Dyslexia?

[Judyin Philly]

SO GLAD THIS THREAD IS UP AND RUNNING AGAIN.

GOSH IT STARTED BACK IN JAN OF 2007.

SEEMS LIKE WITH SCHOOL STARTING UP NOW...IT'S GREAT TIMING.

I'M SO HAPPY TOO SEE SO MANY GREAT POSTINGS.

JUDY

[Terbie]

I'm dyslexic, lactose intolerant, and recently diagnosed as gluten intolerant. Ironically, the only other person that I know that's also gluten intolerant is also dyslexic and lactose intolerant. Coincidence?!?

As an adult living with dyslexia my entire life, I have found that people have lots of misconceptions about learning disabilities. Just because someone can't spell well, read fast, or they transpose numbers occasionally, that doesn't mean that they have a learning disability. It's important to note how often you do something (every single time or occasionally) and if it's something that has occured more recently or it's been a life long problem. If you have a learning disability, then you will have noticed problems your whole life. You don't really develop it, you're normally born with it (although some doctors say you develop it as a baby).

I think more often than not, most people with Celiac's will be experiencing brain fog more than anything else.

I personally haven't found that my dyslexia has 'improved' as I've gone on a gluten free diet, but I've only been gluten free for 4 months now (nor did I notice it improve when I gave up lactose). I definitely had brain fog because it's SO much better now that I'm off gluten, so I see them as not related so far.

Here is a quick list of websites that ya'll might want to check out if you're interested in learning more:

"Symptoms" of dyslexia list:

Open Original Shared Link

General Info on Dyslexia:

Open Original Shared Link

Here is a list of the most common LDs:

Open Original Shared Link

Tip: If you are having problems remembering numbers, I've found that learning the American Sign Language numbering system helps me tons. If I sign the number to myself, then I remember it better. It also helps me spell words better if I sign them versus saying them out loud.

Feel free to ask me questions if you have anything specifically. I will be happy to help if I can!

[GFResearcher]

You are not alone.

I'm certain there is a connection between gluten and dyslexia and even schitzophrenia.

I'm coeliac and dyslexic (both verbal and written) and at the worst point prior to diagnosis I had schitzophrenic symptoms.

I had great difficulty at school, with teachers calling me stupid. I was not allowed to study maths in year 11 and 12 as I was deemed not to be smart enough.

I'm now working in cancer research, and studying to be a doctor of mathematics (hehe - those numbers moving around sure offer a challenge) and epidemiology - which is the study of disease relations such as relationship between coeliacs and dyslexia.

For my PhD I am planning to study the links between coeliacs, dyslexia and schitzophrenia. I'm certain there is a link, as today alone I have met another 2 coeliac dyslexics. Both conditions are relatively rare - so why do they keep occuring together?

Don't think of the dyslexia as a "secret shame" though - it is actually a gift. Chances are you will find you can read backwards and upside down, have a photographic memory, and if you train your mind, you will actually be able to spell check better than any computer

Interestingly, Leonardo Di Vinci and Albert Einstein were both dyslexic - as for whether they were also coeliac - there is no documentation of this. However, interestingly they were both vegetarians - perhaps this is an indicator of a problem as many coeliacs often turn vegetarian before diagnosis as it seems to ease the dietary problems a little.

Just out of interest: do any coeliacs here have any of these symptoms:

- dyslexia

- schitzophrenia (diagnosed or suspected)

- dellusions (hearing or seeing things not there)

- seeing or feeling "ghosts"

- deja vu (seeming to know what is going to happen before it does, or feeling like "I've been here before" when you haven't)

- heart palpitations

- difficulty standing in one place for too long without getting clamy, unwell or feeling like you are going to faint

For some reason, these symptoms seem to cluster in people with gluten intollerance/coeliacs. I would like to do more research on this area in my PhD which I hope will lead to more people being helped with diagnosis and treatment.

[stef-the-kicking-cuty]

That's funny, most of them are today thought of as having had Asperger's as well.

[GFinDC]

Well, the capability of gluten affecting the brain is well documented. Just do a search on gluten ataxia and you will find plenty of info. If gluten can affect one part of the brain it can most likely affect other parts too.

I have had symptoms of dyslexia but they have mostly cleared up since going gluten-free. I don't have any doubt in my mind that gluten is a serious problem for people who are affected by celiac or gluten intolerance.