Struggling with dyslexia

Posted on by Eric Klingenberg

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I was wary of writing this because I know in the great scheme of things being dyslexic isn’t that bad. I don’t have to take medication, it’s not degenerative and it’s not going to kill me. Well unless I miss read a warning sign or instructions.

Having said that it can be a complete pain the a$*%, especially when your hobby is writing. I cringe with embarrassment when I read back something I wrote months ago thinking it was well crafted prose only to find it had so many missing words that it is barely legible. I live in constant dread of being asked to read out aloud or spell something.

There is an upside to it, I have a very peculiar memory can remember things no one else can. It also means my mind works in a very odd way and sometimes makes interesting jumps.

Spell checks can provide hours of amusement as the poor computer tries to work out what the collection of constants is supposed to be. To give you an idea I spelt the first word of the title; Srugeling I did think of posting an article where I just pick the first suggestion from spell check it would be very surreal.

Enough of this self-loathing nonsense I have several articles I wrote a few weeks ago I need to decipher or I could just play a computer game…

33 thoughts on “Struggling with dyslexia”

  1. It is our little personal quirks that make us all so interesting! And anyone that can confound the blasted spellchecker is a hero in my book. I have a similar thing but with numbers – dyscalculia – and it makes me look gloriously thick on occasion.

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      2. If it helps I’m happy to look after your royalties for you to avoid distress. I will invest them in the local entertainment industry (the pub) on your behalf. I believe in doing on informal manner, I’ll just hand the cash to the barman. No need for any paper work.

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  2. My daughter and husband are severely dyslexic. As an author I find it sad that neither of them can read my novels (and no, audio doesn’t help either – both have a concentration problem) So many people think dyslexia is just a reading and spelling problem but it can be much more: a muddled use of words; not knowing the right word to use, or what to say; missing the point of things; unable to tell or judge time; lack of confidence (this is a big one!); poor direction skills – and one in our house: completely not seeing things that need tidying up, putting away or doing (and no it isn’t laziness!) It can take a LOT of patience to live with a dyslexic – but then I guess it takes a lot of patience to live with anyone with any disability.
    I’ve always looked on the positive side of dyslexia though – most dyslexics are extremely gifted, it might just take a while to find out what that gift is. (In my daughter’s case its horses – she’s a semi-professional showjumper. Typical of dyslexia, she can’t remember how to spell ‘like’ but she’s only once in about 18 years forgotten a showjumping course!)
    Eric – you don’t have to be embarrassed about muddling words etc, nor struggle with dyslexia. Embrace the qualities your back-to-front-wired brain has given you – and find a couple of good editors who understand dyslexia and are happy to help out at all stages of your writing. I can’t offer at the moment, but in the New Year I might be able to help out.
    Go for it mate – dyslexics usually have wonderful imaginations!

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    1. Thanks for the long reply. It has it’s advantages and like I said there are much worse things to have.
      On a side note I’ve been meaning to ask are you still interested in guessed bloggers for your site? I have an article I’m working on for you.

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      1. I’ve learned to train them now. I always get somebody to read my work first before I publish it. I’m also using ‘Grammarly’ but unfortunately it keeps picking up correct words and saying they are mistakes because it’s an American piece of software. So, for example, it will say the word ‘Colour’ is wrong because it contains the letter ‘U’! 😠

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  6. Hi Eric,
    Thank you for sharing you personal struggle to write. Do not ask me where I found it, but I found a desktop editor tool call Hemingway Editor. I am not implying anything, just suggesting it my be a tool to help. I am a novice writer and have so much to learn. Yet I have the personal courage to blog and also publish one book and working on the second. Hemingway Editor points out some of those hidden errors that can embarrass us. The only negative I have found, some of its’ rules are contrary to Microsoft Words’ rules. When there are, I stay with Microsoft. The experts keep telling us, keep writing. I follow their advice and I encourage you to do the same.

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  7. I agree with Vic lol the computer game sounds good! I don’t live with dyslexia that I know of but I do find myself thinking faster than I can type which leads to interesting fragmented sentences at times lol glad to have crossed paths with you. Thanks for the follow back I look forward to reading more 🙂

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  8. I know they say “never complain of a headache to a person with a brain tumor” – but I STILL believe in the value of dumping the negative thoughts out of our heads and onto paper – or a computer screen, as it has happened in this case.

    Dyslexia is NOT simply a scramble with words – brain processing is quite different in a number of arenas – so don’t apologize for having a “small” disability. It can be quite significant. Up side: out of the box thinking by default.

    xx,
    mgh
    (Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMore dot com)
    – ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder –
    “It takes a village to educate a world!”

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      1. BOY do I get the short term memory struggles! BIG deal in the EFD population I support (executive functions).

        Personally, I’ve had to work around kludgy memory buffers my entire ADD life! They suck. (Now why am I in here again? What was it I wanted to get out of this ‘fridge? Where and when did I put down my purse? What did she JUST say — to the end of the hall and than turn ???)

        There is a memory LinkList on my blog with articles about why — and what helps. (top menubar – easiest to pick the MASTER on at top, then click the memory LinkList from there)

        THEN there’s the number crunching in the head horror — I can barely handle a SIMPLE thing like “carry the one, then add it to 2 and 8” part of dinner math in a noisy environment like a full restaurant.

        I always tip 20% for good service, 10% for bad to keep from embarrassing myself further (unless it is truly LOUSY bad). Balance my checkbook? Well there goes an the afternoon – even when I’m *not* tired and it’s totally quiet.

        God invented pen, paper and lists for most of those problem ::grin:: You first have to be okay with using them – *especially* if this problem is relatively recent.
        ~~~~~~~~~~
        WORD FINDING: sherlock the arena to figure out how best to compensate — you will find the problem will generalize & escalate if you don’t. Stress pressure is lousy for the PFC (front part of the brain that does the work).

        Like this:
        Long words – short words – certain types of words?

        Is it words in general, or mostly nouns – a “naming” problem? Can you substitute quickly or is “naming” beyond you totally sometimes. WHICH times (tired from what)?

        People’s actual names too? People you know well but you stutter-step when you reach for the name to say it (like to introduce someone) or people you don’t, so you’re not sure if you have maybe forgotten their name?

        Recall only or recognition as well. (“Hand me the thingamabob on the whatsit” – or more like not being sure which option on a multiple choice test is the right one — or the meaning of a word you KNOW you know?)

        Recall in general, or is it mostly recall on demand (like, the word will pop in when you don’t need it)? Primarily verbal or also visual/cognitive? Do you forget the beginning before you’ve come to the end of long strings of text? ETC.

        THEN you will recognize the problem when it starts to happen and already have a plan in place. That alone will help a bunch, I promise.

        My Group Coaching shortly to be announced will tackle memory issues specifically down the line. Join the group, or keep watch and jump in for that/those month(s) only.

        Too long already! Peace, love and clarity of mind. 🙂
        xx,
        mgh

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  9. My son is dyslexic and also has attention issues and some speech issues. Certainly some things are incredibly difficult, but like you, his mind works in very interesting ways. He’s a joy and given how challenging writing is for him, I am extra impressed and thrilled with your blog! Congratulations.
    If you are interested in our journey, have a look at my blog!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by and mentioning your son. I’m sure you have already but get him to google of the successful people with dyslexia. I will definitely take a proper look at your blog sometimes this week.

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I'm a special needs teacher living in Devon England. I'm currently writing my first fantasy novel. When not writing I enjoy chess, reading, sailing and computer games. I'm married with 2 step sons and one grown up foster son.