A study conducted in Great Britain examined potential cognitive gifts of neurodivergent, or 2e people possess.  It found, in fact dyslexic thinkers are our future.  

In the context of the study, We are not talking about a reading disorder, but rather a way of interacting with the world.

Dictionary.com defines dyslexic thinking as, "“…an approach to problem-solving, assessing information and learning often used by people with dyslexia that involves pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, lateral thinking and interpersonal communications” 

Dyslexic thinkers  possess the innate ability to see the big picture, to have the big ideas that will become the most valuable commodity in our future. 

The idea of dyslexic thinking has become accepted by many industries and businesses as a strength and certainly not as a disabling condition.  LinkedIn has included the term as an option for people to mark as a strength.

Here is a link to a report on the study: https://www.madebydyslexia.org/MBD-Intelligence-5.0-Report.pdf

And here is information on strategies for 2e learners: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1185416.pdf

Summary

The episode redefines dyslexia as "dyslexic thinking," a cognitive profile with strengths like pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, and lateral thinking. A study by Made by Dyslexia, supported by Microsoft and LinkedIn, links these traits to skills demanded in the AI era. Advances in AI are reducing the impact of traditional weaknesses such as slow processing speed, making dyslexic strengths more valuable.

Key takeaway

Redefining Dyslexia as Dyslexic Thinking

Dyslexic thinking reframes dyslexia from a reading disorder to a cognitive profile with valuable strengths.

The concept is defined as an approach involving pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, lateral thinking, and interpersonal communication, first recognized by dictionary.com. 

The study "Dyslexic Thinking 5.0" by Made by Dyslexia, involving Microsoft, LinkedIn, and GCHQ, focuses on strengths associated with dyslexia rather than deficits. 

Cognitive Profile of Dyslexic Thinkers

Dyslexic thinkers often display a "spiky" IQ profile with high visual-spatial skills and lower processing speed or working memory.

Such individuals may struggle with fluent reading but excel at complex puzzles, Lego, or visual instructions. 

Lateral thinking, defined as indirect and creative problem-solving, is a key strength, synonymous with "thinking outside the box". (Host quoting Wikipedia)

Relevance of Dyslexic Thinking in the AI Era

AI technologies are reducing the need for traditional literacy and arithmetic skills, making dyslexic strengths more prominent.

Examples include advanced text readers and reading pens, as well as AI-generated meeting notes that organize information and action steps

The host notes that processing speed and working memory become less of a disability and more of a minor annoyance in an AI-assisted environment. 

Thanks to Soundimage.org for the free access to the AI generated music used in this podcast (https://soundimage.org/)