DYSLEXIA

There is a common misconception that dyslexia only affects the ability to read and write. In reality, dyslexia can impact memory, organization, time management, concentration, multitasking, and communication. All these can affect daily life.

 

Maintaining Relationships

Maintaining a relationship with someone whose brain functions differently from yours can be confusing and frustrating, especially if you share the responsibility of running a household and family. Deep understanding and comprehension of dyslexia are significant first steps toward healthy cohabitation and family well-being.

 

Helpful Strategies:

 

Organization

People with dyslexia may find it challenging to remember appointments or judge how long a particular task might take. Setting reminders on a mobile phone for important dates or appointments or using a calendar in a prominent place at home or work can be helpful. Requesting text reminders for appointments from doctors, dentists, or hospitals can also be beneficial.

 

Fatigue

People with dyslexia often work longer hours to overcome daily challenges. When tired, they may have less energy to use their usual coping strategies. It's essential for their environment to be more patient and understanding.

 

Reading and Writing

Tasks involving reading or writing, such as making a shopping list or writing a phone message, can be complicated. These difficulties often mean that the partner of a person with dyslexia takes on more administrative tasks at home and school. It’s necessary to work with the strengths of the person with dyslexia, compensating for the additional 'administrative tasks' the partner may assume.

Some people with dyslexia experience visual stress when reading, especially if the text is small or there is little contrast with the background. This can make words appear unclear, distorted, or as if they are moving, making reading very exhausting. Changing the background color of the screen, using a dyslexia-friendly font, or larger text can help.

 

Self-Esteem

Many people with dyslexia have struggled with misconceptions about their difficulty throughout their lives. They may feel motivated to disclose their dyslexia. If they have not received good support during education or in the workplace, they might feel ashamed of their dyslexia.

 

Information Processing

Too much information, such as a long list of instructions or complex directions, can be challenging for a dyslexic brain to process and remember. Asking one question at a time or breaking down the information into smaller parts (e.g., 1 or 2 at a time) can help. Drawing a map or writing a numbered list can also aid in remembering information.

 

Time Management

Poor memory and a tendency to be easily distracted can mean that a person with dyslexia may frequently lose keys or phones, making it difficult to leave the house on time. Some people with dyslexia set their clocks ahead to give themselves a better chance of being punctual. Using a mobile phone or computer to set reminders and alarms can also be helpful.

 

Sense of Direction

People with dyslexia may have difficulty with spatial orientation, often getting lost or feeling nervous about going to unfamiliar places. They might also find it hard to follow or give directions and distinguish 'left' from 'right.' Technology can significantly support improving the sense of direction. Many phones have a free map application like Google Maps or Waze.

 

Daily Routines

Establishing routines is a good coping strategy. However, relying on a routine can make it difficult to adapt when that routine is disrupted. It's important to remember that a change in routine can have a cascading effect on the rest of the day, so planning is necessary.

 

Social Situations

In social situations that require reading (like a menu) or writing, some people with dyslexia might feel uncomfortable. If possible, try to be open about dyslexia. There is a greater awareness of this difficulty these days, and most people have some idea of what dyslexia is, even if it's only a limited understanding. If not, it can be a good conversation topic. Self-advocacy is very important for an adult with dyslexia: knowing how to explain what dyslexia is, how it affects them, and what additional skills it has allowed them to develop.

 

Concentration

A person with dyslexia might find it very challenging to process different stimuli simultaneously. For example, having a conversation with the TV on can make it difficult to concentrate on what is being said.

 

Time to Express Themselves

Some people with dyslexia find that their mind races, and they struggle to find the right words to express themselves or to keep up verbally with their thoughts. They often know the answer but need time to retrieve it from their memory. A pause during conversations does not necessarily mean that the person with dyslexia is not listening. They might simply need more time to process what has been said and think about what they want to say. It's essential to give them 'thinking time.'

 

Memory

Dyslexia can affect short-term memory, so a person with dyslexia might forget a conversation, a task they promised to do, or important appointments. They may also have difficulty remembering the names of people they have met or how to get to places they have visited before. Trying verbal or visual reminders, calendars, a whiteboard to write a daily "to-do" list or a "don't forget" list can help.

 

Remember: one way of thinking is not better than another. A dyslexic mind can bring a completely different and novel understanding to a problem or situation. It is crucial to respect each person's uniqueness and focus on their strengths.

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