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Parents may worry about how dyslexia will affect a child’s future. However, while dyslexia can present several challenges, if addressed and appropriately treated, there are no limits to what a person can achieve. This article explores what living with dyslexia can look like. We will provide four examples of well-known, successful people with this learning disorder.
Dyslexia is a learning disability and the most common cause of reading, writing, and spelling difficulties. It is caused by a disconnect between speech sounds and written letters in the brain. If untreated, childhood reading difficulties continue into adulthood and may hinder a person’s academic, social, and economic success and well-being. It is crucial to remember that dyslexia does not reflect a lack of intelligence or motivation and affects people from all genders and ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds similarly.
People with dyslexia often read well below the expected age level. This can show itself in slowed reading, problems telling apart similarly shaped letters such as “d” and “b” or “p” and “q, mixing up the position of sounds in a word, and mispronouncing names or words. Struggling with dyslexia can be frustrating and may cause anxiety and self-esteem issues. For example, affected students may be embarrassed and reluctant to read aloud in class.
However, with a supportive environment and the right approach, such as a slower teaching pace and the Orton-Gillingham Approach, individuals with dyslexia can overcome their challenges and be successful. Some even argue that due to different thinking patterns, people with dyslexia may be particularly prone to being highly intelligent or creative, as the diagnosis seems to be common for many well-known high achievers.
Even if action movies like Mission Impossible are not your cup of tea, it is doubtful that you have never heard of Tom Cruise, the successful Hollywood actor, producer, writer, and director. Diagnosed with dyslexia in second grade, he was often teased by his peers. As a result, Cruise felt ashamed and tried to hide his dyslexia, which only made him feel more isolated. When Cruise landed his first big acting job, he still found reading scripts extremely challenging. However, he did not give up. With the support of his mother and sisters, Cruise trained to focus his attention and began to learn visually by creating mental images to comprehend what he read. His determination to not let his dyslexia stand in the way of his dreams made him the successful man he is today.
Considered the highest-grossing film director of all time, he has directed many popular movies, including ET, Saving Private Ryan, and Schindler’s List. He has received numerous awards, including two Academy Awards for Best Director. Despite being diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 60, he faced many struggles associated with the learning disorder throughout his life. He was bullied and two grade levels behind his classmates in reading, dreaded reading aloud in class, and, as a result, felt apprehensive about attending high school. Despite these challenges, Spielberg never saw himself as a victim and learned to adapt. Although still a slow reader, he does not feel ashamed. He also claims that his slow reading pace helps him to absorb the content better. Spielberg wants other people with dyslexia to know that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Was likely never tested for dyslexia, but exhibited many of its common symptoms. Einstein had delayed verbal development and did not speak until he was three years old. He struggled with retrieving words until he was seven. He had difficulties with arithmetic and learning foreign languages. However, he also shared unique strengths with dyslexic children. For example, he had a profound interest in geometry and exceptional spatial reasoning abilities. These strengths, coupled with his other abilities, helped him achieve greatness in the field of physics. Einstein himself described his thought process as predominantly nonverbal, with a firm reliance on visual thinking. He also admitted that writing was a challenge for him and that he struggled to communicate effectively through this medium. Nevertheless, he became one of the most prominent scientists in history and received the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics. A perfect example of a high achiever with dyslexia.
He was an American inventor, designer, and entrepreneur who co-founded Apple Inc. in 1976. He served as the chief executive and chairman of the company. Despite facing challenges due to his dyslexia, Jobs did not let it hold him back or define him. Instead, he used it as a source of determination and inspiration to approach things differently and view them from a unique perspective. Jobs devoted a significant amount of time to studying art and reading books to overcome his difficulties. He believed that individuals with dyslexia have a distinct way of thinking, a crucial element in any form of innovation.
There are many more examples of celebrities who were high achievers with dyslexia including John Lennon, George Washington, and Leonardo da Vinci.
Ashton College offers a part-time, online, instructor-led course on dyslexia and the Orton Gillingham Approach. Students will be introduced to the signs and symptoms of dyslexia, common misconceptions, evaluation, and interventions. The course will also discuss current accommodations available to children and adults with dyslexia, current research, and strategies, tips, and tools. Learn more today
The information contained in this post is considered true and accurate as of the publication date. However, the accuracy of this information may be impacted by changes in circumstances that occur after the time of publication. Ashton College assumes no liability for any error or omissions in the information contained in this post or any other post in our blog.
