Why do so many successful people have dyslexia?

I have said it before and I will say it again: Dyslexia is seen by some as a gift. Over the years, working with young people with dyslexia, I have come to see why. People with dyslexia don't think along the same lines as other people. Brain scans show that they read in a different way, with less activity in the areas of the brain more commonly associated with reading and more activity in other parts of the brain. They support their reading by grappling deeply with the underlying meaning of the text, considering it from a range of angles. Thus, they tend to read more deeply than other people. They also find copying difficult, which means they have to find their own ways of doing things. Both these attributes means that they are people who are able to think outside the box and who don't just follow tried and trusted paths. Of course, turning aside from tried and trusted paths is risky but many people with dyslexia have learned that the recipe for success is hard work and perseverance. Things that may seem easy to other people are difficult for them and they often learn this perseverance early in life. So, if you think your child has dyslexia, don't see it as a negative, it can be very much a positive. Indeed, the sooner you and your child know that she has dyslexia, the better, as the sooner you know, the sooner she can start working differently. Do get in touch, with no obligation, if you think your child might have dyslexia, and we can arrange a chat to discuss your concerns. The downside of dyslexia is that some children never learn the perseverance they need to succeed, because they interpret their way of learning as being stupid, whereas they are really differently intelligent.