Dyslexics & Intelligence: 5 Things you NEED to know

Dyslexics are too often stigmatized as stupid. Let's unpack the issue. In this video, I offer some perspective on what intelligence really is according to some current research and what this means for dyslexics. I think we should consider how there are many types of "intelligences" and only few of them--only the ones dyslexics struggle with the most-- are measured in school. In the end, the mindset "you're either smart or you're not" is an unreasonable oversimplification that will stand in the way of the development of intelligence--for dyslexics and non-dyslexics alike.

🙋🏼‍♂️ My name is Arije, and I am a dyslexic with an MA in Education Studies. I aim to share all my tips for learning, coping, teaching, and more on my channel. My aim is to help you understand what dyslexia is and how to work with those that have it. Because I believe that, as the most common hidden learning disability, dyslexia needs to be seen to be understood.

COACHING & CONSULTATION

✅ Even though English is not my native language, I wrote my entire MA thesis and worked at full professional capacity in the English language. Because of my premium Grammarly account, I felt confident enough to do that without worrying too much about my spelling. I think it is a must-have for dyslexics!

📚 Here's some of the literature I consulted to create this video:
Fathi-Ashtiani, A. and K. Ahmadi (2006). "Verbal and non-verbal intelligence: dyslexic-dysgraphic students and normal students." Archives of Medical Science 2(1): 42.
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Washington, DC.

[Mai-idfw]

We should stop allowing school to think for us and telling us what is right/normal. So many students with dyslexia are left without knowing what great gifts they have to deliver to this whole world. I wish that never punished me for being different. 😢 thanks for this video! It shows we have lots of potential :)

[yardana]

I love the insight about measuring different types of intelligences- a big part of schools problems these days

[tanithfaye]

Your videos are something I've found recently. As a fellow dyslexic all my life I've felt dummer, slower and more stupid than others my age. I've rarely been allowed to see the benefits, especially as you said, the schooling system doesn't value anything other than language or mathematical skills. Finding that there's a channel purely about dyslexia and all those other disorders, coming from research and a representative is so uplifting. It makes me feel heard and to think that there actually are benefits, that can finally make me feel valuable, as a person and their mindset - like I can actually add something to the table rather than just be a burden - it's amazing. Thank you, I'm so glad to have found your channel!

[toddmcelfresh]

Technical and technical in a nutshell! I was a diesel mechanic and quite revered, but as a parts counterman I transposed numbers all the time, and felt very stupid. I think you hit the nail on the head, and picked up my self-esteem.

[ELOmidnightblue]

Thank you for this. As a dyslexic tutor who supports degree apprentices, who often find out late in life they are dyslexic. These videos are being shared with them to help remove the shame that we endure through education as we are compared to nondivergent learners. It is so important that they recognise that they are intelligent and brilliant.

[rubyreaves]

schools just don't know much about dyslexia...all the way to mental disabilities. This makes it really hard on the children. My grandson has been diagnosed with ADHA, Dyslexia, Post Traumatic Stress disorder, Bi-polar, and Autism. He is in the discover unit for the kids that have many problems. Each year they pass him after he went through two years of Kindergarten. He is 10 yrs old and thrown in the 4th grade...yet he can't read anything! In the beginning every day was a new day for him. If he learned to spell his first name...the next day all that knowledge was gone! He woke up with a blank mind! But I have been helping him on line learning technics and now he can write his first and last name, but that's it. I have enrolled him in Kuman reading program and I hope they can help him. Thanks for all your information on line. It has helped me with him so much...oh, by the way I am also dyslexia...runs in the family. Thanks so much, Ruby Jo from Texas

[Ashleemariee]

Can you do a video on dyslexic note taking? Specifically for college? I’m an undiagnosed adult dyslexic (my son was tested and now my whole childhood makes sense 🤨) .I want to go to college with new skills.

[djohnson]

Thank you so much I thank you so much for helping me out and I'm going to keep watching this because I'm still trying to figure out my dyslexia

[sarahkercheval]

It’s so important to tell dyslexics they aren’t dumb because I’ve heard this sooo many times and it breaks my heart ♥️ 😢

[gwendolyncrutcher]

This was so HELPFUL to me. I will be sharing this with my family & friends along with another video. I can not remember the video of yours I just watched last night. THANK YOU so MUCH. I did leave you a comment on that video I can not remember.💃🏽 💖🌟💖

[tyberiousbeck]

Hi there Arya. I'm a fellow Dyslexic. Just like to say that I love this video you've presented. Extremely enlightening to me & very informative as well. Keep up the great work my good sir.😎👌

[brittanywinn]

I am an undiagnosed adult dyslexic. After watching your videos I feel so validated in my educational struggles. I am 37 but if feels like a tension that has enveloped my life has been loosened. It doesn't change anything but it changes everything. Thank you.

How do I seek a diagnosis, I also now think that my son may be dyslexic too.

[AnastasiaShiyanova]

Thank you for your work! Very informative as I'm working on innovative studying projects for entrepreneurs with dyslexia. Good luck with other projects =)

[danmalone]

Memorization I would memorize everything, including what people say or don't say. This is why I did so well in complex cut overs in optical networks. It required the ability to visualize and memorize whole bunch of tedious little steps in order to accomplish a certain job.

[ArijeAikedeHaas]

Intelligence and dyslexia--What else would you put on my list?

[thelemoneater]

Supposedly I was diagnosed with dyslexia as a kid because in a mental illness test, I couldn't write an essay on a specific topic because I disagreed with the points I was supposed to make and I didn't understand how to make a counter argument, so I left it blank, but when asked about it, I had a bunch of counter points.

[owenwilliams]

Thank you for this. I’m turning 18 this week and I read my dyslexia report for the first time today (diagnosed when I was 12) it was only kept from me because its written in a way no one can understand other than teachers. It mentioned non verbal iq and a certain intelligence area was well below average and I didn’t understand what this meant, until I watched this video thanks so much

[kaisonferguson]

Also I describe my dyslexia and those who have it in general, that unless your Richard Branson or alert Einstein, its like our brains are an rubix cube, if you can match all sides of the cube you unlock your brains powers, and the struggle ends, unfortunately I've never been able to clock the rubix cube, magic mushrooms is a last resort, I here that when people take it your brain is rewired, your problem solving and calculation is not like before after just one treatment.

[maxineholder]

Hi, this was very helpful, I wished I knew about this when I was at school.

[jamesmoore]

Great video - thanks much. I fully believe dyslexia is and has been my problem for life. At 77 not much need to test, just curiosity as to whether I'm officially dyslexic or not, but all your tests appear to explain why school and college was a put your head bown and just push as hard as you can to the end . ... Ps - I got one line further than you reading the sample.