As I’ve grown older, I’ve realized how differently my dad and I process information. He’s not just my dad but also a great friend, though sometimes it’s a challenge to see him struggle with conceptual things. He’s 85, very healthy, and has always shown the traits I’m about to describe. He’s currently trying to learn a new skill through online classes, but it’s tough for him to grasp new concepts.
Here are some traits showing his struggles:
He often mixes up sounds in words, relying heavily on how they sound.
He finds it hard to keep up with theoretical discussions and tends to fall back on familiar ideas.
He sometimes closes his eyes when talking, struggling to keep his thoughts and speech aligned.
He tends to go on tangents during conversations, which can be hard for others to follow.
His memory isn’t the best; he often misplaces things and forgets names.
He isn’t too concerned with getting concepts exactly right. For example, he confused scoliosis with something affecting his knee but meant Schumann’s disease.
He’s easily misled by others and often misinterprets technology, like not understanding warning messages on computers, which takes me a while to explain.
On the positive side, he’s extremely practical, able to solve problems with a hands-on approach. He’s been a graphic artist, underwater photographer, and gardener, creating intricate designs and features from scratch. He excels at visual arts and practical tasks more than theoretical ones.
I’m trying to understand these traits better to help him and myself. I suspect he might be an artistic person with specific cognitive traits but would love to hear other perspectives.
I’m a special education teacher, and while I’m not diagnosing, the traits you describe could indicate challenges in areas like language processing, fluid reasoning, and memory. These could be signs of dyslexia, which affects language processing, not just reading, as it’s often misunderstood.
@Chester
I also teach special education, and it sounds like your dad might have dyslexia. This affects more than just reading; it’s about processing language. I wonder about his early education and other family members with similar challenges.
@PoshTosh
Thank you for your insights. It’s becoming clearer that dyslexia might be involved. I’ll talk to him about his early education tomorrow. Are there specific writing exercises that could help us understand his challenges better?
@Chester
Really appreciate everyone’s feedback. It’s helping me piece things together about my dad. I didn’t realize dyslexia could affect more than reading.
Linah said: @Chester
Really appreciate everyone’s feedback. It’s helping me piece things together about my dad. I didn’t realize dyslexia could affect more than reading.
If you’re curious, look up the WISC-V assessment. It provides detailed insights into different cognitive abilities and might be interesting for you.
It’s a common misconception, but learning styles have been debunked by research. They don’t actually exist. Cognitive differences and impairments might be what you’re seeing with your dad.
keny said:
It’s a common misconception, but learning styles have been debunked by research. They don’t actually exist. Cognitive differences and impairments might be what you’re seeing with your dad.
I agree that the term ‘learning styles’ might be misleading. His longstanding traits are becoming more pronounced with age, pointing to deeper cognitive differences.
There’s no scientific backing for ‘learning styles’; it’s more about cognitive abilities and impairments, which could be what you’re noticing with your dad.
Gift said:
There’s no scientific backing for ‘learning styles’; it’s more about cognitive abilities and impairments, which could be what you’re noticing with your dad.
While learning styles aren’t scientifically supported, individual differences in tasks and abilities are real. It’s about understanding each person’s unique cognitive landscape.
Speaking from experience as someone with dyslexia, it presents differently in everyone. It’s not just a set of challenges but also includes unique strengths that aren’t often recognized or nurtured in traditional educational settings.
Linah said: @Chris
That’s a great point. It’s crucial to focus on the strengths as well. Could you share more about the positive traits associated with dyslexia?
Definitely. People with dyslexia often excel in spatial reasoning, like architecture, and can see connections between concepts quickly, which is great for roles in detective work or engineering.
You seem to have a good understanding of your dad’s strengths and weaknesses. Traditional IQ tests might not capture his abilities accurately, especially in practical and creative tasks.