Dyslexia

What do the following people have in common?

Orlando Bloom
Tom Cruise
Sir Steven Redgrave
Sir Richard Branson
Walt Disney
Thomas Edison
Thomas J “Stonewall” Jackson
Michael Heseltine
Sir Winston Churchill
Agatha Christie

They are all dyslexic, some mild, some severe.

The word 'dyslexia' comes from the Greek and means 'difficulty with words', and around 10% of people have some degree of dyslexia (mild to severe). It’s a common learning disability that has nothing to do with intelligence, and when we say learning disability it doesn't mean that you can't learn, it just means that an alternative method may be more helpful. Dyslexia is more common in males than females, can occur in people from all backgrounds and abilities, and genetic studies suggest around 50% is inherited.

If you think you might be dyslexic, talk to somebody who is supportive such as a teacher. There are a number of tests that can assess whether you are dyslexic and if so, to what extent. Remember, the quicker you find out the earlier you can get the right support!

The British Dyslexia Association Helpline Tel: 0118 966 8271