Case Study: David (26) Overcomes Dyslexia for an Easier Life

Difficulties Started In Early Life

As early as 1st grade, David recalls feeling that he was different from his peers. It seemed like things came naturally for everyone else, but “just didn’t click” for him.

He remembers “wanting to be a reader”, selecting a number of books from the library, but not being able to enjoy them. Getting through each “felt like work”, and he quickly lost interest.

He was discouraged by the special classes his school provided and viewed them as reinforcing the fear that he was going to struggle his entire life.

Challenges became even more apparent when he transitioned from elementary school to junior high.

The Demands of High School and Working Life Were Overwhelming

Processing and comprehension difficulties were more apparent in high school, and reading assignments and tests were tiring. He would guess on tests rather than read long passages and started to rely on audiobooks outside the classroom.

It also became harder to fit in with other students. He avoided situations with fast-paced conversations where he knew he could not keep up.

David began to see himself as socially awkward, and when it came to summer vacation work, he chose jobs where his interaction with others was limited to comfortable tasks, such as locating requested items in a store.

Following instructions was difficult, however, and new responsibilities often meant hesitation, asking for help, and extra time.

Coworkers were often frustrated as David tried to make sense of things. He dreaded looking at menus because of their complexity. He would sometimes avoid the struggle by requesting a standard dish he assumed the restaurant would carry.

As a college student, he initially struggled to follow along or retain information, especially when a professor spoke quickly. He frequently had to review notes and felt like he was teaching himself what he should have learned in class.

It felt like “nothing was getting in.”

Finding Gemm Learning

While watching a video on The Brain That Changes Itself, David learned of Fast ForWord. The information on neuroplasticity gave him hope. The next day, he found Gemm Learning programs for adult learners online.

David was committed to working on the program. Despite the game format, he recognized its potential for adult students. “I understood it can help anybody,” he shared.

David worked through the cognitive exercises without frustration and sought guidance from our program managers when challenges arose during the Reading Series.

Results – Enabling A Fuller Life

“I am able to keep up with conversations, talk to people and express myself better.” – David

Over time, he became more confident. He noticed that he no longer had to think as much before speaking in a conversation. “It was more automatic.” This was most apparent at his new job, where a more self-assured David speaks with and assists customers regularly.

He recently found himself reading a menu line by line without frustration and finding relevant information for a college research assignment without assistance. Life was getting easier.

At college, David was pleased to discover that he could follow an instructor and respond appropriately during class. Topics that were once frustrating became interesting.

David wants to keep improving his reading skills and hopes to study engineering one day.