Reading, Writing & All That Stuff

Have you ever felt that reading, writing or spelling as an adult feels more complicated than anyone realises? In this episode of the Truth About Dyslexia podcast, we explore dyslexia in adults and why it's much more than simply mixing up letters. If you’re curious about the words we trip over and why this happens, you've come to the right place.

We’ll talk about how reading and writing challenges show up, which words are the trickiest and how these hurdles affect self-esteem in everyday life. But we also delve deeper into dyslexia’s lesser-known aspects, so you don’t leave thinking it’s just about letters. Let’s jump right in.

Reading Is Only One Part

When many people hear the word “dyslexia” they instantly think about letters being reversed or jumbled. Yes, that happens. Though for a lot of adults with dyslexia, it’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle.

Reading can be tiring. You start a line, get to the end and then realise your mind wandered. Spelling might still feel hit or miss. You might rely on spell check more than you’d like. Yet it's important to remember these are only surface-level symptoms, and they vary greatly from person to person.

Sometimes, accepting that we're not alone in these struggles is half the battle. Dyslexia doesn’t vanish after leaving school. Many adults have their own coping tactics, though it’s easy to feel singled out if you’re unsure what to call it. Reading is part of the story, but there’s a lot more to dyslexia.

The Challenge of Trigger Words

We know all words are not created equal. Some words act like triggers, stopping us in our tracks. They’re often short, simple words that seem obvious to others, like “of,” “was” or “they.” These can be elusive because they lack clear images in our minds.

In this episode, we discuss how identifying these troublemakers can help. As one listener put it:

“One of the biggest misunderstandings about dyslexia is that it’s just about reading and writing, but it can affect so many parts of our daily lives.”

If these tiny words keep tripping you up, you’re not alone. We explore how building awareness around them, then using helpful techniques like visual cues, can smooth out the reading process.

Dyslexia Beyond Spelling

Many of us have memories of struggling with spelling lists at school and feeling frustrated when tried-and-tested study methods failed. But dyslexia affects more than the ability to get letters in the right order. It can make it harder to track a line of text from left to right or to remember what you just read.

It also shows up in speech or in recalling new names. Sometimes you know you’ve just heard a word, but it takes a second for your brain to catch up. This can feel embarrassing, and it might lead people to doubt their intelligence, which is usually not even close to the truth. Dyslexia is a unique way the mind processes information, so it can carry a distinct set of challenges.

Yet it’s not all bad. The creativity that dyslexics bring to problem-solving can be a superpower. This podcast episode highlights those silver linings too, reminding us that dyslexia can spark abilities in visual thinking, empathy and out-of-the-box innovation.

Handy Tips for Everyday Life

One of the main goals of this chat was to share practical pointers and reassure you that it’s normal to struggle with certain words or phrases. A few methods we talked about:

• Mind Mapping: Instead of bullet points, try sketching your thoughts visually. This can help you see connections at a glance.
• Reading Tools: Consider reading rulers or tinted overlays that can improve tracking. These small aids can make a big difference.
• Audio Support: Use text-to-speech apps for emails or long documents. Hearing words often clarifies tricky parts in ways reading alone can’t.
• Embrace Breaks: Dyslexic brains can tire quickly from heavy reading. Short breaks keep you focused longer.

It’s also vital to let go of shame. Everyone’s brain works differently, and once you figure out what helps you, go with it. There’s rarely one right way to learn or communicate.

Takeaways

• Dyslexia isn’t just about mixing letters or poor spelling.
• Trigger words, often short and common, can present huge hurdles.
• Reading and writing can be draining, so exploring tools that minimise strain helps.
• Dyslexia also touches memory, speech and other parts of life.
• Finding creative workarounds can highlight dyslexia’s strengths.

Whether you’ve known about dyslexia for years or you've just started suspecting something is different about your reading and writing, there’s much more to discover. Remember, you can find the full conversation and extra insights in the podcast player at the top of this page. Give it a listen, and let us know what resonates most with you.

Ready to dive deeper? Listen to the full episode and see how recognising dyslexia’s hidden layers might just open up doors you never knew were there.