Journey Into Dyslexia – The Documentary

 Other dyslexia related  No Responses »
May 302011
 

In an archive post at businessweek.com there is a report of a study of 102 successful entrepreneurs in the United States. The most striking co-incidence among them is that 35% of them said they were dyslexic. When you compare this to the ‘normal’ rate of 10%, that is incredible.

The study was conducted by Julie Logan in 2007 and also revealed that this same 35% were the most likely to own multiple companies, employ more staff and were more able to delegate tasks.

The success of these dyslexic entrepreneurs was accredited to the way they grew up with dyslexia and the accompanying problems. Finding it hard to read and absorb information, dyslexics quickly learn to seek the most vital information and learn it, they rely less on having to go back and read something again. The other skill required is to be able to trust others, and reliance on others is important when building a business.

There is now a new documentary being aired called “journey into Dyslexia” that profiles dyslexics from different backgrounds. It recounts their struggle through school and how they managed to compensate for their problems as adults. The aim is to look at people’s misperceptions of dyslexia and the implications it holds in the business world and outside of it.

The documentary has been made by successful filmmakers, Alan and Susan Raymond and has just been aired on HBO2 and will be available On Demand until June 5th.

IMHO, this is a remarkable and enlightening piece of work and illustrates nicely the difficulties that growing dyslexics have as children. They are almost forced into thinking along different lines and in developing alternative strategies to cope with their difficulties. It is likely this ability to develop and switch strategies is instrumental in their success in the business world.

You will find other reports of compensated dyslexics on this website. Just pop the term into the search box. For more on this documentary, visit the film maker’s website at http://videoverite.tv/pages/film-JID-about.html


Am I Dyslexic?

 Signs and Symptoms of Dyslexia  No Responses »
Apr 062011
 

Well, if you are reading this and asking ‘am I dyslexic’, then it’s a possibility you are! However, to be sure, you need to get yourself tested since this reading deficit was often overlooked in children beginning reading instruction even by Masters in Education in elementary school and beyond. I’m afraid although the freebies may give you an idea of what to look for which is useful, to be truly clear, you need a professional consultation. The primary reason for this is that we are all different, and although dyslexia is a global term, it has many sub-types that manifest in different ways. It should then come as no surprise that the way that dyslexics may be helped will also differ. There is little point trying to get someone to do the backstroke when they can’t swim! Same with dyslexia remediation programs, they need to be tailored to the individual.

Here, we are just going to give you a selection of some of the possible signs of dyslexia that may seem out of the ordinary.

1. Do you make a lot of mistakes when writing cheques?
2. When making a phone call, do you often mix the numbers up when you dial and/or find it difficult to take messages and record them correctly?
3. Are you a bad speller?
4. Do you frequently find yourself mixing up dates and times and miss appointments.
5. Do you avoid filling out forms as you find them confusing?
6. Do you think you take longer to read a page in a book than other people?
7. Did you find learning your multiplication tables really hard?
8. Can you recite the months of the year out loud and fluently?
9. When reading long words, do you find it hard to get the correct sounds and to get them in the right order?
10. When following directions, do you find it difficult to tell your left from your right?
11. Can you do simple sums in your head without resorting to using your fingers?

So, “am I dyslexic”? If you answer ‘yes’ to the majority of the above, then this is likely.

Please remember this is only a quick dyslexia screening test, it is not a professional assessment and only indicates a pre-disposition towards dyslexia. Of some interest is that many online RN to BSN programs are now stressing the importance of having nurses know the symptoms of dyslexia in grade school children, this is to help prevent any long term educational losses.

The next step should be a professional assessment that you can get via many local education departments or via a dyslexia organisation. They won’t be cheap I’m afraid, and if they offer a remediation program, that won’t be cheap either.

However, if you are still worried about taking that step and want a little more confirmation first, try one of the online dyslexia tests that you have to pay for. The reason for this is that some of these online tests have a lot more research behind them and have been developed by accredited professionals in the field. One such test can be found by CLICKING HERE. These tests are impersonal, so no one will make you feel silly. That said, there is no reason why you should feel embarrassed at a professional testing, you are expected to have difficulty with certain things and no one is going to be judging you.

So, am I dyslexic? Take the plunge, and change your life today.

What is Dyslexia Screening?

 test for dyslexia  No Responses »
May 032010
 

Dyslexia Screening Test

Dyslexia screening is a method used to see whether you may have dyslexia. A positive dyslexia screening test may not mean you have dyslexia, just that there is a possibility you could have.

The fact that you looking for a dyslexia screening test indicates that you think you have a reading problem, but probably wish for some sort of confirmation before you take the step of approaching a professional body for a more formal assessment.

A dyslexia screening test will ask you to perform certain tasks to investigate what your particular problem is. These may involve rhyming tasks such as being asked to say what word rhymes with ‘cat’ from ‘fit’, ‘mat’ or ‘bar’ for example. You may be asked to spell spoken words and it may also surprise you by having number tasks as well, as this is often found alongside reading problems.

The word ‘dyslexia’ tends to be used to encompass all the different types of reading problems. But within the term, you must understand that there are different types of reading problems. These problems will show different symptoms in how you read.

Broadly speaking, it is possible you have more problems with words that do not follow the traditional spelling-to-sound rules, such as ‘steak’, but you can read made-up words such as ‘shulz’. Conversely, you may be fine with words such as ‘steak’, but are unable to process the made-up words. The reason for this discrepancy is widely debated within the academic world on various grounds, as are the different theories of how we read. A basic guide to reading theories will be the subject of another article as this may help people understand the deficit better.

It gets more complicated for adults as, having grown up with a reading deficit; they may have learnt to compensate for it in other ways.

Thankfully, dyslexia screening tests can be found online and will offer you useful advice. However, it is important to remember that should the test indicate possible dyslexia, an individual assessment will be far more specific. Whoever the professional is who tests you, they will also be able to suggest tasks that may help you cope better.

Taking an online dyslexia screening test is a good way to avoid feeling embarrassed before you need to! However, you should not feel that way, as the professionals you deal with are well aware of your feelings, the years you have spent trying to avoid reading out loud in public, the other difficulties you have had as well as the courage it takes to try and help yourself.

Be smart, and get those questions answered that have plagued you for years today. There are very few online tests of this nature, but our recommendation is ….. HERE and is endorsed by the British Dyslexia Institute. Take a look and decide for yourself and find out in the peace and seclusion of your own home.

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