Use simple sentences as instructions. Empathise with your dyslexic partner without displaying any undue sympathy. Encourage them to add special dates such as birthdays and anniversaries to digital or manual calendars or set reminders for them. Be cautious when your dyslexic partner shows low self-esteem or self-pity.
Texting can be hazardous.
Because of dyslexia, spelling is often difficult for me. I use spellcheck, of course. But sometimes my spelling is so off that even spellcheck doesn't recognize what I'm trying to type.
Although dyslexia is not an emotional disorder, it can lead to feelings of anxiety, anger, low self-esteem and depression. Anxiety is the emotional symptom that adults with dyslexia experience the most. They become fearful because of their constant confusion and frustration at work or an educational setting.
Allowing additional time to complete tasks. Explicit instruction in reading and spelling using a structured synthetics phonics program. Using assistive technology to read text aloud (for example, a C-pen reader or text to speech software) Providing sound charts and other visual supports to assist with spelling.
Dyslexia can affect short term memory, so your partner may forget a conversation, a task they have promised to do, or important dates. They may also struggle to remember the names of people they have met or how to get to places they have visited before.
Use sans serif fonts, such as Arial and Comic Sans, as letters can appear less crowded. Alternatives include Verdana, Tahoma, Century Gothic, Trebuchet, Calibri, Open Sans. Font size should be 12-14 point or equivalent (e.g. 1-1.2em / 16-19 px). Some dyslexic readers may request a larger font.
Many of the emotional problems caused by dyslexia occur out of frustration with school or social situations. Social scientists have frequently observed that frustration produces anger. This can be clearly seen in many children with dyslexia. Anger is also a common manifestation of anxiety and depression.
Dyslexics become fearful because of their constant frustration and confusion in school. These feelings are exacerbated by the inconsistencies of dyslexia. Because they may anticipate failure, entering new situations can becomes extremely anxiety provoking.
If untreated, dyslexia can definitely get worse with age. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you consult your pediatrician as soon as you begin noticing any of the symptoms mentioned previously.
Pastel colors such as peach, orange, yellow or blue are also suitable. Avoid green, red and pink backgrounds for text as these will be difficult for people with color deficiencies to read. Text headings should be at least 20% larger than normal text to help make them more distinctive.
Visual Thinking
Many people with dyslexia often think in images as opposed to words, which is attributed to the unique activations in their brains. People with dyslexia are also more likely to form 3D spatial images in their minds than non-dyslexic people.
There are many forms of dyslexia and not everyone diagnosed with it experiences reading this way. But seeing nonexistent movement in words and seeing letters like “d”, “b”, “p”, “q” rotated is common among people with dyslexia.
Common mistakes when reading and spelling are mixing up b's and d's, or similar looking words such as 'was' and 'saw', 'how' and 'who'. Letters and numbers can be written back-to-front or upside down. The most common numbers for visual dyslexics to reverse are 9, 5 and 7.
Those "trigger words" are the small common words such as: and, the, a, an, there, those, etc... These little words are used all the time, of which we have no mental picture and therefore constantly causes disorientation.
Dyslexics' social immaturity may make them awkward in social situations. Many dyslexics have difficulty reading social cues. They may be oblivious to the amount of personal distance necessary in social interactions or insensitive to other people's body language. Dyslexia often affects oral language functioning.
An often unconsidered and undetected consequence of dyslexia, anxiety is widely considered as a secondary symptom of dyslexia. Specific situations, tasks or events can trigger stress, anxiety and other negative thoughts in dyslexics.
Firstly, it is theorised that dyslexics may have high levels of emotional intelligence, sensitivity, and awareness of others' emotions because they frequently experience 'secondary symptoms of dyslexia'.
Many adults with dyslexia see themselves as more emotionally sensitive than other people. In its most extreme form, high levels of emotional sensitivity are both a blessing and a weakness. The positive features of this trait helps adults build meaningful relationships with others.
Another condition people with dyslexia may experience is social anxiety disorder. It has several intense symptoms: The fear of being judged by others. Avoidance of social situations.
Dyslexic strengths include:
High levels of empathy. Excellent big-picture thinkers. Good at making connections. Strong narrative reasoning.
Excellent puzzle solving skills: Dyslexics might struggle in the reading department, but when it comes to solving puzzles, many are pros. They accurately identify the right shape and figure out complex problems like no one else can ever do.
It's linked to genes, which is why the condition often runs in families. You're more likely to have dyslexia if your parents, siblings, or other family members have it. The condition stems from differences in parts of the brain that process language.