I am a 57 yo dyslexic with ADD -- reading on a computer is rough

[Paula Sims]

Hello DU family,
I am a 57 yo mathematician with dyslexia (black on white and long sentences) with ADD. I made it through school by studying long hours, making associatiins, and other coping techniques. I even got a PhD in theoretical math and the abstract application of Lambda. So I iz smart. But...

I am about to start a new job. After 34 years at the same company I had to leave because things got too toxic. However, toward the end, all was on the computer and I found it hard to study and read. Printing is not an option for many reasons.

So dear ones, I ask you:

1. Can you recommend and specific books or websites to learn to deal with this in the computer age?
2. What type of doctor or therapist would I turn to?
3. Anyone with this issue, do colored overlays work for you?

Thank you SO MUCH for your help

Paula

[Ohio Joe]

1. To help with your reading...

Take a look here:

https://bltt.org/scotopic-sensitivity-syndrome/#:~:text=Scotopic%20Sensitivity%20Syndrome%2C%20frequently%20known,read%2C%20especially%20on%20glossy%20paper.

Hope that helps

[bottomofthehill]

2. They have done a lot of work on ADD in adults

A psychiatrist is the Doc you want to see. It is sometimes difficult to find a doc that is used to working with adult women. Most are used to working with crazy little boys.

[SheltieLover]

3. Have you been tested for Irlen Syndrome?

I know people who have been dxd with Irlen & do use either colored overlays or glasses shaded to a specific color, which seems to alleviate their atypical brain wiring!

Congrats to you on all of your accomplishments! Wow!

Some states even pay for testing & glasses, as Irlen is considered a disability.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26717646/#:~:text=Irlen%20syndrome%20is%20a%20proposed,related%20problems%20such%20as%20dyslexia.

[bigtree]

4. I focus better with something to fiddle with, or even a small distraction

...it's slightly contrary to focusing, but I found it actually helps to have deliberate, familiar distractions so that I can focus on the important task at hand.

My son also liked to fiddle in class while he worked, the only way he said he could concentrate.

Like you, I succeeded in learning, despite the words shifting and prompting me to fall asleep, by just reading things over and over super fast. Math and counting, the same way.

I always need my distractions, though, because a quiet room is really the biggest obstacle of all for me to focusing.

(quick on the constant editing, as well )

[mopinko]

5. there's a font called dyslexi

iirc i got it for free, but it shouldnt cost much if you have to pay. $20?
install it and set it as your default font, and reading on a computer will be much easier.

edited to add that the font is built according to how dyslexics see letters. a little extra stroke in some places, etc.

[eppur_se_muova]

6. I remembered something about that, but not the name -- thanks.

https://www.dyslexiefont.com/

You have to register for some reason, but it's free.

[Tetrachloride]

7. I have a number of ideas. When you need brainstorming, you can message me

too many ideas.

cheers ))

[electric_blue68]

8. Good luck to you ...

I read up on dyslexia and didn't know that I didn't know a bunch of stuff about it.


I have a very, very mild form with very occasional to rare effects.

On occasion when some one is giving me a number (like phone) I might start to reverse the two numbers next to themselves - but I catch myself.
No problems copying numbers, thank goodness bc I did do Accounts Payable work.


And rarely I switch sylibles. The first time I realized this was around the time the first (of three) Lord of The Rings
came out. Amon the villianist creatures there is a
"Balrog".
However when I read the book the first time decades earlier (and even later rereads) - I read Barlog . So when one of the heroes goes like "... That's no ________, it's a Balrog!"
I was like "what!?". Then realized, oh I switched it.

Most recent I was watching a video about "Little Ukraine" in the East Village area of NYC. The Videographer was talking about the Veselka ((Ukrainian) Restaurant.
I'm like "what!?" before realizing ohhh - Veleska, the restaurant I've been mispronouncing for over 45 yrs! 😄

Obviously my glitches are very limited.

I hope you can get a better handle on yours!👍

[Hugin]

9. Hi Paula.

First of all, congratulations on your many impressive achievements!

Please, take a bow!

It’s true that being unique presents the problem of finding unique solutions.

I have a sibling who had always had trouble using a computer due to a similar cognitive constellation as you are describing.

He has found using a tablet (an iPad, specifically) allows him to interface much more comfortably. We think it is because of the touch screen eliminating an abstraction caused by the separate keyboard and display set-up which was the former standard. He couldn’t internally associate doing something with his hands changed the seemingly not attached view on the display.

He has also found the hints bar across the top of the virtual keyboard helps with his dyslexia. He enters the first few letters of a word and then is able to recognize the word he wanted. A simple thing which reduces his frustration considerably.

Another thing you might find useful is the ubiquitous speech to text functions. Dictation can be an effective way to get your ideas and messages into a file.

There are a few grammatical checking applications out there which can be productive to give your writing a smoother flow.

Have you tried setting the default foreground and background colors within your devices? You might discover a better combination than what was formerly the default.

I am sorry I don’t have more suggestions. Maybe this will help.