According to the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity, children as young as second
grade may have low self-esteem directly related to their struggles with reading and writing.
Adolescents and adults who do not receive accommodations for their dyslexia
or other neurological disorders will often struggle with self-esteem throughout their
lifetime.
We are all created equally, yet uniquely. For most people who are diagnosed with
dyslexia, it is not the label of their reading disorder, but the frustration they face when
trying to learn in classrooms curated for average readers.
At Dyslexia School of Houston, we see how children’s confidence improves in just
weeks of proper therapy in the appropriate environment. Some students learn even
better outside of the classroom, like on the baseball field or theatrical stage. “Playing
sports normalizes their experience, letting them be like other kids,” says Dr. Sangeeta
Dey, Psy.D., a pediatric neuropsychologist at Northshore Children’s Hospital in Salem,
Massachusetts.
For many students with dyslexia, gratification comes in the form of higher test scores,
winning home runs, a successful recital or simply understanding the traffic signs in their
community. When gratification meets understanding, children with or without any
learning disability are guaranteed to gain the confidence they need to succeed.
Just like a flower will not bloom without the proper soil and gardening, students won’t
grow or blossom without strong roots. These children with or without dyslexia will all
grow up to lead the next generations. Let’s equip them with the tools they need to
confidently and compassionately lead us forward.
Lastly, here’s a gentle reminder for anyone struggling with self-esteem brought on by
the struggles of dyslexia: “If anyone ever puts you down for having dyslexia,
don’t believe them. Being dyslexic can actually be a big advantage, and it
has certainly helped me.” -Richard Branson
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