What is Dyslexia?
It’s not a disability—it's a high-speed, 3D way of thinking
Did you know that the dyslexic mind can process between 500 to 1,000 images per minute?
While many people think in the sound of words, a dyslexic person perceives the world as a "motion picture."
The "Picture-Thinking" Perspective
Dyslexia affects roughly 20% of the population. It occurs when a brilliant, 3D brain encounters 2-dimensional symbols—like the alphabet, math numerals, or musical notes.
The Connection: Words like "horse" or "dog" are easy to visualize. They have a natural image.
The Confusion: The "bane" of the dyslexic world are the 217 non-picture words (like the, thing, over, or as).
Because these words have no mental picture, the high-speed brain "stutters" and begins to disorient.
Similar confusions can happen with words that sound the same - homophones - like 'hare', 'hair', 'hear' and ''here', but are spelled differently and mean different things - how confusing!
Experience the "Picture-Thinking" Challenge
To get a sense of what it is like to read from a dyslexic perspective, try reading this sentence:
"A big, male rhino charged the white Landrover as it raced away over the plain to safety."
The Breakdown:
🔸The "Easy" Words: For a visual thinker, rhino, Landrover, and plain pop up instantly as vivid 3D images.
🔸The "Invisible" Words: The confusion starts with the "glue" words: A, the, as, it, over, or to.
🔸The Result: Because there is no "picture" for these words, the brain’s high-speed engine stalls. To compensate, the reader concentrates harder, becomes tense, and eventually "disorientates"—meaning the brain stops receiving accurate messages from the eyes.
The Hidden Cost: Beyond the Page
Dyslexia is about more than just "getting words wrong." For many children and adults, it carries a heavy emotional weight.
🔸The Exposure Trap: For a dyslexic person, being asked to read aloud in class or at work is often their "worst nightmare."
🔸The Shame Cycle: Constant "mistakes" lead to a high degree of embarrassment and humiliation, making the learner feel they need to "hide" their brilliance to avoid being caught out.
🔸The "Mask": Many of my clients arrive exhausted from years of building survival strategies—becoming the class clown, the quiet observer, or the "forgetful" one—just to mask the struggle.
At Master Dyslexia, we don't just build literacy;
we rebuild the confidence that years of "traditional" schooling may have stripped away.
The Cycle: From Struggle to Mastery
Traditional "old solutions" focus on repetitive drilling, which often leads to a cycle of frustration and shame.
We offer a new and effective path.
‘Old Solution’ Learning Problem
Unrecognised word or symbol
Confusion & "zoning out"
Mistakes & embarrassment
Frustration & low self-esteem
'Old learning solutions' develop and repeat
The Davis Solution…..
Unrecognised word or symbol
Identify the confusion
Implement Davis Tools
Gain certainty
Perceive symbols correctly
New Learning Solution adopted and continues
Understanding Disorientation
Have you ever jumped off a merry-go-round and felt the world keep spinning? That feeling—where your brain isn't receiving accurate information—is exactly what a dyslexic student feels when looking at a page of text.
When a picture-thinker can't find a "mental image" for a word, they try to look at it from different angles.
This causes:
🔸Letters to move or flip ('b' becoming 'd').
🔸Concentration fatigue (headaches or "zoning out").
🔸Survival strategies (becoming the "class clown" or the "quiet one" to hide the struggle).
The Neurodiversity Umbrella
Dyslexia rarely travels alone. Because it is a fundamental difference in how the brain processes information, it often encompasses other "related conditions."
In traditional settings, these are often labeled as learning disabilities. At Master Dyslexia, we see them as part of a complex, multi-dimensional learning style that simply doesn't fit the "norm."
🔸ADHD (Attention): Challenges with focus, self-regulation, and "internal clocks."
🔸Dyscalculia (Maths): Confusion with the symbols and logic of numerals and sequences.
🔸Dyspraxia (Coordination): Difficulty with physical balance, fine motor skills, or "executive function" (organization).
The good news: The Davis Method is designed to address the root cause of all these challenges—perceptual disorientation. Whether the confusion is with a letter, a number, or a physical movement, the underpinning tools remain the same.
Why is Dyslexia a Gift?
The same mental ability that causes the struggle is the source of incredible talent. Dyslexics are primarily multi-dimensional thinkers who excel in creativity, intuition, and hands-on mastery.
You are in good company. Many of the world’s most brilliant minds share this "3D" gift:
Leonardo da Vinci • Einstein • Jamie Oliver • Steven Spielberg • Keira Knightley • John Britten
Dyslexics can learn to read, write and study well when they are taught unique methods that maximise their unique learning style and talents.
Ready to turn the Struggle into Mastery?
Master Dyslexia | Waikanae, Kāpiti Coast
Providing specialist Dyslexia mastery and natural ADHD support across the Wellington Region, including the Kāpiti Coast, Levin, the Hutt Valley, and Wellington City
Professional services described as Davis™, including Davis Mastery for Dyslexia®, Davis™ Symbol Mastery, Davis™ Orientation Counseling, Davis™ Mastery for Attention, Davis™ Mastery for Maths, and Davis™ Foundations for Learning Literacy may only be provided by persons who are trained and licensed as Davis Facilitators or Specialists by Davis Dyslexia Association International.