October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, and in honor for that I interviewed my brother to find out how dyslexia effects him outside of the classroom. This report is based on his answers.
Every day, my brother Mitchell wakes up and probably does not remember to brush his teeth. And unless my mom packs it for him, he won’t remember to bring his homework to school. Most people will think he is just forgetful, or does not care about academics. But the truth is that my brother has dyslexia. While dyslexia is classified as a learning disability, it often flows into everyday life. Dyslexia effects short term memory, self-esteem, and ability to retain information. Many people think that dyslexia only effects those with it in academic settings, but dyslexia flows into every part of an effected person’s life.
By not having virtually any short term memory, knowing what the teacher just said, or even to come eat dinner is challenging for a dyslexic person. When my brother arrives at school, he is not able to go to his locker because he is not able to remember which one is his. And even if he did find his locker, he would not know the combination. If my mom tells him dinner is in five minutes, we will probably find him in his room 20 minutes later. Remembering where he left his shoes, keys to the house, or even to put up the milk when he is done with it is not something that Mitchell can do.
Once he is in class, it is hard for him to keep track of where the teacher is in the notes, and where he is writing. The writing on the board is moving and sliding around, and is he has to look up and down for notes since it is easy to lose his place. By having to work harder to know what is going on around them, dyslexic people can often get lost in class and have to ask many questions. By feeling misunderstood and often confused, dyslexic people do not have high self-esteem. Dyslexic children are commonly teased for dyslexic tendencies such as mixing up opposite words, not being able to read out loud, or seeming forgetful. If adults struggle to understand dyslexia, children are not going to understand it either, and the self-esteem of the effected child will continue to struggle. Low to none self-esteem can lead to a child not taking chances or trying something new. This not only effects day to day life, but the effects of low self-confidence can be seen throughout a person’s lifespan.
Dyslexia goes far beyond the reaches of academia. Problems that arise in the classroom can cause low self-esteem, and this can prevent a child from trying new sports or rising up to challenges. Short term memory stands in the way of being able to remember when or how to do everyday tasks such as brushing their teeth, setting their alarm for the morning, or turning off the oven.
One in five people are effected by dyslexia, and understanding even a small part of what they go through is critical for them. Dyslexic people see the world differently, and by trying to view the world as they do can help them greatly in all aspects of life.
