People are always surprised when I tell them I’m dyslexic and I love to read. There’s this lingering myth that dyslexia and books don’t mix — that if you’re dyslexic, reading must be a struggle, a chore, or something you avoid. But that’s never been my story. In fact, books have always felt like home.
There’s a common assumption that dyslexics don’t read. Or worse, that we can’t. But the truth is far more interesting. Dyslexia doesn’t stop people from loving stories, connecting with characters, or diving into new worlds. And it certainly hasn’t stopped me.
If you’re reading this because you’re dyslexic, curious, or someone who was ever told they “weren’t a reader,” welcome. I’m here to share what it’s really like to love books with a dyslexic brain — the challenges, the joys, and the myths that desperately need rewriting.
Categories of Dyslexia
There are several different types of dyslexia, and not all of them relate directly to reading. I was actually diagnosed in my teens, and my main difficulty is reading dyslexia. But dyslexia comes in many forms, each affecting people in different ways.
Here are some of the commonly recognised types:
- Phonological Dyslexia: Difficulty breaking words into sounds (phonemes), which makes decoding challenging.
- Surface Dyslexia: Trouble recognising whole words on sight, especially irregular ones, even though sounding out can be easier.
- Rapid Naming Deficit: Slower speed when naming familiar items like letters or colours, affecting reading fluency.
- Double Deficit Dyslexia: A combination of weak phonological skills and slow rapid naming often more severe.
- Visual Dyslexia: Difficulties with visual processing, sequencing, or remembering what was just read.
Dyslexia is increasingly recognised as part of the neurodivergent spectrum — an umbrella term for people whose brains function differently from the neurotypical. Many people who are neurodivergent experience overlap between conditions, which is why these categories can be helpful for understanding how our brains work.
The Myth vs. The Reality
“Dyslexics hate reading.”
This one always makes me smile. The idea that dyslexics inherently hate or avoid reading simply isn’t true. I’ve always loved books, I run a reading blog (hello!), I’m active in multiple book clubs, and I will happily get lost in a novel for hours.
Is reading always easy? No. But loving stories has nothing to do with how effortlessly the words come off the page.
In fact, my dyslexia is one of the reasons I’m so creative. When I read, I see everything, the colours, the worlds, the expressions on characters’ faces. I disappear into stories, and they grow in my imagination in a way I wouldn’t change for anything.
Yes, the process of reading can be slower or more tiring for some dyslexics. But enjoyment isn’t about speed, it’s about connection.
“People with dyslexia just need to try harder.”
This one hurts, because it reduces a neurological difference to a problem of effort.
Dyslexia is not laziness. It’s not a lack of trying. It’s just a different way of processing information.
While reading more can strengthen the brain over time, effort alone isn’t the magic fix. Readers come in all forms and sometimes the right book, the right format, or even the right environment makes all the difference.
When I was younger, movement helped me retain information. I would pace or act out what I read, almost like my body needed to be part of the story for my brain to follow it.
Trying harder isn’t the answer. Understanding is.
“Dyslexia goes away once kids learn to read.”
I wish it were that simple! Dyslexia isn’t something you outgrow. Our brains are wired differently from birth, and although some of us learn to mask it or develop clever coping strategies, it never disappears, nor does it need “curing.”
Honestly, I wouldn’t want my dyslexia removed. I’m a full-time designer, and my creativity is absolutely shaped by the way my brain works.
Encouraging reading from a young age helps, but dyslexia affects many areas of life, not just reading, and it doesn’t vanish with age or practice.
“Dyslexia is caused by not reading enough at home.”
If that were true, I’d be the last person to get diagnosed! I grew up surrounded by books, always reading, always tucked into a story. Dyslexia isn’t caused by a lack of exposure it’s neurological and often genetic.
Reading at home is wonderful and beneficial for every child, but dyslexia isn’t created by environment or effort. It’s simply a different kind of brain wiring.
I like to think of it this way: nothing is “wrong” with us, we’re just a different version of human.
Rewriting the Story
Loving books and being dyslexic are not opposites, they’re simply two parts of who I am. Dyslexia doesn’t take away the magic of reading; if anything, it adds its own kind of depth and colour. It’s shaped the way I imagine, the way I create, and the way I tell stories.
The myth that dyslexics can’t be readers deserves to be left behind. We don’t need fixing or forcing, we just need understanding, tools that work for us, and the freedom to enjoy stories in our own way.
If you’re dyslexic and reading this, know this:
You belong in the world of books.
You always have.
And if you’re not dyslexic, I hope this helps you see reading and readers, a little differently.
Bibliography
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/common-myths-about-dyslexia-reading-issues
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/advice/children/how-can-i-support-my-child/reading
https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/reading-brain
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