We know the human brain is hard-wired for oral language. But once humans assigned symbols to represent spoken language (the written word), our brains had to develop new pathways to interpret those arbitrary signs and symbols to acquire the skill of reading.
We also know dyslexia is neuro-biological in origin – in other words, the brain of someone with dyslexia or a language-based learning difference is wired differently. Although there are varying common definitions, dyslexia is often described as an unexpected learning difficulty in the area of reading. It is unexpected, meaning those with dyslexia have average or higher cognitive function and don’t have another specific underlying condition or injury.
In addition, dyslexia affects a large proportion of the population – up to 20% irrespective of country, culture, language, and world region. It has clear genetic links and often runs in families.
It is relatively recent that society put so much value on literacy or the ability to read and write. As reading and writing became more important to modern life, dyslexia became viewed as a brain ‘disorder’ instead of a brain ‘attribute’. Literacy provides access to influence and power. If you are unable to read, there are a myriad of negative consequences.
We all know literacy is indispensable but, what about other traits developed by those with a dyslexic human brain?
How did the brain adjust to compensate? Recent new research suggests people with dyslexia are specialists in exploration and curiosity. This ‘explorative bias’, as some researchers describe it, played a critical role in human survival by helping humans adapt to changing environments. As humans evolved, there were enormous and complex environmental and other challenges requiring the development of different skills and strengths. Some humans excelled in the area of exploration and discovery while others excelled in refinement and efficiency.
Today, certain skills and strengths are becoming more important to the workplace. In an ever changing and dynamic world economy, our need for people who think different, or those who are adept at big-picture or explorative thinking, is growing exponentially. Unfortunately, schools and the workplace are not necessarily designed or modeled to emphasize entrepreneurial and creative pursuits. Up to this point in human history, we haven’t placed as much value on this in our society. These researchers suggest our societal perspective on dyslexic thinkers should shift toward recognizing the need and value of these skills, and even actively pursuing this mind-set as a valuable tool to the modern workplace.
Diversity in thinking is a fundamental component of effective problem solving and ideation.
This understanding of the human brain and associated characteristics could also explain why people with dyslexia gravitate toward certain pursuits including the arts, engineering, architecture, and entrepreneurship. These are pursuits where dyslexics often excel and can use their innovative and creative minds without bounds. In these fields, this skillset is not only valued but admired and desired.
As humans continue to evolve, and our world becomes more complex and complicated, the dyslexic mind offers so much possibility when we reframe the traditional view of dyslexia as a limitation. As a society, we can only benefit from nurturing different and dynamic ways of thinking to allow humanity to solve the key challenges of our times through new perspective. At HRS we have long used the tag line, learning without limits. I think this speaks volumes.
Stacy Turner
Head of School
