EYESIGHT NOT LINKED TO DYSLEXIA

Pam Smith

May 2, 2016

Many people believe that dyslexia is primarily caused by eyesight but this research carried out at Bristol and Newcastle universities explains that those with dyslexia are no more or less likely to have eye-related problems. The Rose Review (2009) states that the characteristic features of dyslexia are difficulties in phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed.

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2015/may/dyslexia-sight.html

Chapter 1

'Dust off your dreams hidden deep inside' were the words that hit me most whilst reading the amazing book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. These words resonated deeply. It also said: 'Connect with your dreams that you had as a child or a young adult.' Well my dream was to be a journalist which was totally ridiculous as I am dyslexic. I have always wanted to write a book and have had many attempts over the years. Due to my experience at school I was ashamed of what I wrote and when I read it back it would fill me with dread and disgust. Now I realise that I am worthy and actually quite clever, I run two businesses and have been successful in most things I have put my energies into.

If only I had realised this as a child or as a young adult. That is why I want to share my experiences through this book now and show any dyslexic people that it can be done, through showing them my life journey to a positive and successful life. It is often the case that dyslexics have been fed a negative mantra of being told you are stupid, dumb, thick, a dunce and ridiculed in front of their classmates. This is often far from the case, as most dyslexics have high IQs. This is still happening in far too many young dyslexics' worlds today as I have discovered with my young dyslexic niece and several people I have interviewed for this book.

Annette Dolan