Mythbusting dyslexia and student mental health!

Mark your calendars for October 10th, 2024!

World Mental Health Day is just around the corner, and individuals and organizations worldwide are gearing up to highlight mental health support and campaign for a better tomorrow. Get ready to join the global conversation and make a difference!

…And October is Dyslexia Awareness Month too. That means it’s a vital time for focusing on the neurodivergent experience and championing dyslexic skills— because unfortunately, amidst all the leaps forward we’ve made in awareness and inclusion, some untrue beliefs still persist. That’s why this week on The Education Station we’re talking a look at the biggest dyslexia myths that still impact our students, and debunking them for a better, brighter and more understanding learning tomorrow. ??

1.????? Poor mental health as a dyslexic student just means reading anxiety, right?

??False! Reading anxiety means a feeling of intense stress or fear triggered by reading tasks, stemming from difficulties in processing written text. This is distinct from generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), which although might have some roots in their reading experience for a dyslexic student, usually encompasses a wider range of fears and stressors and has effects that persist outside of the immediate context of reading.

And as well as GAD, students with dyslexia can commonly experience other mental health challenges too, such as depression, burnout and stress.

2.????? Being dyslexic means poor mental health is unavoidable as a student.?

??False! Students with dyslexia do experience stress, anxiety and periods of emotional downturn, but there’s a lot we can do about supporting them through those low mood phases and anxieties. The two most important things we can do are ensure that they’re getting the right level of emotional support, either from parents and teachers or medical professionals, and the second is to ensure that they’re able to access reading support, which unlocks the curriculum, de-stresses reading, and puts those all-important grades in reach. ?

3.????? Being dyslexic means students feel things more intensely than their peers do.

??False…ish. It’s students who are Autistic that we often perceive as likely to experience things like emotions and sensory situations more (or sometimes less) intensely than their peers, or those with ADHD who find themselves dealing with rejection sensitive dysphoria. But that’s a big generalisation, because everybody’s neurodiversity experience is very different.

And when it comes to dyslexic students, some may indeed feel things more intensely than their peers due to the consistent pressure of working with dyslexia: when you’re in a reading-heavy environment for 6 to 8 hours a day, and coping with all those associated stressors and sites of anxiety, it might be something relatively small that eventually prompts a huge swell of emotions. Encourage dyslexic learners to be kind to their mind, and speak up to a trusted teacher or parent when things begin to feel overwhelming. It’s better to seek support before things get tough, rather than when they get too tough to deal with any more.

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4.????? Dyslexic students can’t reap the mental health benefits of reading. ??False! Whilst books might often represent a site of stress and anxiety for learners with dyslexia, it doesn’t mean that with the right support and guidance, they can’t develop methods to engage with them, and enjoy reading’s boost to mental health. Some dyslexic students enjoy being read to aloud, some find that using text-to-speech devices like a reading pen break down the reading barrier quite effectively, and some find alternative forms of reading, like those found in comics or video games, easier to access. The key is not to force engagement with the written word, and instead, support learners in building the confidence to try. Let their own interests lead the way, too— it’s easier to feel empowered to read about something you’re curious about than a book you don’t have any interest in.

…But what are the myths about dyslexia and mental health you want to see get busted as the dyslexia awareness movement grows? Let us know in the comments below!? ??