Famous Dyslexics
Walt Disney
Albert Einstein
Agatha Christie
Leonardo da Vinci
Hans Christian Andersen
Tom Cruise
Danny Glover
Henry Ford
Thomas Edison
Greg Louganis
Alexander Graham Bell

Dyslexia Self-evaluation

These questions are designed to help you see how many of the dyslexic characteristics you display. "Dyslexia" is a word with a very broad meaning, covering a multitude of symptoms. It also applies to those who demonstrate very few of the characteristics as well as those who manifest many of them.

As you answer the questions, please be aware that most people have some of these symptoms at one time or another. If you manifest the symptom chronically, or if it is a problem for you, then that is a dyslexic characteristic.

Please mark "yes" or "no" if you or the person you are taking the evaluation for has these characteristics.

1. Do you have difficulty reading aloud?
   ( ) yes ( ) no
2. Do you have difficulty spelling?
   ( ) yes ( ) no
3. Do you have difficulty copying what is written on the board?
   ( ) yes ( ) no
4. Do letters or numbers ever appear reversed? (b d, 2 5, p q, etc.)
   ( ) yes ( ) no
5. Do you have feelings of failure when at school?
   ( ) yes ( ) no
6. Are you reluctant to go to school on school mornings?
   ( ) yes ( ) no
7. Do you ever experience stomachaches, headaches, etc. before school? ( ) yes ( ) no
8. Have any of your family members had difficulties learning to read or spell? ( ) yes ( ) no
9. Do words (or letters or numbers) ever appear backwards?
   ( ) yes ( ) no
10. Do you ever omit, ignore, or not even see punctuation marks?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
11. Is it difficult to read different styles or sizes of print?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
12. Do you skip words or lines when reading or writing?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
13. Do the letters appear to move, disappear, grow, or shrink when you read? ( ) yes ( ) no
14. Do you have difficulty hearing or saying speech sounds?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
15. Do you get headaches, dizziness, nausea, stiff neck, etc. when reading? ( ) yes ( ) no
16. Do you omit or substitute words when reading or read choppy?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
17. Do you perceive sounds as quieter, louder, nearer, or farther away than they actually are? ( ) yes ( ) no
18. Do you have problems with balance and coordination?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
19. Do you have difficulty writing, or have excessively poor handwriting? ( ) yes ( ) no
20. Do you have trouble making sense out of the order of sentences when writing? ( ) yes ( ) no
21. Do you have difficulty with punctuation and other details of writing? ( ) yes ( ) no
22. Do you have trouble writing curved or diagonal lines?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
23. Do you grip the pencil uncomfortable tight when you write?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
24. Do you have excessive spelling errors, and the wrong sequence of letters in words when you write?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
25. Do you write words or letters backwards?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
26. Do you consistently have a poor sense of direction?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
27. Do you have trouble performing simple math problems?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
28. Do you have trouble remembering the sequence of math procedures when solving math problems?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
29. Do you have trouble remembering simple math facts (addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc.) ( ) yes ( ) no
30. Do you have trouble remembering formulas or definitions in math work? ( ) yes ( ) no
31. Do you have trouble remembering long sequences of numbers?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
32. Do you have trouble maintaining attention or remaining focused for long periods of time? ( ) yes ( ) no
33. Are you disorganized?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
34. Do you have trouble following through or finishing projects?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
35. Do you miss details in instructions?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
36. Do you have difficulty following directions?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
37. Are you easily distracted by sights and sounds?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
38. Do you daydream or fantasize often?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
39. Are you forgetful?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
40. Do you have difficulty remembering what you read or heard?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
41. Do you talk excessively or very fast?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
42. Are you impulsive or make snap decisions?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
43. Do you have difficulty remaining seated?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
44. Do you lose track of time easily?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
45. Do you have an intense (but short) attention span?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
46. Does time seem to be elastic (drag slowly sometimes or fly by quickly sometimes)? ( ) yes ( ) no
47. Do you have difficulty being on time?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
48. Do you have trouble with social graces or skills (always doing something wrong)? ( ) yes ( ) no
49. Do you act without considering the consequences (impulsive)?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
50. Do you consistently interrupt people while they are speaking?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
51. Are you easily frustrated?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
52. Do you have trouble "getting started"?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
53. Do most of tasks seem "too big" to even start?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
54. Are you easily bored or frustrated?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
55. Are you aware of everything that goes on around you at the same time? ( ) yes ( ) no
56. Do you often become totally absorbed in one idea, goal, or project to the exclusion of all else?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
57. Are you creative?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
58. Are you intuitive?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
59. Do you feel "stupid" or "dumb" (have low self esteem)?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
60. Are you extremely curious?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
61. Can you see real life situations from a different point of view and pick a new solution? ( ) yes ( ) no
62. Do you have a vivid imagination?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
63. Do you ever experience imagination as reality?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
64. Do you get confused when following instructions?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
65. Do you understand directions or instructions better when you see a picture of them? ( ) yes ( ) no
66. Do you think in pictures rather than talking to yourself?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
67. Are your mental pictures detailed and three-dimensional?
    ( ) yes ( ) no
68. Can you see your mental pictures from different viewpoints?
    ( ) yes ( ) no

The "yes" answers to this self-evaluation indicate that you have dyslexic tendencies. If you answered "yes" to any of these questions you are demonstrating the characteristics of dyslexia. Those who are dyslexic agree that answering "yes" to a few or more of these questions means that you have the gift of Dyslexia.

There are many degrees of dyslexia, from very few symptoms to totally disabling problems. More "yes" answers than "no" answers indicates more trouble from dyslexia.

There are also many ways dyslexia is manifested. Following is a list of the different problem areas that dyslexics experience.
Questions 1 - 18 indicate problems with dyslexia in general (mostly manifested in reading).
Questions 19 - 25 indicate problems with dysgraphia (writing dysfunctions).
Questions 26 - 31 indicate problems with acalculia (inability to do math) or dyscalculia (difficulty with math).
Questions 32 - 56 indicate problems with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Questions 57 - 68 indicate the general characteristics of all of dyslexics.

Dyslexia is truly a wonderful gift when really understood. If you have the gift of dyslexia, you have abilities beyond those of "normal" people. When you are properly oriented and have mastered the triggering words and symbols, you can function optimally and successfully in reading, writing, math, etc. and still maintain your other extraordinary capabilities.