Unmasking Dyslexia

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In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores an often-overlooked question: Do dyslexics experience pain differently?

Drawing from scientific research and personal experience, this episode dives into how dyslexia may influence pain thresholds, body awareness, headaches, stomach pain, and sensory processing. Carleen discusses studies showing that dyslexic individuals may require more pressure to notice pain in their limbs and extremities, while simultaneously experiencing increased sensitivity to internal pain signals like headaches and stomach discomfort.

Through stories, science, and reflection, this episode challenges the idea that dyslexia only impacts reading and learning. Instead, it explores dyslexia as a full-body neuroprocessing difference that may shape how individuals experience and interpret the world around them.

Topics include:
• Dyslexia and pain thresholds
• Why dyslexics may process body signals differently
• Sensory integration and proprioception
• The connection between dyslexia, headaches, and stomach pain
• Personal reflections on injury, pain tolerance, and resilience
• Why dyslexia extends far beyond the classroom

This episode invites listeners to reflect on their own experiences and join the conversation around the hidden sensory and physical dimensions of dyslexia.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].

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What does dyslexia have to do with constipation?

More than you might think.

In this episode, we explore the emerging connection between dyslexia, gut health, and the brain. While dyslexia is often viewed as a learning difference, it is also a neurodiverse profile—meaning the entire system, including the body, can be impacted.

Inside this conversation:

• The connection between the gut microbiome and brain function 
• Why neurodivergent individuals may experience more digestive challenges 
• The role of stress and anxiety in digestion 
• How gut health can influence cognitive function and dyslexic traits 
• The emerging research linking dyslexia with stomach aches and constipation 
• Why this isn’t “just physical”—it’s neurological and systemic 

We also explore interoception (your awareness of internal body signals) and how stress impacts digestion, potentially intensifying dyslexic challenges like word recall and processing.

This episode is educational, empowering, and yes… a little bit of potty talk.

✨ Because understanding your body helps you understand your brain.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Do dyslexics stim?

It’s a question that often gets dismissed—but the answer reveals something much deeper about dyslexia, neurodiversity, and how the brain regulates itself.

In this episode, we unpack the truth: dyslexia is not just a learning difference—it is a neurodiverse profile. And like many neurodivergent individuals, dyslexics engage in forms of stimming, often without even realizing it.

You’ll learn:

• What stimming actually is and why it matters 
• The different types of stimming (tactile, visual, auditory, movement, oral, and cognitive) 
• Why many dyslexics say “I don’t stim”—but actually do 
• How masking hides self-regulation behaviors 
• The connection between stimming, anxiety, and focus 
• Why these behaviors are not flaws—but intelligent adaptations 

From fidgeting and rereading to shifting your weight or chewing your cheek, many everyday behaviors are actually forms of self-regulation.

This episode invites you to rethink what you thought you knew about dyslexia—and to see yourself with more clarity, compassion, and understanding.

✨ You’re not broken. You’re wired differently—and intentionally.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Do dyslexic individuals mask?

Absolutely — and often more than they even realize.

In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, we break down the hidden ways dyslexics mask in everyday life to fit into a world that doesn’t fully understand how their brain works.

From memorizing information and overstudying to using humour, perfectionism, and rehearsed conversations — many of these behaviours aren’t personality traits… they’re coping strategies.

In this episode, we explore:

•  What masking looks like for dyslexic individuals 
•  Why dyslexics often hide their challenges
•  The difference between masking and personality 
•  Common masking behaviours like: 
  •  Memorizing instead of processing 
  •  Overstudying to feel “safe” 
  •  Using humour or self-deprecation 
  •  Suppressing needs 
  •  Rehearsing conversations (social scripts) 
•  The “class clown” vs. “quiet achiever” patterns 
•  How masking impacts wellbeing and identity 

Many dyslexics grow up adapting to survive socially and academically, often without realizing it.

This episode invites you to pause and ask:
 How much of what I do is actually masking?

If you’re dyslexic — or support someone who is — this conversation can help bring awareness, validation, and a new lens to everyday behaviours.

👍 Like, subscribe, and share to help shift the narrative around dyslexia and neurodiversity.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever heard someone say “everyone is a little dyslexic”?

For many dyslexic individuals, this phrase minimizes the real challenges that come with a dyslexic brain — challenges like spelling, word retrieval, working memory, rapid naming, and executive functioning.

But here's the deeper issue: society often only uses this phrase when referring to dyslexia’s difficulties, not the abilities that can come with dyslexic thinking.

In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, we explore:

• Why the phrase “everyone is a little dyslexic” can be misleading
• The difference between dyslexic challenges and dyslexic abilities
• How dyslexic brains excel at big-picture thinking, pattern recognition, and rapid problem-solving
• Research describing languishing vs. thriving dyslexic identities
• How mindset influences whether dyslexic individuals struggle or thrive

Dyslexia is not simply a list of deficits. It is a different way the brain processes information, one that can come with both real challenges and powerful abilities.

The question becomes:
 Will you focus only on the challenges, or learn how to access what your brain does best?

This episode invites dyslexic individuals, educators, parents, and anyone interested in neurodiversity to rethink what dyslexia really means.

