Dyslexia Simulation

This dyslexia simulation can provide us with some insight into what it's like to be dyslexic. At the very least, it should create some empathy for the dyslexic and their experience. This dyslexia simulation is not what dyslexics actually see; however, it simulates difficulties in phonological awareness, which is considered one of the essential features of dyslexia. As a dyslexic myself, it is also important to me to tell people about the mental health side of dyslexia.

🙋🏼‍♂️ My name is Arije, and I am a dyslexic with an MA in Education Studies and I coach dyslexic adults. I aim to share all my tips for learning, coping, teaching, and more on my channel. For dyslexics, educators, and parents alike, I want to make videos that inform and inspire you to reframe dyslexia.

COACHING & CONSULTATION

Here's some of the literature I consulted to create this video:
Betz, D. and H. Breuninger (1993). Teufelskreis Lernstörungen : theoretische Grundlegung und Standardprogramm. Weinheim, Psychologie-Verl.-Union.

[ArijeAikedeHaas]

Yes, we dyslexics struggle with reading and writing; however, it is so much more than that.
One element that is not talked about enough is the mental health of dyslexics. But I hope a simulation like this helps people see that.

[Stardusk]

I have dyslexia and dyscalculia. While the paragraph was difficult to read, I have a feeling I read that paragraph much quicker than someone who doesn't have dyslexia would have. wild stuff.

[sherrisimmons]

I am dyslexic. I could read that pretty fluently with about 98% accuracy.

[garrybrown]

At age 45 I was diagnosed with convergence insufficiency. I HATED reading and still prefer to listen, watch, or physically undertake learning . Fortunately, I had been tested at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, by Dr. Barbara Guyer founder of the Higher Education for Learning Problems (H.E.L.P.) Program and was forum do have a reasonably good I.Q. and good auditory memory. Audible was just starting up and has become my lifeline.

[craigphillips-]

Thank you! I'm 69 years old and only realized after watching your videos, and that of others on the subject, what my lifelong problem has been. To some extent I have dyslexia, dyscalculia and dysgraphia. In grade school and high school I was labeled an underachiever (if not stupid). Yet I want on to be very successful in business and multiple CEO's said I was smart! The answer is somewhere in between, LOL.

I must tell you, watching this video brought me to tears remembering this moment in third grade when I had to read in front of a class. I couldn't, and it was traumatizing.

Oddly, today I can read a paragraph or two aloud with more calmness. At this age I don't have the pressure. (Don't make me read a whole page though!)

Your work has had a significant impact on me. Thank you again.

PS: I do find that large print helps.

[DavidJVMusic]

For reading class(all through school) if we were reading aloud in an identifiable order(like everyone gets a paragraph) then I would count how many people and paragraphs until mine and I would read it over and over so I would not screw it up. So I wasn't able to pay attention to the "story". Or I would try to pay attention to the "story" then when it was my turn to read I would only read the individual words, like a list . and have no idea what they added to the story... And I never "saw" the letters change or look different(that I noticed) but when I went to pronounce the word the wrong sounds would come out, lol. And my brain is like freaking out and embarrassed and anxious and my mouth to brain connection breaks. And trying to read a book ya, good times....(sarcasm)

[lovinglivingpurpously]

Ohhh gosh, I love your videos!!! So educational 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 I totally relate because my dyslexia is severe

[BlackIceDragonSalome]

I have functional dyslexia which means that I can read pretty well, as long as I don't have to read loud. Then I struggle horribly.
My writing skills are also not up to standard. I do make many mistakes if I have to write with a pen.
My severe ADHD is not helping with these problems (or my dyscalculia, which isn't even functional, I'm happy if I manage to do smaller additions in my head without a calculator)...

what many people don't know is that dyslexia/-calculia/-praxia and ADHD go hand in hand. So if someone gets a dyslexia diagnosis it does make sense to test for ADHD. ADHD treatment can help with these struggles... :)

[grandma_ashe]

Its funny as a dyslexic I read that gibberish well but if it was real words I'd struggle.

