Dyslexia Awareness Month – Is dyslexia affecting you? 

Seven hundred eighty million people globally may have some form of dyslexia. A number that large can feel overwhelming. Dyslexia Awareness month aims to highlight this disability because it affects more people than we know. 

So let’s break down this significant statistic. 

This number may play out in a classroom; out of thirty students, at least one could have dyslexia. In an office of thirty workers, one worker may have dyslexia. At a boutique with thirty customers, one customer likely has dyslexia. 

It may be easier to see how many people have dyslexia daily. And maybe even you have dyslexia. 

Dyslexia may manifest in many ways but usually impacts reading the most. A reader may see words and letters flipped around and get confused while reading text. Science has revealed from brain scans of people with this neurodiversity that their language processing centers light up differently. 

Where does dyslexia come from?

Studies have found dyslexia may be genetic, especially because research has seen it run in families. If you sense you may have dyslexia, look into your family history. Do you have family members with this kind of neurodiversity? Maybe your family members weren’t diagnosed but disliked school or reading.

How is it diagnosed? 

Since dyslexia is a neurological condition, its diagnosis is not quickly done with a simple test. While many assessments can reveal conclusions that may outline a diagnosis or cognitive skill levels, getting viewpoints from teachers, parents, and other professionals is essential. A combination of a professional evaluation and an assessment may be the best way to determine a dyslexia diagnosis. 

Can dyslexia be cured?

As far as research is concerned, it appears to not be “curable.” Dyslexia is a part of a person’s makeup and who a person is. For someone struggling in school, this may seem like bad news. People with this kind of neurodiversity see the world differently, which can be a good thing.

Here are a few people who are considered dyslexic that have gone on to impact the world:

Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom is a Hollywood Actor known for movies like Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean and many others.

Richard Branson

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is a British billionaire, entrepreneur, and business magnate.

Leonardo da Vinci

Famous for the Mona Lisa painting and other advanced inventions ahead of the era.

Keira Knightley

Keira is a famous actress and played roles in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, Pride and Prejudice and many others.

Walt Disney

Walt Disney is an American animator, film producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the filmmaking conglomerate.

Albert Einstein

One of the most influential physicists in history who developed the laws of relativity and shaped the ways we think of the world today. 

Jamie Oliver

Professional Chef, bookseller, and TV personality who worked his way up through the restaurant industry at a young age.

Jamie Oliver Made By Dyslexia Interview

Sally Gardner 

Sally Gardner is an English children’s writer and illustrator who won the Costa Children’s Book Award and the Carnegie Medal for Maggot Moon.

Steven Spielberg

Steven Spielberg is one of the most widely revered filmmakers in Hollywood. He has won many awards across genres.

Steven Spielberg - Dyslexia Interview

At LearningRx, we have helped thousands of kids, teens, and adults with dyslexia and other reading disorders. We have 35+ years of experience assisting clients with reading difficulties, and we’ve built our programs through rigorous research and practice in this area. Today, roughly 1 in 10 students at LearningRx has come to us for help with dyslexia!

While brain training isn’t a cure for dyslexia, it has helped kids and adults with dyslexia become stronger readers. Our reading and reading comprehension programs include help with:

• Recognizing letters by shape
• Connecting letters to speech sounds
• Sounding out words while reading
• Spelling and vocabulary
• Reading comprehension skills

Between 2010 and 2021, we provided dyslexia help to more than 2,276 school-aged learners. After brain training, these students improved their learning and thinking skills by 3.3 years on average. Even more impressive, the average student improved by 5.4 years in Sound Awareness — the cognitive skill most commonly linked to reading difficulties!

(Results based on past clients. You or your child may or may not achieve the same results.)

Once these skills are strengthened, students can overcome any challenge they may face. It’s like they have better, more robust tools in their toolbox. 

Interested in learning more? Visit our reading and dyslexia information on our website, download our research and results, or contact a center near you.