Expert opinions vary on how many people have dyslexia. Per the University of Michigan, it’s believed that somewhere between 5 and 17 percent of the U.S. has this lifelong neurological condition. Most non-dyslexics know that individuals with dyslexia don’t always see letters as intended. But what many don’t understand is what it actually looks like to read with dyslexia.
Letters Can Jump
One way to get a fuller grasp of the dyslexic reading experience is to visit Geon’s Dyslexia Simulator. This unique site constantly changes letters, which makes it very difficult – though not impossible – to read the text. This was based on the real-life reading issues faced by a friend of the website’s developer.
Attempting to read the text requires a lot of patience, and it can also quickly become headache-inducing. Imagine facing a similar difficulty anytime you needed to read or write something, and you can begin to understand what reading looks like when you’re dyslexic.
Words Can Swirl on the Page
The simulator does a good job of showing how letters appear to jump and change. However, this isn’t the only issue that dyslexics face. All of the words may also begin swirling around the page or become so blurred that they’re illegible. This can make people feel dizzy and disoriented. It also makes it borderline impossible to focus on the text in question.
Dyslexic Fonts Seek to Minimize Reading Issues
There is no cure for dyslexia. Some innovative problem solvers have helped make it easier for dyslexics to read online, though. The creations of special fonts such as OpenDyslexic and Dyslexie are used to remove some of the most common reading issues. They’re also intended to help researchers analyze the dyslexic experience.
According to Scientific American, creator Christian Boer’s Dyslexie font gives users the ability to read text more accurately and for a longer period of time.
For Some Dyslexics, it’s Equally Difficult to Write
Dyslexia is generally categorized as a condition that affects reading. As Understanding.org points out, though, writing may also be a challenge. This makes sense when you consider the fact that it would be difficult to emulate written letters and words if you can’t see them properly. As a result, some dyslexics have poor handwriting skills and may take longer than usual to write things down.
For students with undiagnosed dyslexia, this can be a tremendous burden. Taking notes is already a challenge for them, so trying to do this while a teacher is speaking may become practically impossible.
Dyslexia Affects Many Other Skills, Too
Dyslexia is generally diagnosed at a young age because it’s often accompanied by a long list of other noticeable complications. For example, kids with dyslexia may also have difficulty with spatial concepts, sense of direction and interpreting body language. When they do have to write something down, it may contain grammatical mistakes and spelling errors. This is in addition to symbols, numbers, and letters often being written out of order.
Famous Dyslexics
Dyslexia is undoubtedly challenging, but this doesn’t mean that dyslexics can’t become extremely successful. Per Dyslexia.com, there have been numerous athletes, politicians, writers, actors and business leaders with dyslexia, including Richard Branson, Erin Brockovich, Jennifer Aniston, Albert Einstein, Walt Disney and Agatha Christie.
Here’s an infographic to give you an even better picture of what it’s like to read when you’re Dyslexic.
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