[ThalionJasDraug]

Thank you. It might be way easier to explain to non-dyslexics what it is and how people like me have to work.
I'm dyslexic and the fear of reading out loud is still in me. I avoid it at all costs. The stress related to it is overwhelming.

[willbyhalo]

Hi Arije, I’m a dyslexic in 3rd year of my degree in a health and social care subject. I love your content! do you have financial schemes for your coaching? I would benefit a lot from your support 🙏

[davidblaine]

Most dyslexic's try to read fast because they're such slow readers but I have found the key is to slow down pause at each coma and take your time.

[DouglasASean]

I am 40YO and dyslexic, I for a long time didn’t think I had dyslexia because I thought it meant you saw words backwards or something but I don’t so I assumed I was ok. Still can’t spell the word “dyslexia” without spell check though ha ha

[brightpeople]

I'm dyslexic. I have been accused of academic misconduct for using artificial intelligence during an essay. I will appreciate any advice on what to do. I did use some AI, mainly Grammarly.

[sivad]

Do you speak English, German and Dutch ? Your simulation at first seemd to me to be a combination of English and German. I have ad 2 courses of conversational German at a Universty.

[monki]

I read decently enough. I don't use a phonological understanding of the words. I don't sound anything out. Instead, it's more of a probability trick. I learned to read from reading hundreds of comics over several months. I guess the combination of words and images cemented a mental dictionary. I grew up watching speculative fiction and sci-fi. That gave me a large vocabulary. My brain associates the words on the page with the words in my memory. I only notice this happening when it hits a totally new word. "Oh, that must be ..." Now that we have computers I can check my guess. It's usually right. Unfortunately, this trick doesn't work with spelling.

[angrie-jzbp]

*cough*... i took your dyslexia test and scored a 7/9, and visited this. i read the paragraph with no mistakes whatsoever, but couldn't summerize it properly. I HAVEN'T BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH DYSLEXIA EVER-- should i be concerned?

[lovinglivingpurpously]

It’s very sad that there’s not much awareness on this subject

[TheButlerNZ]

I don't have much problem reading.. and i understood the example above... in fact I used to read the reflection off the glass behind the bus driver on the bus to college reading shop signs etc backward...
Where I have issues is... Left and right... My mind says "Right is dominant, so comes first.. so as I was always taught 'left to right'... I think right is on the left... to the point of having to think which hand I 'Right' with... (oddly Port & starboard, no problem.. learnt in my teens, maybe as there is less to confuse Port or starboard with.... 'There's NO RED PORT LEFT' is a great help too.

Then there's the Superbike champion that I thought had the name of a breed of dog, Scott Russell... because that's the world I live in.
I'm certain I'm undiagnosed ADD too as I am easily distracted, especially if uninterested and at work am constantly catching myself doing some benign task completely unassociated with the task I started and am supposed to be doing right now... (I'm an ex IT Tech and now a mechanical repair tech.. so multitasking all the time (poorly).

My dyslexia is Cats and dogs... (Not that I actually mix cats and dogs)... But I throw plastic at trees (Disc Golf) and constantly say Bogie instead of birdie and vice versa... (so now just say how many strokes(throws) I took to get a disk in the basket...
Often if there is a pair of options (black/white, up down etc) I often mix em...

But I own my own hose and haven't been hit by a bus.. making it to 55... must b doing something right to live with it.

(as for the ADD, I did a tournament of disc golf last weekend... I suspect I did an extra mile walking back to collect disc's I left on the ground.. lost a can of drink, lost my phone twice.. lost my sunglasses... Went back for a disc that was in my bag.. in a different place...

Did I mention I have anxiety.. and to get over that I am fairly laid back with a "Don't do now what you can put off till tomorrow, don't do tomorrow what you can put off indefinitely" attitude.
(which means my house is falling down and I put stuff off in avoidance until the last minute.. making the anxiety panic worse...

Sigh.

[evelynsaungikar]

Is English the worst language for dyslexics? We have so many random exceptions to pronunciation and meaning.