Dyslexia is a perceptual talent with learning differences.
"It is a compound of simple factors which can be dealt with step-by-step."
Ronald D. Davis
Dyslexia isn’t just about difficulties with reading and writing—it often comes with a unique set of strengths. Many people with dyslexia show remarkable abilities in creativity, problem-solving, and practical skills. Here are some of the common strengths and signs that can point to dyslexia.
Spatial awareness
Reads the room
Reads people
Strategic planning
Mechanical arts
Drama role playing
Music caning
Inventing
Designing
Manual skills
Art
Building
Athletics
Piloting vehicles
Logging
Driving big farm vehicles
Engineering
Storytelling
Dyslexia is an alternative way of thinking
Dyslexics think predominantly with pictures as opposed to the sounds of words.
Dyslexics are intelligent people who experience great difficulty with some or all of the following: reading, writing, listening, handwriting, spelling and mathematical symbols and linear time.
Dyslexia is not limited to literacy issues. It can affect a range of areas, including motor skills, organisation, focus, time and processing difficulties.
Because the root cause of dyslexia is not understood, individuals are often treated as though they are being deliberately ‘difficult’ and uncooperative or lazy.
Dyslexics think faster:
Picture thinking is around 32 frames per second (1,920 images each minute!!), whereas word thinking is the same speed as talking… around 250 words a minute.
Dyslexics think predominantly with pictures as opposed to the sounds or symbols of words
Symbols such as letters of the alphabet, numerals, musical notes and high-frequency words such as: the, and, is, it, etc. cause difficulty.
These words have no naturally occurring pictures that come to mind, compared to words like horse, dog, and cat, which we can easily picture.
Symbols and non-picture words cause the picture thinker to feel confused.
Try this: imagine an elephant, a house, a stack of books, a pencil, and your cat.
Can you see a picture in your mind of an elephant, a house, a stack of books, etc? Yes. Easy.
Now, imagine ‘the’. What did you see? A picture or a word – or nothing?
When there isn’t a picture for a word, this is the moment the confusion starts for a picture thinker. We help them resolve confusion.
The resulting sense of frustration and negative emotional reactions leads to low self-esteem and coming up with coping and covering-up solutions, i.e class clown, day-dreaming, dependence on others, etc. There can be a tremendous amount of shame, embarrassment and humiliation attached to not being able to read and write fluently. It is a dyslexic’s worst nightmare to be caught out and exposed in the workforce, school or within the family circle. They will often pretend or hide, or mask what is really going on for them to save face.
Disorientation model
To give you an example of what it feels like to be dyslexic, imagine sitting in your car, stopped at the lights. The car next to you moves forward; you put your foot on the brake because you think you are moving. At that moment, your brain is not receiving an accurate message about what is happening around you. You are experiencing the feeling of dyslexia or ‘disorientation’.
Dyslexia does not cause confusion - confusion causes dyslexia
When reading, this confusion often has a stress build-up, causing symptoms such as blurry vision or spinning letters. This inaccurate and distorted sensory perception appears at different times and in different ways for different people. Some days are better than others, hence the inconsistency of dyslexic symptoms. Clients are given orientation counselling. They learn to recognise disorientation as it happens and to use their focus tools to orient to the ‘true facts and conditions’ around them.
One of the most common pieces of feedback as we go is that words and meanings have become clear.
Claire's personal experience
Going through the Davis training was an eye-opener for me because I discovered how much of a picture thinker I was. Doing a Davis programme myself made me realise that my dyslexia was a strength. Yes, it could cause confusion in the academic or work world, but a strength in so many other areas. Now I absolutely love my picture-thinking and visual-spatial world.
Ron Davis says:
“Dyslexia is not a complexity; it is a compound of simple factors which can be dealt with step-by-step."
After my own programme, which I did step-by-step, I did some tertiary study using my new Davis focusing tools with each assignment. What a difference!
If any of this sounds familiar, do contact me. I am always happy to talk about dyslexia. I’ve been through it myself and now delight in helping others as a Davis Dyslexia Facilitator.
The Davis Programmes helped me understand my own dyslexia and how easy it is to operate in both the word world and my 3D creative world.
Once you have the tools to do so, you can switch seamlessly between the two when and how you need to. Davis focus and self-regulation tools are so quick and feel natural to use. Life is finally more relaxed and manageable.
Claire Ashmore
Sound familiar?
Dyslexia is an alternative way of thinking, primarily using pictures or images, that enables individuals to view the world from many different perspectives and in a creative way
3D strengths and abilities can cause confusion if applied to 2D activities such as reading or writing.
The Davis Programmes help you work in both worlds ease-fully!
Claire Ashmore
P. 021 145 5561
E. claire@growingchoices.co.nz
Cambridge