What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a neurodivergence of neurobiological origin that affects the ability to read and write fluently and accurately. It affects between 5 and 10% of the population and has no relation to intelligence: people with dyslexia have normal or, often, above-average intelligence.
The dyslexic brain processes written information differently from neurotypical brains: it shows specific difficulties in phonological decoding (the ability to associate letters with sounds and combine them to form words). This makes reading slower, more effortful and more prone to errors, regardless of the person's intelligence or motivation.
Symptoms of dyslexia
In children (school age)
- Slow, halting reading with many errors (substitutions, omissions, letter reversals)
- Spelling difficulties: persistent errors despite repetition
- Confusion between similar letters (b/d, p/q, m/n)
- Difficulty learning sequences: days of the week, months, multiplication tables
- Reading comprehension lower than the level of oral comprehension
- Avoidance of reading and written tasks
In adults
- Slow reading that requires a lot of concentration
- Difficulties with spelling (despite being a cultured and intelligent person)
- Avoidance of reading in public or of writing tasks
- The need to reread texts several times to understand them
- Difficulty expressing ideas in writing despite having them clear in mind
- Problems with quick note-taking
The strengths of dyslexia
The dyslexic brain: different, not deficient
People with dyslexia often stand out in areas that neurotypical brains do not process as efficiently:
- Visual and spatial thinking: the ability to "see in 3D" and visualize concepts
- Creativity: divergent and original thinking
- Big-picture vision: the ability to see the broader perspective
- Entrepreneurship: a disproportionate percentage of successful entrepreneurs are dyslexic
- Problem-solving: finding unconventional solutions
- Empathy and emotional intelligence
The emotional impact of dyslexia
Beyond the academic difficulties, dyslexia can have a deep emotional impact:
- Low academic self-esteem: feeling "stupid" despite being intelligent
- Anxiety: when reading aloud, taking written exams, or in situations that expose the difficulty
- Frustration: due to the gap between intellectual ability and academic performance
- Experiences of bullying or being misunderstood: which can leave emotional wounds
For this reason, psychological support not only addresses reading and writing difficulties, but also the person's emotional well-being. If there are associated traumatic experiences, treatment with EMDR can be highly beneficial.
Strategies for dyslexia
For children at school
Early intervention with phonological awareness programs, multisensory methods (Orton-Gillingham), curriculum accommodations (extra time, oral assessment, audiobooks) and assistive technology (text-to-speech, spell-checkers). Communication between family, school and professionals is key.
For adults
Digital tools (screen readers, voice dictation, adapted fonts such as OpenDyslexic), visual organization techniques, strategic use of mind maps and outlines, and strategies to manage the anxiety associated with reading and writing tasks.
If you recognize yourself, ask for help
Whether you have a child with reading difficulties or you yourself have lived with dyslexia all your life without knowing it, an appropriate assessment and support can make a big difference. I offer a free informational session.