Unmasking Dyslexia
Unmasking Dyslexia explores the lived experience and untold strengths of dyslexic minds.
Hosted by Carleen Ross MSc., a Positive Psychology Practitioner and Coach, each episode blends personal stories with science-backed insights from psychology and neuroscience.
Discover practical tools, reframe the narrative, and reconnect with what it truly means to thrive with dyslexia.
Episodes
29 episodes
How Dyslexia Shapes Relationships: Safe People, Communication & Well-Being
How does dyslexia affect your relationships long after school is over?In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, I explore one of the most overlooked aspects of dyslexia—its impact on relationships. While most conversations focus on r...
Why Dyslexics Thrive in Flow: The Hidden Link Between Creativity, Focus & Well-Being
Why do some dyslexics become so absorbed in creative projects that they lose all sense of time? Could this actually be one of the hidden strengths of the dyslexic brain?In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, I explore the "E" i...
Powerful Tools to Reduce Overwhelm for Dyslexics
Why do so many dyslexic individuals experience overwhelm, and what can we do about it?In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen begins a new series exploring the PERMA model of well-being, developed by Martin Seligma...
Coaching vs Therapy: What's the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
Should you choose coaching or therapy?Many people use the terms interchangeably, but coaching and therapy serve different purposes and understanding the difference can help you choose the support that's right for you.In thi...
What Well-Being Really Means for Dyslexics (It's Not About Being Happy)
In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, I explore one of the most misunderstood concepts in positive psychology: well-being.Many people believe well-being means being happy all the time, but true well-being is much deeper ...
The Grief Nobody Talks About After a Dyslexia Diagnosis
In this deeply personal episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores the grief process that can follow a late dyslexia diagnosis and why so many dyslexic adults experience emotional upheaval after finally receiving answers.Wh...
Late Dyslexia Diagnosis: The Identity Shift Nobody Talks About
In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores why receiving a late dyslexia diagnosis can feel emotionally overwhelming and deeply life-changing. Beyond simply explaining reading or memory struggles, a diagnosis can force individuals ...
Do Dyslexics Feel Pain Differently? The Surprising Science of Dyslexia & Pain Thresholds
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 ...
Dyslexia & Gut Health: The Surprising Link to Constipation
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...
Do Dyslexics Stim? (Most People Get This Wrong)
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...
Dyslexics Mask More Than You Think (Signs You Didn’t Realize)
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 ...
“Everyone Is a Little Dyslexic” - Why This Myth Is Harmful
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, r...
Do Dyslexics Show More Facial Expressions? Research Says Yes
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 visua...
Why Dyslexic brains struggle with names and faces (It’s Neurology, Not Carelessness)
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 episo...
Do You Really Need a Dyslexia Diagnosis? (Or Is Understanding Enough?)
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 str...
Why Dyslexia Feels Worse Some Days
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 d...
Dyslexia vs Autism: Are We Misdiagnosing Neurodivergent Brains?
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?<...
Can Exercise Improve Dyslexic Memory? What the Science Is Showing
Can exercise actually improve dyslexic traits like working memory, executive functioning, and focus?In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores a 2024 study out of London showing that moderate exercise can inc...
Dyslexic Brain and Sleep: The Missing Link to Memory, Stress and Focus
Many dyslexics struggle with memory, word recall, executive functioning, overwhelm, and chronic stress — but what if poor sleep is making everything worse?In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen explores why sleep ...
Misleading Dyslexia Statistics: Why Dementia Risk Isn’t What You Think
In this episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, Carleen breaks down a widely circulated (and often misquoted) statistic claiming that dyslexics have a “high chance” of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s. But what does the research actually say—...
Camel Thighs & Other Misheard Lyrics: Living With Auditory Dyslexia - Ep 9
Most people think of dyslexia as a reading and writing difference, but auditory dyslexia reveals an entirely different side of how the dyslexic brain processes the world. In this episode, I share what it’s really like to have a brain that somet...
You Are Not Just One Thing: The Science & Spirit of Identity - Ep 8
In this episode, we dive deep into the idea that none of us are only one identity—not even our strongest ones. I share why I say “I am dyslexic” rather than “I have dyslexia,” and how my dyslexic brain filters everything I see, feel, und...
Dyslexia, Sex Differences, and the Brain: What Science got Wrong - Ep 7
Most people think of dyslexia as a reading and writing difference, but auditory dyslexia reveals an entirely different side of how the dyslexic brain processes the world. In this episode, I share what it’s really like to have a brain that somet...
The Science of Dyslexia and Emotion - Ep 6
In today’s episode, I share one of the most powerful studies I came across after my own diagnosis — a 2021 study by Virginia Stern and colleagues titled Enhanced Visceral Motor Emotional Reactivity in Dyslexia and its Relation to the Salience N...
Neurodiverse vs Neurotypical: Who Says What’s “Normal”? - Ep 5
In this episode, we’re diving into the terms neurotypical and neurodivergent — where they come from, what they actually mean, and why the definitions we’ve been given don’t always tell the full story. Who decides what’s “typical” or “average” a...