DYSLEXIA

Dyslexia is a brain-based learning disorder that causes difficulties with reading and
processing written language.
Symptoms are often discovered when children learn to read. In school, children may
struggle to retain language, remember the symbols for certain sounds, and understand
the grammar and syntax needed to communicate in writing. While the condition is most
often identified in elementary school, a diagnosis can come at any time in a person’s
life. Dyslexia has no connection to intelligence—only to the complicated brain functions
needed to process written language.
Dyslexia is the most common reason for difficulties in reading, writing, and spelling, and
affects individuals regardless of gender or socio-economic background. It also occurs in
populations across all languages.
Causes:
Dyslexia can be genetic and research has suggested that a number of inherited genes
may predispose someone to develop this brain disorder. Other risk factors include low
birth weight, being born premature, and exposure to substances during gestation that
affect brain development.

Signs of dyslexia (Primary school age)

General signs to look for are:

Speed of processing: slow spoken and/or written language

Poor concentration
Difficulty following instructions
Forgetting words
Written work
Poor standard of written work compared with oral ability
Produces messy work with many crossings out and words tried several times, e.g.
wippe, wype, wiep, wipe
Confused by letters which look similar, particularly b/d, p/g, p/q, n/u, m/w
Poor handwriting with many ‘reversals’ and badly formed letters
Spells a word several different ways in one piece of writing
Makes anagrams of words, e.g. tired for tried, bread for beard
Produces badly set-out written work, doesn’t stay close to the margin
Poor pencil grip
Produces phonetic and bizarre spelling: not age/ability appropriate
Uses unusual sequencing of letters or words
Reading
Slow reading progress
Finds it difficult to blend letters together
Has difficulty in establishing syllable division or knowing the beginnings and endings of
words
Unusual pronunciation of words
No expression in reading, and poor comprehension
Hesitant and labored reading, especially when reading aloud
Misses out words when reading, or adds extra words
Fails to recognize familiar words
Loses the point of a story being read or written
Has difficulty in picking out the most important points from a passage
Numeracy
Confusion with place value e.g. units, tens, hundreds
Confused by symbols such as + and x signs
Difficulty remembering anything in a sequential order, e.g. tables, days of the week, the
alphabet
Time
Has difficulty learning to tell the time
Poor time keeping
Poor personal organisation
Difficulty remembering what day of the week it is, their birth date, seasons of the year,
months of the year
Difficulty with concepts – yesterday, today, tomorrow
Skills
Poor motor skills, leading to weaknesses in speed, control and accuracy of the pencil
Memory difficulties e.g. for daily routines, self-organisation, rote learning
Confused by the difference between left and right, up and down, east and west
Indeterminate hand preference
Performs unevenly from day to day
Behavior
Uses work avoidance tactics, such as sharpening pencils and looking for books
Seems ‘dreamy’, does not seem to listen
Easily distracted
Is the class clown or is disruptive or withdrawn
Is excessively tired due to amount of concentration and effort required
A cluster of these indicators alongside areas of ability may suggest dyslexia and further
investigation may be required.
Famous scientists with dyslexia
“Albert Einstein, the most influential physicist of the 20th century, was dyslexic. He loved
mathematics and science, but he disliked grammar and always had problems with
spelling.”

Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei (15 February 1564 – 8 January 1642 ) was an Italian natural philosopher,
astronomer, and mathematician who made fundamental contributions to the sciences of
motion, astronomy, and strength of materials and to the development of the scientific
method. He is known as the Father of Modern Science.
We cannot teach people anything; we can only help them discover it within themselves.
Galileo Galilei, Italian Mathematician & Inventor
Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) believed himself to be a dyslexic and admitted that it
caused him problems in school. However, he treated it as a super ability rather than a
disability and believed that it had helped him think in eleven dimensions.
Considered one of the greatest scientists of all time, this theoretical physicist,
cosmologist, and author of the Bestseller, A Brief History of Time, also suffered from a
slow-progressing form of motor neuron disease. Yet in 2002, he was voted as the 100
Greatest Briton of all times.
“The challenge of dyslexia is something that you can make your own and make it a
reason to be a winner in life.”

