No one wants to be labeled as dumb. Whether they admit it or not, it does hurt to be told that you are not nor will ever be as good as other people. It may seem like people take pride in their failure by picking on those who stand out, but in reality they are only looking for a way to be seen. It is my personal view that no one is dumb, they just learn differently.
Dyslexia is a learning disability that has recently been gaining attention. It affects reading, spelling and sometimes mathematics, and is estimated to affects 5 to 17 percent of people who live in the United States. Dyslexia can be diagnosed in people at all intelligence levels, meaning you can have an IQ rivaling Albert Einstein and still have trouble reading the back of the cereal box. The disability can occur despite a good education and a relatively low-stress life. In this fast paced, dog-eat-dog world, dyslexia can be a speed bump in the road to success.
However, there are those who are able to overcome the difficulties of the disability. If you are fan of Grey’s Anatomy, you may be surprised to know that Patrick Dempsey, an actor who plays Dr. Derek Shepherd (more commonly known as “McDreamy”), has dyslexia. He was diagnosed when he was 12 years old and now he has to memorize all of his lines before shooting for the show or when he auditions for movie roles. Other celebrities with dyslexia include Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Keanu Reeves.
Symptoms of dyslexia can be spotted from early childhood through adulthood. People with dyslexia typically read slowly and with little accuracy. This is not to say that they cannot read at all, but not as easily as someone who do not have dyslexia. A person with dyslexia may also have trouble spelling, or will confuse a word with another similar word. Dyslexia can also affect an person’s organizational skills, as well as their concept of time.
Pronunciation of new words as well as following multiple instructions simultaneously can be tiresome tasks.
Sadly, there is no cure for dyslexia. This does not mean that those who suffer from it are at a loss. Dyslexia differs between people. There are many treatments and interventions available, but since everyone learns differently it may take time to find one that works. Those who specialize in learning disabilities such as neurologists, school psychologists and special education instructors are working hard to find better treatments for people with dyslexia.
College students may feel more insecure about having dyslexia because it can accentuate an already stressful environment. If you have or think you may have dyslexia, go to the Disabilities Services Office to learn more information about what can be done to help you reach your full potential as a college student.
