ADHD and dyslexia, and the reading anxiety that comes with both (Carol’s story)
Feb 6, 2024
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Carol Blumenstein, a former unteachable student with ADHD and dyslexia, shares her journey of overcoming reading anxiety and becoming a motivated individual. She discusses the challenges of having both ADHD and dyslexia, the discovery of her own diagnoses and those of her children, and the inspiration and work of Kids Read to Kids. The organization provides free video audiobooks read by kids for kids, creating resources to support children's learning and parents.
Undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia can lead to labeling and challenges in reading, but with support and understanding, individuals can thrive.
Listening comprehension and exposure to audiobooks can help individuals with dyslexia and ADHD develop a love for learning.
Deep dives
Challenges with undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia in school
Carol Blumenstein shares her personal experience of growing up with undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia. Without a formal diagnosis, she was labeled as a poor student and faced challenges in reading and comprehension. Carol's mother recognized her strengths and helped her become the person she is today.
The impact of dyslexia and ADHD on reading comprehension
Carol explains how dyslexia and ADHD made reading difficult and exhausting. Reading slowly affected her ability to comprehend what she read, leading to anxiety and frustration. She emphasizes the importance of listening comprehension and how her mother's avid reading to her allowed her to develop a love for learning.
Discovering ADHD and dyslexia through her children
As Carol's children faced similar challenges in school, she realized the need for testing and discovered that they had a range of learning differences including dyslexia, ADHD, and anxiety. This journey prompted her to create 'Kids Read to Kids,' a nonprofit providing free video audio books read by kids for kids along with lesson plans and resources to help children become independent learners.
Growing up, Carol Blumenstein was labeled an unteachable student. She was terrified to read during class, and school only brought huge anxiety. Luckily, her mom believed in her in a way teachers didn’t. She put Carol in community college courses and pushed her to turn her frustration into motivation.
Carol didn’t know she had ADHD and dyslexia until she saw her own children — all five of them — struggle with the same things she did when she was little. But this time the issues were addressed and they were understood by their teachers.
Now, Carol’s kids have founded their own organization, KidsRead2Kids, which provides free video audiobooks read by kids for kids and other helpful resources.
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give
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