Dyslexia effects the ability to read and write, but is not a sign of poor intelligence and usually is not accompanied with other shortcomings.

Detailed Description:
The Gift of Dyslexia: 
Why Some of the Smartest People Can't Read and How They Can Learn, 
by Ronald D. Davis with Eldon M. Braun. 
(Perigee Books, Revised Edition, 1997)

This breakthrough book is changing the face of how dyslexia is viewed - and how it is remedied - worldwide. The revised edition contains added chapters on Spell-Read, a technique for teaching children and adults to read, use of Davis methods to overcome clumsiness, and an array of new photographs illustrating the Davis techniques. 

Part One: What Dyslexia Really Is 

Each case of dyslexia is unique because it results from a combination of an underlying talent, or predisposition, and from environmental influences and unsuccessful learning experiences. As a result, no two dyslexics will have exactly the same set of symptoms. Ron Davis describes dyslexia as "The Mother of Learning Disabilities." He explains why many other conditions have the same root cause as dyslexia. These include Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD), Autism, Dyscalculia/Acalculia, Dysgraphia/Agraphia, and Hyperactivity.

Part Two: A Developmental Theory of Dyslexia 

Ron Davis shows how the learning disability of dyslexia is caused by the successful use of visual thinking skills at an early age. This "gift" works well for recognizing real life objects, but not printed symbols such as alphabet letters and words. Disorientation is turned on by confusion, so the stress and invalidation typically encountered during the early school years compound the problem. Mental tricks are adopted to give the appearance of learning. Loss of self-esteem causes many dyslexics to adopt ingenious methods to hide their learning disability.

Part Three: The Gift 

Ron Davis explains that multi-dimensional thinking (using all the senses) takes place much faster than verbal thinking. Dyslexics also tend to be more curious, creative, and intuitive than average. They tend to be highly aware of the environment, inventive, and good at real world tasks. Their special mode of thought also produces the gift of mastery: once they have learned something experientially, they understand it on such a deep level that they know how to do things intuitively without thinking about how. 

CHAPTER ONE

Usually when people hear the word dyslexia they think only of reading, writing, spelling, and math problems a child is having in school. Some associate it only with word and letter reversals, some only with slow learners. Almost everyone considers it some form of a learning disability, but the learning disability is only one face of dyslexia. Once as a guest on a television show, I was asked about the "positive" side of dyslexia. As part of my answer, I listed a dozen or so famous dyslexics. The hostess of the show then commented, "Isn't it amazing that all those people could be geniuses in spite of having dyslexia." 

She missed the point. Their genius didn't occur in spite of their dyslexia, but because of it! 

Some Talented Dyslexics:

• Inventors/Engineers/Scientists: Albert Einstein Thomas Edison Alexander Graham Bell 
• Artists: Leonardo da Vinci Walt Disney 
• Military/Political Strategists: General George Patton Winston Churchill Woodrow Wilson
• Performers: Cher Whoopi Goldberg Danny Glover 
• Athletes: Greg Louganis Bruce JennerJackie Stewart

Having dyslexia won't make every dyslexic a genius, but it is good for the self-esteem of all dyslexics to know their minds work in exactly the same way as the minds of great geniuses. It is also important for them to know that having a problem with reading, writing, spelling, or math doesn't mean they are dumb or stupid. The same mental function that produces a genius can also produce those problems.

The mental function that causes dyslexia is a gift in the truest sense of the word: a natural ability, a talent. It is something special that enhances the individual. Dyslexics don't all develop the same gifts, but they do have certain mental functions in common. Here are the basic abilities all dyslexics share:

1. They can utilize the brain's ability to alter and create perceptions (the primary ability). 
2. They are highly aware of the environment. 
3. They are more curious than average. 
4. They think mainly in pictures instead of words. 
5. They are highly intuitive and insightful. 
6. They think and perceive multi-dimensionally (using all the senses). 
7. They can experience thought as reality. 
8. They have vivid imaginations. 

These eight basic abilities, if not suppressed, invalidated or destroyed by parents or the educational process, will result in two characteristics: higher than normal intelligence, and extraordinary creative abilities. From these the true gift of dyslexia can emerge -- the gift of mastery. The gift of mastery develops in many ways and in many areas. For Albert Einstein it was physics; for Walt Disney, it was art; for Greg Louganis, it was athletic prowess.

A Paradigm Shift

To change our perspective of dyslexia from disability to gift, we must start with a clear, accurate understanding of what dyslexia really is, and what causes it. Doing this will bring out the positive as well as the negative aspects of the situation and allow us to see how dyslexia develops. Then the idea of correcting it won't seem far-fetched. Going a step beyond correcting the problem, we can also recognize and explore this condition as the gift it truly is.

Before a dyslexic person can fully realize and appreciate the positive side of dyslexia, the negative side should be addressed. That doesn't mean the positive side will not surface until the problems are solved. The gift is always there, even if it isn't recognized for what it is. In fact, many adult dyslexics use the positive side of dyslexia in their life work without realizing it. They just think they have a knack for doing something, without realizing their special talent comes from the same mental functions that prevent them from being able to read, write or spell very well. 

The most common disabilities of dyslexia occur in reading, writing, spelling, or math; but there are many others. Each case of dyslexia is different, because dyslexia is a self-created condition. No two dyslexics have created it exactly the same. 

In order to understand the gift of dyslexia, we need to view the learning disability known as dyslexia from a different angle. 

Dyslexia is the result of a perceptual talent. In some situations, the talent becomes a liability. The individual doesn't realize this is happening because use of the talent has become compulsive. It began very early in life and by now seems as natural as breathing. 

The following physical symptoms can occur in people with dyslexia:

• problems with concentration
• nervousness
• muscle tensions due to stress

These symptoms can be alleviated, if one learns to improve the ability to concentrate and to relax the bodily reactions. With the PcE-Trainer you have the opportunity to help with some of the side effects, reduce stress symptoms, relax the body and at the same time improve concentration.

Stress is one of the main symptoms of dyslexia. The first three training tips deal with stress. The last one helps to activate brain activity directly. 

Tips to activate the left cerebral hemisphere:

Bring a sense of order into your life, plan the day's activities, do not talk about things you do not like, avoid sad music, movies, or other activities. Become physically more active by doing athletics, exercise doing math in your head, read a book, that challenges you and gets your full attention. 

Tips to activate the right cerebral hemisphere:

More than anything: give yourself more time!
Do the finger exercise and other relaxation training, paint or draw, enjoy your leisure time, look for a creative hobby.