The Many Strengths of Dyslexics

Nothing affects your chances at succeeding in school like not having the skills to read, spell, and write. This is, unfortunately, what dyslexia is all about. It can be the one impediment to achieving one’s goals in work and life. But, what if we told you that being dyslexic can foster strengths that can help you excel?

Some of the world’s great thinkers, entrepreneurs, celebrities, authors, and billionaires happen to be dyslexic. Here are some of the advantages that are reported by successful dyslexics that may help you along the way. Keep in mind that these are based on these people’s perceptions.

1. Strong memory for stories: Some individuals with dyslexia recall facts as if reading a good storybook rather than just as a list of random data. Having narrative reasoning on your side may help improve your memory and help integrate contextual information better.

2. Excellent puzzle solving skills: Dyslexics might struggle in the reading department, but when it comes to solving puzzles, many are pros. Rather than being a sequential thinker going from one idea to the next, many dyslexics thrive in environment that allow and foster simultaneous thinking in which ideas are connected via different routes than a straight line. This is why we see so many entrepreneurs with dyslexia.

3. Brilliant spatial reasoning: The scientists at the University of East London found that young dyslexics are excellent at remembering a virtual environment when compared to non-dyslexics. In this regard, many dyslexics succeed in fields like engineering, industrial and graphic design, architecture, as well as construction.

4. Great conversationalists: Reading words might not be their strength, but many dyslexics are quite profound in reading people when interacting with them. They will tell you exactly what the problem is and how you can go about solving it.

5. Tremendous empathizers: Many dyslexics, as a result of their reading and writing challenges, feel more empathic toward others who may struggle.

6. Wonderfully imaginative: Dyslexics can really envision a fantastic view of the world. They make great use of their imaginations, hence all the artists, actors, and authors with dyslexia. They have a keen sense of curiosity and interest.

7. Abstract thinkers: Dyslexic people often excel at understanding abstract ideas. They are good philosophers. They understand things that are not tangible, many of which are innate human qualities, such as bravery, love, and deception.

8. Think outside of the box: One of the more advantageous qualities in many dyslexic people is their ability to think outside of the box to come up with unorthodox ideas that are not only fresh, but lucrative as well.

9. Critical thinkers: Another trait that some dyslexics possess is their ability to use logical reasoning and use critical thinking to solve a problem.

10. Astutely analyze stories told or read to them: Because of their strong spoken language comprehension abilities, dyslexic individuals can be more skilled in understanding the plot of a story, keeping track of all the characters and plot twists than non-dyslexics.

Excerpted from “The Many Strengths of Dyslexics” by Jillian Petrova is an experienced educator working with an online academic consultancy. Edited by Joanne M. Pierson, Ph.D, CCC-SLP. Read the full post online on the Dyslexia Help website at the University of Michigan.