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Learning the Dyslexic Way
Twenty years ago, when working as a psychotherapist, I had an adult client who forced me to re-think my values about learning and therapy. He thought and acted ‘outside the square’, had a bright mind, ever curious, a willing risk- taker and very responsible. He was well suited as business entrepreneur yet was having trouble with relationships. As a child he’d been labelled Dyslexic and ADD, he didn’t think it was relevant as an adult. Some six years earlier he had been failing University because of concentration and reading problems. At his third University he was sent to Dr Tomatis in France for program of Listening Training. He successfully completed his studies, after this ear ‘tune up’!
Dr Tomatis was a Parisian ENT who in the 1950’s saw the difference between hearing and listening. Hearing was a given, listening was self-controllable. It is only now that his ideas are gaining acceptance because he was crossing disciplines and addressing the issues holistically. He invented an Electronic Ear, which simulated a perfect listening ear, and hence retrained ears to listen. He described his work as Auditory-Phonology-Psychology, and envisaged a new study of the voice-ear-brain connection. His research and results showed how the ear controls the three neural integrators the auditory, visual and vestibular systems. By improving auditory perception, the self-regulation of the entire body, its’ ability to listen, language and learn is enhanced.
Tomatis re-defined Dyslexia and other learning difficulties as poor listening, a reaction to confusion of the perceptual system- visual, auditory, kinesthetic, rather than ‘just a reading problem’. Examples of sensory overload can be seen even in adults who may read but have ‘symptoms’ like: mixing up dates, times and miss appointments, dial wrong numbers, hate filling out forms. Depending on how high the stress levels are and whether the person can self-regulate will dictate whether it’s a passing problem.
The Dyslexic (also some Attention Deficit Disorder) becomes overloaded just by looking at text. If they can’t ‘turn off’ the confusion, behaviours like avoidance, intolerance, or frustration develop. Daydreaming, or ‘spacing out’ behaviours are generally more acceptable, however, it is a double-edged sword. To daydream in school is inappropriate, yet is a valued skill for creative thinking. To know you’re intelligent but different, which can lead to a lifetime of self-doubt despite obvious success. Self-esteem issues and psychosomatic conditions are ever present in both the person with a successful creative career and the person who developed anti-social behaviours.
I believe literacy levels, youth suicides and jail populations will reduce once we change our mind set and see learning as functional and holistic and promote this in schools. Dyslexics are natural leaders as functional holistic learners and have much to teach us. Resources directed towards helping all children learn in the dyslexic way will secure more children as valuable members of society.
My book "Learning the Dyslexic Way" outlines how the dyslexic learning style helps students to become successful independent learners. The book aims to inform, address community awareness of dyslexia as a creative talent, needing to be fully supported so that those who ‘slip through the net’ don’t have to end up mad or mad. We also suggest learning resources for parents and teachers.
Kay Distel is one of three Registered Certified Accredited Tomatis Consultants in Australia.
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