When I was younger I loved to read those “I Spy” books. Each page had a puzzle to solve, requiring a careful eye to uncover different objects scattered in the photos. For me, seeing the picture and breaking it up is easy. I can see the big picture, then break it into smaller pictures so I can comprehend it all. I believe it is very similar to how most people read, especially when they get to a word they don’t know. They see the word, then break it up into smaller pieces, then sound it out. It’s easy for them to visualize with words because they have verbal thoughts. Now imagine trying to break up a word when you don’t have verbal thoughts; when you think in pictures, not letters.
How do you explain to someone who is not dyslexic what dyslexia is like? You have to use words—something a dyslexic already struggles with—to explain how you face difficulties with language. How does someone having an asthma attack explain how it’s hard to breathe?
One of the clinical definitions of dyslexia is “a neurological learning disability” (International Dyslexia Association, “How to Explain Dyslexia to People you Meet,” 2016). Dyslexics process information differently. It takes a little longer to process new information and figure out how to use it. Non-dyslexics have verbal thoughts (thinking in words). When one has dyslexia, they think in pictures. For example, when comprehending a reading, a mental picture comes to mind, resulting in skipped-over words or added words that magically appear. The next word in that sentence might be “puppy,” but a dyslexic could read “dog.” They see a fully grown, small dog in their minds, meaning “puppy” to them, even though to others it doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing. The process is quick, firing off in the subconscious mind, leaving dyslexics unaware of it happening (DavisDyslexia, “Dyslexia, The Big Picture,” 2001).
I am dyslexic. I am not ashamed of this fact. I am proud to be dyslexic. I don’t see it as a disability. It is who I am. Most of the time people don’t notice that I am dyslexic. Most of the time I don’t feel dyslexic. Being dyslexic is knowing it takes you three hours to read a page and by the time you’re done reading it, you go back to reread it because you didn’t even comprehend it. You know how to deal with this on your own. You just give yourself more time to do the reading. You also know that it makes you a harder worker, and you are proud of this fact.
People make you feel dyslexic and they make you feel like it is a disability. Feeling
I recently asked my best friend from high school if she was experiencing this same issue of feeling dyslexic at her college. Luckily for both of us, our professors are pretty un
Learning in a school where so many people express their intelligence through their speech, I am in a constant battle with the large words people say and defining the words in the context of a conversation, then feeling stupid when I make an argument us
ing smaller words that I’m actually capable of voicing. You’ve probably experienced that feeling of seeing what you want to say in your head, but not having the words to express it. Now imagine experiencing this every day in almost every conversation you have. Even now as I am writing this article, I can’t fully voice what I am trying to say. I see it in my head, and I feel it in my body, but I don’t have the words to express it.
When my best friend and I communicate, we don’t use descriptions to fully express what we are trying to say. Just saying “that thing” and using a hand motion to show the shape of it is enough for both of us to understand the object we are talking about. Because we both think in pictures, we are able to communicate with fewer words. When we talk, we don’t feel dyslexic, we just are.
Well written. Well structured. We liked it a lot.
Thank you Emma for your description of how dyslexia feels. My son has dyslexia and it really helps me understand. The brain works in miraculous ways that we are only beginning to understand. I truly believe differences in the way we think make us special and able to add to the world in unique ways.
Elizabeth ziegler
Thank you for your comment! It is really interesting to see how everyone views the world in different ways. I am happy that I was able to shed some light on how most dyslexic minds work. If you want to discuss more about it or your son has any questions please feel free to reach out. My email is ekoolpe@vassar.edu.
Dear Emma,
Thank you for this informative article! Can I put a link to it on dyscalculia.org?
I am married to a brilliant dyslexic and our son is dyslexic and repeated 5th grade, but he’s a mechanical engineer now.
God is great! Have you heard that in the spiritual world thoughts communicate and words aren’t necessary? Dyslexics must be closer to God. Everything existed in God’s mind first as an image and then He spoke it into existence.
I’ve. found that my husband (36 years together) can communicate with animals and plants on an invisible level, but the results are visible. Plants grow wonderfully for him, animals, fish, and even babies are calmed by him and respond vigorously to his nurturing.
Call/text: 313-300-1901
Hi Renee,
Please feel free to put it on dyscalcula.org! I am so glad you enjoyed my article.
Thanks,
Emma