life very difficult for dyslexic students. They were unfairly branded as “slow learners” or “underachievers”. Dyslexics are not stupid, not mentally impaired. They just see things and learn things differently from non-dyslexics.
Most were embarrassed by their problems and tried to hide them, many developed elaborate defense mechanisms, like avoiding any situation or job or activity that might require that they read something or be required to read aloud. These defense mechanisms are still mostly in place; makes adult dyslexics hard to find.
If these people could be found now and encouraged to take an adult dyslexia test, their dyslexia could be diagnosed and they could be helped to overcome their dyslexix problems and lead normal, more fulfilling lives.
Furthermore, there are now ways of treating dyslexia. For example, a British businessman, has recently developed a new way of treating dyslexia. The treatment has proven 80+% effective in the tests run. Subjects have overcome their prevlearning problems, symptoms have disappeared.
Adults with dyslexia just need a bit of special training to learn how to deal with and overcome any problems associated with dyslexia. Once tested and diagnosed, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities to them, including how to use the gifts of dyslexia. Yes, the “gift of dyslexia” is shared by many famous dyslexics like actor Tom Cruise, Singer-actress Cher, entrepreneur businessman Sir Richard Branson and hundreds of others.
Disclaimer: This posting is based on information freely available in the popular press and medical journals that deal with dyslexia. Nothing herein is intended to be or should be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice the reader should consult with his or her physician or other medical specialist.
- Jorge G. Chavez
