Dyslexia Diagnosis: Will it stigmatize me?

Will a dyslexia diagnosis stigmatize me or my child? Will the dyslexia label cause additional harm? This is a common concern about a dyslexia diagnosis.

🙋🏼‍♂️ 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

[aadarshsharma]

I was diagnosed as a kid, but my parents kept it from me for a long time. They told me when I was in 9th standard and I was relieved once I understood what it meant. for all these years I thought I was stupid but I am not. Knowing that I was dyslexic actually had a positive impact.

My parents did what they thought was best, and I don't know what my life would have been like if I had known earlier.

[ArijeAikedeHaas]

To me, it seems like we should probably be less worried about the label dyslexia and the potential stigma and instead focus on minimizing academic struggles. Especially since a diagnosis a can provide relief becouse of the acomodation you get after a diagnosis.

[breadqueen]

I think a diagnosis is good, I always assumed I didn't try hard enough and that I was stupid but once I got my diagnosis I finally understood that it wasn't my fault, this helped me cope alot better with my struggle

[timlagemann]

Personally I found that the diagnose of being dislexic primaly made me able to explayn to others why I was struggling in some classes (but I also used it as an excuse "I'm just dislexic theres no point in even trying" once I started to do some research what dislexia acctually is ( which no one ever botherd to really explane to me) I found it helpt a lot more and I stoppt using it as an exuse and startet to see it as part of my Identey (in a good way)

[elainekindred]

The diagnosis helps us to understand our selves better, but it’s not an excuse to quit.

[GoldenVulpes]

I wish i got diagnosed when i was a kid so i knew my struggles werent because i was dumb and lazy

[mamasrelaxation]

I think labels just help us understand where we fit into yhe world. I love the percy jackson and the olympians series has all the main havd adhd and dyslexia. So relatable fornkids. Ans you can just say hey your a half blood and wonder who your god oarent would be ?

[wkt]

There are different profiles and reputations (ie cultural meanings) of the word Dyslexia in different countries and communities and I think all these "verdicts" need to be put in that context. In the UK 1990s on the label had a lot of positive connotations - I'm so glad of that. In the USA, it seems much more negative.

So when we make choices about sharing that fact about ourselves -
I think we should do it based on some type of understanding of - what the word will mean to our audience, - how will it be helpful or hinder our relationship and reputation, and - thinking ahead how we might want to 'teach' what the word does and doesn't mean. - this includes thinking about how much time and energy we have to put in to advocating for ourselves, how willing the audience might be to learn/ or how much they have preconceived ideas.

In this way it is similar to conversations that happen about sharing health labels and dx - especially ones that are inaccurately stigmatised such as certain mental illnesses.

I think this is why the celebs at made in dyslexia are bothered to re-frame towards a positive view of dyslexia.

[Robert]

There are so many different ways dyslexia presents, you absolutely should not make blanket assumptions about how it will affect you. In my case, it is only a very mild inconvenience. In fact, it doesn't affect my reading at all. I just don't like to read.