Dyslexia is not just a reading disorder, it’s a condition caused by structural differences in the brain, and it’s often misunderstood in society. However, there are many examples of people with dyslexia being able to think creatively and innovatively. It’s important to correct the myths about dyslexia and understand it properly.
On the internet, disagreements between netizens often result in accusing each other of being “dyslexic”. However, people who don’t suffer from dyslexia often don’t understand the condition specifically. It is often misunderstood that “having dyslexia” means low intelligence. This social stigma can be very hurtful to children with dyslexia and can lead to low self-esteem. However, Albert Einstein is known to have suffered from dyslexia, and many of the myths about dyslexia are not true. So, what is dyslexia, and what causes it?
The process by which humans learn language is very different from the process by which we learn letters. While the brain naturally acquires language using a basic code called speech, letters are an unfamiliar code to the brain and need to be decoded. This process takes place in the brain’s posterior reading system, and it differs between people who are learning to read for the first time and those who are more experienced. Beginners are able to break down letters one by one and connect them to sounds, whereas advanced readers can read much faster by recognizing words on a word-by-word basis based on already stored words.
In people with congenital dyslexia, the “inferior frontal gyrus” is activated, rather than the posterior reading system. This area is responsible for pronunciation by controlling the shape of the mouth, the position of the tongue, and the use of the vocal cords. While the posterior reading system separates letters into phonemes, the inferior frontal gyrus does not distinguish between phonemes and perceives letters as whole symbols. For example, a person with dyslexia may recognize the word “apple” as a single symbol rather than phonemes, making it difficult to read unfamiliar or incorrect words. Real dyslexia tests also check for the ability to read unfamiliar phoneme combinations.
In addition to congenital dyslexia, acquired dyslexia exists, but it’s rare. There are two main types of acquired dyslexia: peripheral dyslexia and central dyslexia. Peripheral dyslexia includes dismissive dyslexia, neutral dyslexia, and word-by-word reading dyslexia, while central dyslexia includes surface dyslexia, deep dyslexia, and meaningless reading dyslexia.
Among the peripheral dyslexias, ignoring dyslexia is seen in people with right-sided head lesions. They ignore one side of their visual field and misread the beginning or end of words. Neutral dyslexics have difficulty with close spacing between letters, and when reading a language with phonemes arranged side by side, like English, they may recognize two words as a mixture. People with word-by-word reading dyslexia have difficulty speed-reading because they are stuck in the beginning stages and don’t recognize words based on prior knowledge.
Among the central dyslexias, surface dyslexia often occurs in combination with aphasia or dysgraphia. People with surface dyslexia can read words with regular phonemes, but have difficulty reading words with irregular phonemes. Deep dyslexia occurs when the left side of the brain is severely damaged and is characterized by reading a word and then saying another word that is related in meaning. Reading without meaning dyslexia is when a person can read words but doesn’t understand their meaning.
Depending on the type of dyslexia, it can be difficult to cure, but in some cases, it can be overcome by repeatedly learning phoneme-by-phoneme. Having dyslexia doesn’t mean you’re less intelligent. In fact, playwright Wendy Wasserstein won a Pulitzer Prize despite having dyslexia, as did Thomas Edison and Pablo Picasso. Andy Warhol, Leonardo da Vinci, and Auguste Rodin also suffered from dyslexia, but went on to make creative and innovative contributions despite it. People with dyslexia develop a unique way of recognizing and remembering letters, which often leads to creative thinking that is different from the average person. It’s also believed that their visual abilities are better than the average person’s.
It’s estimated that dyslexia affects around 10% of the world’s population, and 30% of them have symptoms severe enough to require treatment. Dyslexia is closer to home than you might think, and there is a lack of societal understanding. It’s important for society to have a better understanding of dyslexia and correct the myths about it. This will create an environment where people who suffer from dyslexia can disclose their symptoms and get the right help.