Bill Gates
Gates is the cofounder of Microsoft Corporation and, like Branson and Jobs, is also one
of the most successful entrepreneurs of all time. Bill Gates has been dyslexic since
childhood. In fact, he claims that if it weren’t for dyslexia, he wouldn’t have been able to
create Windows or DOS.
One of the richest man in the world. #6 as of 2023
Tom Cruise has dyslexia. He was diagnosed at age 7. He found it difficult to read and
concentrate in school. As a result. This problem did not stop until much later in life. His
acting had a huge impact on getting this issue resolved.
How Tom Cruise Overcame Dyslexia
As a child, Tom Cruise could barely read or concentrate in class. His grades were really
messed up, and according to him, he thought he was a functional illiterate. He could
barely read even through high school. However, at age 19, after he got his first big role
in a movie, he knew that he had to get this issue sorted out. He could also not read his
lines easily, and he realized that this could hold him back if he does not take the
necessary steps to resolve his challenges. Describing the position he found himself in,
Tom said, “I had to train myself to focus my attention. I became very visual and learned
how to create mental images in order to comprehend what I read.”
Thus, Tom Cruise sought for help and finally adopted L. Ron Hubbard’s learning method
of “Study Technology,”. With this study methodology, he was able to develop a good
reading and study pattern. He trained himself to concentrate on things. Nevertheless,
Tom overcame this challenge when he started acting. He had the support of his mother
who is a special education teacher. She encouraged him to pursue his acting career.
According to Tom Cruise, she kept saying, “You’ve got so much potential. Don’t give
up.” As a result, Tom had to learn how to read his scripts right. He decided to learn
visually. He would learn by creating mental images of things. This is not easy for
dyslexics.
Albie Casiño’s learning disability—dyslexia, was discovered when he was in first grade.
“I wasn’t able to read until I was in Grade 4,” he shared with the Inquirer. “I was good in
oral recitations, but when it came to reading, I had a tough time.”
Fortunately, his family was very supportive. “My parents enrolled me in the best schools
and hired tutors for me.”
He added: “You can cope with dyslexia. It’s just important for you to be aware that you
have it, so you can deal with it.”
Some directors allow me to use my own words, but others are strict about delivering the
lines as they’re written on the script,” he explained. In the latter case, he said: “I just
have to work harder.”

Regine Velaquez
“The whole time, I didn't know what it was.
“I have a feeling na I already have that kasi name-mention na ‘yan sa akin.
“Sabi ko, parang may ganyan ako.
“Parang hindi ako makapaniwala na I have such good memory and I can't spell. There
has to be something wrong.
“Kailan lang ako nakaka-spell dahil sa text.
“But, ang weird, sometimes I can spell the hard words, but I can't spell the word
tongue."
Patuloy niya, “Nang mapanood ko 'yon, parang bumalik ako sa grade school. Parang
nag-tunnel ako.
“Naalaala ko lahat na akala nila, akala ng nanay ko, malabo yung mata ko.
“Kasi kapag tsine-check nila yung book ko, kasi tuturuan ako ng nanay ko, hindi nila
mabasa yung isinusulat ko.
“Kinokopya ko lang sa blackboard, hindi nila maintindihan.
“Sabi nila, malabo ang mata ko kaya inilagay ako sa unahan, sa first row.
“Kaya pala hindi nila mabasa, bali-baligtad yung letters B at D ko and I remembered
that. Hindi nila ma-distinguish ang B at D ko.
Inulan ng batikos si Regine Velasquez sa Instagram nang magkamali siya sa spelling
ng pangalan ni Kobe Bryant sa kanyang sympathy post para sa American basketball
superstar na yumao noong, January 27, 2020. “Sad day [crying emoji] #RIPKobe” ang
nakasaad sa caption ni Regine, ngunit ayon sa mga naunang nakakita nito sa IG feed
ay #RIPCoby daw ang nakasulat.