Symptoms of Dyslexia Change Every Day | The Literacy Keys

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Symptoms of dyslexia on a bad day

Dyslexia and the symptoms of dyslexia are often misunderstood, but as this insightful conversation from The Literacy Keys Podcast (Episode 18) highlights, it can be a powerful source of resilience, understanding, and exceptional resourcefulness. By leveraging strengths, individuals with dyslexia can navigate the world with unique skills that set them up for success. You just have to remember this when you deal with symptoms of dyslexia on a bad day.

From Reading Blindness to Resounding Success

Today, we know that many highly successful individuals share the trait of dyslexia. Listed below are just a few public figures who shared being dyslexic or are widely believed to have been dyslexic:

Whoopi Goldberg
Walt Disney
Anderson Cooper
Charles Schwab
Pablo Picasso
Jennifer Aniston

Part of their success has been an ability to leverage their strengths and natural abilities when deciding upon a career. Many dyslexics become entrepreneurs. In fact, up to 30% of entrepreneurs in the United States, are dyslexic. The distinct cognitive profile associated with dyslexia can be a significant advantage in the business world. Out-of-the-box thinking and creative solutions to problems are advantages in business.

It's more than reading

While the core challenge of dyslexia relates to reading, the impact is much broader. The many symptoms of dyslexia can change day to day. There are good days and not-so-good days. A “bad dyslexic day,” result when cognitive processes slow down and become more difficult. This is what is meant when we say symptoms of dyslexia on a bad day. External factors such as stress and lack of sleep can exacerbate the situation. These moments illustrate how high-stakes, single-event assessments like AP Exams can be disproportionately challenging for dyslexic students.

Symptoms of Dyslexia on a Bad Day can look like:

Difficulty with Word Recognition and Comprehension: One speaker described seeing a word like “engagement” and having to read it four or five times to comprehend that one word.
Increased Mental Fatigue: The brain is working much harder to process information and recall compensatory mechanisms, leaving the individual feeling slower and mentally tired.
Difficulty with Recall: Even simple tasks, like recalling a math formula, can become harder because the brain is exhausted from the excessive processing required for reading.

Is there a silver lining?

Dyslexics often possess exceptional, non-traditional skills, which can become powerful tools when leveraged correctly. It’s important to leverage strengths by focusing on areas of natural talent. After all, success is a self-perpetuating cycle in which the better you are at something, the more time you put into it, and over time, the more expert you become.

High Observational and Analytical Skills: The ability to intuitively analyze interactions and recognize the vibe in a room is a skill set invaluable for communications and social intelligence.
Spatial Recognition: A powerful ability to visualize and manipulate objects in 3D space. This includes being able to flip a letter or a shape horizontally and vertically in their mind effortlessly. This skill is a tremendous asset in fields like architecture and design, helping individuals conceive and foresee all the elements of a structure before it’s put to paper.
Resilience and Resourcefulness: having consistently faced and overcome learning and academic hurdles, many individuals with dyslexia develop a profound sense of resilience and resourcefulness.

Career and Technical Pathways

For those who choose to jump straight into the workforce, or who decide to make a shift later in life:

Embrace Flexibility: View careers in five to ten-year increments, not as a 40-year sentence. Never be afraid to change if you feel burned out or are intrigued by a new challenge.
Vocational Focus: If you like working with your hands or building things, leverage that! Vocational and trade careers can be incredibly rewarding alternatives to a four-year college track.
Self-Assessment: Take the time to understand your strengths. Determine if you are a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner and let that understanding guide you toward effective learning methods.

A Higher Educational Pathway

Look Beyond the Final Exam: When selecting courses or universities, look for programs that prioritize a variety of assessment methods. Programs that incorporate group projects, individual assignments, presentations, pop quizzes, and midterms distribute the weight of the grade, preventing one bad day from being the sole determinant of success.
Keep a Big Picture on Grades: While important, grades aren’t everything. After your first job, no one ever asks what your grade was in Statistics (unless your an Actuary). The real value is in learning information and developing skills that are applicable to your career.
The Dropout Problem: It’s essential to commit to finishing. Statistically, only about 60% of students graduate from college in six years. The other 40% who drop out are often left with student debt and no degree—a situation worse than not having attended at all.

In Summary

Dyslexia is a challenge! Managing the symptoms of dyslexia on a bad day can be frustrating but it can also be a profound source of unique mental abilities and problem solving skills. By leveraging strengths, individuals with dyslexia can become industry-leading innovators. They just have to get through school first.

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