If this conversation resonates with you, subscribe and share to help change the story around dyslexia. 

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Do dyslexic individuals show more facial expressions and emotional reactions?

Some research suggests they might.

In this episode, we explore studies showing that dyslexic individuals may have a stronger emotional response to visual stimuli, which can be seen through facial expressions, heart rate, and the body’s sympathetic nervous system.

This means dyslexics may naturally express emotions more openly on their faces, making their reactions easier to read during conversations or emotional moments.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why dyslexic individuals may show stronger facial expressiveness

How emotional processing and visual stimuli influence reactions

Why dyslexia and autism can show different emotional expression patterns

The strengths and challenges of being emotionally expressive

Why research findings don’t apply to every dyslexic individual

Facial expressiveness can make dyslexics powerful communicators, but it can also lead to misunderstandings when others interpret expressions incorrectly.

If you’re dyslexic, you might recognize this experience — your face showing exactly what you're thinking or feeling before you even say a word.

👍 If this episode resonates with you, like and subscribe to help others better understand the dyslexic brain and the many ways neurodiversity shows up in everyday life.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever run into someone you know you know—but their name just won’t come, and their face doesn’t quite register the way you expect? For dyslexic individuals, this isn’t carelessness or lack of effort. It’s neurology.

In this episode, I explore the neuroscience behind name retrieval and face recognition in dyslexic brains, including research on the left anterior temporal lobe and the visual word form area. We unpack why dyslexic individuals may struggle to retrieve proper names, why this can sometimes extend to recognizing repeated faces, and why blanket statements like “dyslexics can’t remember faces” miss the nuance entirely.

I also share personal reflections as a dyslexic and an artist—highlighting how strong episodic memory, visual detail, and storytelling often coexist alongside name-retrieval challenges. Dyslexia doesn’t look the same in everyone, and this episode emphasizes individual differences, strengths, and meaning-based processing rather than deficit narratives.

If you’re dyslexic, support dyslexic individuals, or want to understand neurodiversity through a more compassionate and accurate lens, this conversation offers insight, validation, and a reframing of what’s really happening beneath the surface.

Monzalvo, K., Fluss, J., Billard, C., Dehaene, S., & Dehaene-Lambertz, G. (2012). Cortical networks for vision and language in dyslexic and normal children of variable socio-economic status. NeuroImage, 61, 258–274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2012.02.035

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Do you really need a formal diagnosis to understand yourself — or to deserve support?

In this episode, Carleen questions the current diagnostic model used in neurodiversity and mental health, and why so many people are required to struggle or reach crisis before being allowed access to accommodations.

Drawing from personal experience with her child, Carleen explores:
• The difference between diagnosis and classification
• Why the DSM-5 relies on a medical model of struggle
• How neurodivergent people can meet processing criteria without being in crisis
• Why supportive environments can prevent diagnosable struggle
• The flaw in waiting for breakdown before offering help
• How this mirrors broader failures in the medical system

This episode invites a shift from crisis-based intervention to preventative wellbeing, asking whether simply understanding where you fall on the neurodiversity continuum may be enough to bring meaning, self-acceptance, and healthier support.

💬 Do you believe support should only come after crisis — or before?
👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this perspective resonated with you.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

Do dyslexic challenges stay the same throughout life?

No — and that realization can be life-changing.

In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores the critical psychological difference between trait and state, and why dyslexic challenges can feel stronger at certain times — without meaning anything is “wrong” with you.

You’ll learn:
• Why a dyslexia diagnosis reflects a moment in time, not your entire capacity
• The difference between dyslexia as a trait and dyslexic challenges as a state
• How stress, hormones, sleep, nutrition, and emotional wellbeing impact dyslexic functioning
• Why word retrieval, memory, and communication can fluctuate
• How self-blame often comes from misunderstanding what’s actually happening

This episode reframes dyslexia through a compassionate, science-informed lens and helps you stop internalizing difficult days as personal failure.

✨ If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I think today?” — this episode is for you.
👍 Like, subscribe, and share if this perspective helped you feel seen.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores one of the most debated and misunderstood topics in neurodiversity:
What do dyslexia and autism actually have in common — and where are they fundamentally different?

Drawing on graduate-level research and neuroscience, this episode examines how dyslexia and autism are often diagnosed based on behavior, rather than brain structure, and why this may be leading to widespread misdiagnosis.

You’ll learn:

• Why dyslexia is not the same as a learning disability
• How dyslexic and autistic brains differ at the cellular level
• Why overlapping traits don’t necessarily mean dual diagnoses
• How dyslexia exists far beyond reading and writing — in social processing, memory, and communication
• Why current diagnostic systems may be outdated for neurodivergent individuals

This conversation challenges conventional thinking and invites a more holistic, brain-based understanding of dyslexia, autism, and neurodiversity as a whole.

✨ If you’ve ever questioned your diagnosis — or been told you’re “a bit of everything” — this episode is for you.

📌 Join the conversation: Do you think dyslexia is being misunderstood or misclassified? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic. 

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com 

Book a coaching session here: https://www.carleenross.com/book-online

Enrol in one of her programs here: https://www.carleenross.com/virtual-programs

Or connect with her directly, email her at [email protected].