Encouraging Facts About Dyslexia

Does your child struggle with dyslexia? Having difficulty learning to read and write because of dyslexia can damage your loved one’s self-esteem. Poor self-esteem can lead to poor school performance and life choices. 

Board-certified pediatric neurologist Dr. Charles Niesen and our team at AMS Neurology in Pasadena, California, treat young patients with dyslexia with compassionate care. We coordinate with your child’s school to create a multifaceted plan to help your child develop and use their strengths and master adaptations to thrive in their school environment. 

While much attention is devoted to remedying reading and writing deficits, it’s important to draw attention to your child’s strengths. Help them find and use their talents. Encourage them to try different hobbies or sports. 

Whether it’s drawing, throwing a ball, playing a musical instrument, or something else, your child’s strengths can compensate for weaknesses caused by dyslexia. By utilizing their strengths, your child can have a fulfilling life. 

Following are facts about dyslexia that can bolster your child’s self-esteem. 

Strong reasoning skills

You can share this statistic with your child: 84% of people with dyslexia have above-average reasoning skills. Reasoning skills are problem-solving skills. Your child may be able to see the entire forest instead of just a few trees. Seeing patterns, analyzing information, using logic to make decisions, and seeing the big picture are skills that lead to success in life. 

Strong three-dimensional skills 

Many dyslexic individuals have expert three-dimensional imaging skills. They can visualize, form, and change 3-D objects in their mind’s eye. Strong visual-spatial skills can lead to successful careers in architecture, film, and fashion design, just to name a few. 

Two leading world architects, Richard Rodgers and Norman Foster, are dyslexic. Research dyslexic leaders with the skills your child shows to give them real-world examples of how dyslexia doesn’t preclude success. 

Excellent observational skills

Many dyslexic individuals can discern abnormalities in large quantities of visual data. Intelligence agencies hire individuals with dyslexia to help combat foreign threats. Cybersecurity and many other types of jobs use these skills. 

Memory 

Many dyslexic individuals have superior visual information recall. Recent MRI studies of children with dyslexia who have difficulty recognizing words show that they have a greater ability to remember and retrieve images than children without the condition. This skill is helpful in many careers, including investigative work, law enforcement, archeology, and others. 

Creativity 

Many dyslexic children are very creative. That creativity manifests itself in different ways: art, music, sports, entrepreneurship, and more. Richard Branson, founder of a multi-conglomerate, is dyslexic. World-renowned artist Pablo Picasso also had dyslexia. 

Support your child’s strengths while helping them navigate adaptations for schoolwork in situations where dyslexia raises obstacles. Call our office at AMS Neurology or book an appointment online today for help with your child’s dyslexia.