How it feels as a teenager with dyslexia. Plus dyslexia tips from an expert

Today Helen Wills talks to teacher and tuition coach Jemma about her experiences of undiagnosed dyslexia through her teenage years.

Also on the podcast is Karen Hautz, a learning coach who provides counselling and skills-based coaching for adults and teenagers with dyslexia. She gives some wonderful tips about how to understand and support someone with dyslexia,

Jemma was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 19, but spent her school years struggling to understand why everything felt so much harder for her to achieve than it did for her friends.

We talk about the strategies she taught herself to get through school – and they worked! She got 9A*s and 2As at GCSE.

But she found the less structured learning at university difficult to cope with until she got her diagnosis, and finally learned techniques to manage her dyslexia.

Karen's message

Dyslexic people are often particularly good at being able to see the 'big picture' in any situation.  They may demonstrate lateral thinking and problem solving. They may make creative leaps of thought which gives them an innovative approach to a subject.  Some demonstrate strong visualisation skills. Others are imaginative and inventive in their approach to their work.  Others again show entrepreneurial flair. 

Understanding dyslexia

Helen Wills says:

I absolutely loved discovering more about how dyslexic people think and work, and there are so many tips in the conversation for families who might be worrying about a child with dyslexia, or indeed an adult in the process of diagnosis.

More support with dyslexia

Useful books on dyslexia

• The Gift of Dyslexia by Ron Davis  
• The Gift of Learning by Ron Davis (with reference to ADHD, dyspraxia & dyscalculia) 
• The Illustrated Guide to Dyslexia and Its Amazing People by Kathy Iwanczak 
• Dyslexia is my Superpower (Most of the Time) by Margaret Rooke 
• Creative, Successful, Dyslexic: 23 High Achievers Share Their Stories edited by Margaret Rooke
•  The Dyslexia, ADHD, and DCD-Friendly Study Skills Guide: Tips and Strategies for Exam Success Paperback by Ann-Marie McNicholas

Websites that help with dyslexia

• British Dyslexia Association
• The Learning Support Centre
• AbilityNet 

Where to find Jemma and Karen

Jemma Zoe Smith graduated from Oriel College at Oxford University in 2013, having studied her BSc and Master’s degree in Biochemistry. She returned to Oxford University in 2017 to gain her teacher training qualification.She now runs tuition agency The Education Hotel. Instagram.

Karen Hautz provides counselling support and skills-based coaching for adults and teenagers with dyslexia, autism and AD(H)D online and at her London office and works closely with parents and liaises with schools also.  

Find out more about Karen’s work at www.dyslexia-achievement.com or call her for a free, informal 20 minute telephone chat on 07391698517 

More teenage parenting tips from Helen Wills:

There are lots more episodes of the Teenage Kicks podcast. You can email me on [email protected]. I’ve also got some posts on the blog that might help parents with other teenage parenting dilemmas, so do pop over to Actually Mummy if you fancy a read.

Thank you so much for listening! Subscribe now to the Teenage Kicks podcast to hear all my new episodes. I'll be talking to some fabulous guests about difficult things that happened to them as teenagers - including losing a parent, becoming a young carer, and being hospitalised with mental health problems - and how they overcame things to move on with their lives.

You can also find more from Helen Wills on parenting teenagers on Instagram and Twitter @iamhelenwills.

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Please note that Helen Wills is not a medical expert, and nothing in the podcast should be taken as medical advice. If you're worried about a teenager, please seek support from a medical professional.