Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Do you want to know what the advantages of dyslexia are? How can people with dyslexia seem to have terrible memories sometimes, but not others? “He could remember events perfectly, even those that happened when he was an infant” (The Gift of Dyslexia 96). Episodic memory has a central role in the thinking process of many dyslexics which helps explain this puzzling fact. In addition, it’s one of the four benefits of dyslexia. Keep reading to learn what the advantages of dyslexia are and how episodic memory plays a part in that.
This post uses technical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the article.
The Advantages of Dyslexia: The Four Strengths
Are there advantages of dyslexia beyond episodic memory? Brock and Fernette Eide, in the book The Dyslexic Advantage, describe four areas of strength that people with dyslexia can have:
- “Three-dimensional spatial reasoning and mechanical ability…”
- “The ability to perceive relationships like analogies, metaphors, paradoxes, similarities, differences, implications, gaps, and imbalances…”
- The ability to remember important personal experiences and to understand abstract information in terms of specific examples…”
- “The ability to perceive and take advantage of subtle patterns in complex and constantly shifting systems and data sets” (5).
Having dyslexia doesn’t guarantee that you’ll have all these strengths:
- However, if you have dyslexia, you’ll have at least one of the strengths.
- We’ll look at the third strength in today’s post.
Brock and Fernette Eide talk about how one of the dyslexic strengths will be the ability to remember events that have been directly experienced.
The Advantages of Dyslexia: Personal Memory
As I said above, one of the advantages of dyslexia will be to have a strong episodic memory. So, what does that mean?
- Episodic memory stores personal experiences as events and encounters.
- This contrasts with semantic memory which stores abstract facts and impersonal memories.
Episodic memory mainly has a story-based framework, where thoughts get visualized as remembered experiences instead of being stripped down into definitions without context.
- People who depend on story-based thinking will generally recall information better when specific examples have been used in place of abstract facts.
- These specific examples can be stories describing events or concepts. Also, they can be visual aids such as pictures, timelines, charts, or graphs.
- In addition, many dyslexics will learn and remember facts better through case studies instead of by memorizing information out of context.
Not only can people with dyslexia use episodic memory to vividly remember past events, but they can also imagine future or even fictional events.
- Thus, creative ability and episodic memory are directly related.
- This means that many dyslexics will have a talent for storytelling despite having problems with academic writing.
- However, narrative abilities can be useful for other jobs beyond just creative writing.
For example, the person with narrative reasoning will be able to take bare facts and reimagine them as story-like narratives.
- This can be seen in the character of Abraham Lincoln in the movie Lincoln.
- President Lincoln would convey information through inspiring stories.
Abraham Lincoln Talks Euclid
Final Thoughts on “What Are the Advantages of Dyslexia? Episodic Memory”
The ability to use episodic memory to remember facts and think creatively is one of the advantages of dyslexia. This shows how a person with dyslexia can have a good memory for personal experiences, but a poor one for information stripped of context.
Things to keep in mind when teaching students with dyslexia:
- Adding context to academic facts will help students remember them better.
- Give information in a story format, such as the Math Matters books do.
- Find an engaging video on the topic, such as watching a historical fiction video (for example Liberty’s Kids) when studying history.
- Use charts, graphs, or illustrations to add context, such as The Cartoon Guide to Physics does.
- Use manipulatives and real-world examples when working on music concepts or math facts.
- Use clay to model numbers and letters to help with reading, writing, and math the way The Gift of Dyslexia does.
- Look for and foster story telling ability in students, even if they struggle with reading and writing.
This will help people with dyslexia to learn more effectively.
Related Posts:
- Learning Differences and Spatial Ability: Part 1
- Positives to Dyslexia – Everything is Connected to Everything Else (Part 2)
- Color Coding Music for Success
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
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