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About the names dyslexia and word‑blindness

I was a bit surprised when I found out that, in English, the term word‑blindness exists as synonym for dyslexia. In Dutch, the equivalent "woordblind" is rather common.

Some say that the term dyslexia is better than word‑blind. An often used argument is that dyslexics aren't blind. Well, the colour‑blind aren't blind, they have difficulty to see colours or better, to recognise and differentiate some colours. The word‑blind aren't blind but have difficulty to see or better, to recognise and differentiate several words. The term dyslexia means 'without words'. That is worse. Not having words would make it impossible to speak with others, it would make verbal communication impossible.

As can be guessed from the above, I personally prefer the term word‑blind. It is easier to say and write. Still I find myself using the term dyslexia, probably because, in English, the term word‑blind is not so common and it does seem to sound a bit too colloquial.

As sayd on the home page, one of the problems of being dyslexic is the name of the condition. To spell it correctly is near to impossible for the people who have the condition. Most dyslectics will have difficulty do differentiate the correct spelling from possibilities like dyslectia or dislektia or dyslexia or disleksia. And as if that is not enough, to cause us an even bigger mental mess, there are the words dyslectic and dyslexic. According to one dictionary dyslectic can be noun and adjective providing dyslexic as an alternative form for the adjective while another dictionary says that dyslexic can be noun and adjective and does not mention dyslexic as a possible adjective. (dyslectic adj, n dyslexic adj - Collins English Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged || dyslexic, n., adj. - Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary -- both accessed on 2021-08-24 via https://www.thefreedictionary.com/dyslexics )

Something about Dyslexic people

It is almost impossible to define or describe a typical Dyslexic person. There is not really a characteristic by which one can differentiate dyslexics from other people. The things, the problems that make a person Dyslexic are actually very common problems. They are problems which aren't rare for non-dyslexics to have. The difference is that dyslexics have more of them as well as having them stronger.

To give a few examples. Everybody makes spelling mistakes. Many people make mistakes when reading aloud. Most dyslexics make many spelling and reading mistakes. Many persons have moments in which they find it difficult to concentrate. For most Dyslexics it rather is a part of daily life to have difficulty to concentrate oneself, especially on things of which others think it is important to concentrate on. For everybody it is difficult to understand others in noisy places. For most dyslexics, it is more difficult to understand what others say, with less background noise.

That is why Dyslexics have to keep up with comments like: "Anybody can do that. It is just a matter of trying hard enough." Well, many things that most people can do if they just try or maybe if they only try hard enough, for Dyslexics can be close to impossible. Just a few of them. Remembering things like facts, telephone numbers, addresses, data, things to do. Writing a page, a letter without spelling mistakes. Knowing something as simple as how much is four times seven.

Curability

Although some may disagree, most specialists agree dyslexia can't be cured.

I like to see dyslexia as a different neuro-mental configuration. We are born like that, we are built like that, it's hard-wired into us. That is different from dyslexia being a neuro-mental mode. A mode can be changed without rebuilding the equipment. A configuration not, if you want a different configuration, you have to rebuild the machine or build a new one from scratch.

With appropriate training a Dyslexic person can improve performance but will not become a non-dyslexic.

Surprises

Maybe there are one or two characteristics Dyslexics have in common. One is that while dyslexics have difficulties with things that are easy for most people, many things which are are difficult for most non-dyslexics easy for dyslexics. Another is that one can be sure dyslexics bring surprises. An example of such a surprise, I'd say, is a dyslexic who is a teacher of foreign languages. It is one of the reasons I started this site.

Looking around the web I couldn't find any mention of another dyslexic language teacher. I did come across the mention of several Dyslexic teachers of other areas though. Then again, when publishing this site in 2016, I am in this business for over 20 years already. This by itself makes it very plausible that there are others hidden around the world.