On Point | Podcast Rethinking how dyslexia is diagnosed
Mar 20, 2025
Tim Odegaard, a psychology professor and host of Dyslexia Uncovered, teams up with Clarice Jackson, founder of Black Literacy Matters. They dive into the complex and often flawed history of dyslexia diagnoses, discussing the emotional toll on affected individuals and the dire need for updated screening methods. The conversation emphasizes the inequities in educational systems, particularly for marginalized groups, and the importance of advocating for more culturally sensitive support. Together, they inspire a rethinking of how we approach dyslexia treatment.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Tim Odegaard's Childhood Reading Experience
- Tim Odegaard, as a child, heavily relied on memorizing words to compensate for his reading difficulties.
- This strategy worked temporarily, even earning him the 'first reader' position, but ultimately failed when faced with unfamiliar words.
Lack of Early Screening for Dyslexia
- In the early 1980s, literacy screening was not yet a widespread practice in schools.
- Consequently, Tim Odegaard's dyslexia went unaddressed, especially due to the then-prevalent IQ discrepancy model.
The Flawed IQ Discrepancy Model
- The IQ discrepancy model, used to identify dyslexia, was problematic.
- It wrongly labeled children with lower IQs as 'too stupid to be dyslexic,' denying them necessary support.