# Dealing with Dyslexia as an Adult **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 21, 2004, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-dyslexia-as-an-adult/230364 "2004-02-21T12:56:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-dyslexia-as-an-adult/230364/1 "2004-02-21T12:56:39Z")
Unlike [Brilharma’s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=240548) student, my dyslexia was never bad enough to be noticed. Due to a number of reasons, I was very introverted and spent most of my time reading. (I think this is why I don’t have many reading/spelling problems). Most of the mistakes I did make were labeled as “inattention” or “laziness”. These things I learned later were typical of dyslexia (switching around b, d, p, q; writing 62 instead of 26 - the more I found out, the more it sounded like things I did!). Though I made these mistakes regularly, I learned to check, and double check all I did. And this was good enough throughout my school life until I hit college. I noticed that the notes I wrote quickly (to keep up with the prof) were a mess - frequent misspellings! It’s so strange to be taking notes and suddenly forget how to spell a word - and just write the closest sounding approximation. The only one I can remember offhand is when I spelt “column” as “collum” but I know I’ve had to go back and respell words in my notes. Also fun is knowing you owe your friend $5.52, but telling her you’ll get the $5.25 to her tomorrow! That was a fun 5 minutes worth of explaination… As long as I can go slow enough, my work is good. What I’m worried about is when speed is required. I’ve heard that though I can still be tested it wouldn’t be worth much - I’m too old. I dislike feeling unable to correctly get my ideas/feelings/thoughts across - even this post feels disjointed to me. I dislike having my mom comment on my spelling as if it’s my fault I never learned better. I dislike calling SDMB or IMDB, SMBD or IMBD, respectively (or typing those in broswer - I love my dropdown menu!). I’m hoping that others will either have gone through something similar or know someone else who did and might be able to give me some advice. I thank you in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Farmwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8dc957/32.png) [@Farmwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmwoman)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-dyslexia-as-an-adult/230364/2 "2004-02-21T13:21:47Z")
I posted a couple of links on that thread to work done by Ron Davis. [Here](http://www.ipn.at/ipn.asp?BFU) is another page describing the program. I can’t say enough good things about _The Gift of Dyslexia_. If you are dyslexic (and the book contains a simple diagnostic) you may find some relief. If you’re not, you’ll know more about the condition when you’re done…and may end up feeling a little jealous. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dealing-with-dyslexia-as-an-adult/230364/3 "2004-02-21T14:12:44Z")
I do all that stuff too. And I write pretty much any letter any which way. I had special classes in elementary school but I don’t think they really knew what my problem was. I’m great at scrabble now though and any other word scramble kind of thing. My reading ability has always been good because I learned very early and it was stressed as vitally important. Problems became noticable when I was first made to start transcribing what I read. b p d q are interchangeable to me without very careful consideration. Things really fall apart when I am tired or rushed. Getting the translation from my brain to the paper loses a lot. I don’t worry much about it though. I think it is kinda cool.