Learning Difficulties Can Be a Chance to Excel: The Power Of Different

If you have, a child with learning difficulties, like I do, you have experienced the same heart ache. You know the feeling of disappointment and anger against the system. Why do schools always stay the same, while everyone has agreed that we have lost the connection between education and the real world?

This Mindfunda is a book review of The Power of Different, The link between Disorder and Genius written by Gail Saltz M.D. April 2017, Flat Iron Books, ISBN 10987654321

 

learning difficulties
Buy the book using this link and support Mindfunda

 

Learning Difficulties: 80 % Dyslexia

It took years before I pushed the school my oldest son was in, to admit that all their remedial teaching had been in vain. I arranged an official test, and my son was dyslexic, just as I had suggested for years. My little man cried his eyes out. He was different and being different is bad.

Gail, in The Power of Different, admits that labels are not good for anybody. But DSM V, even though it is under heavy scrutiny, demands a label to be put on a “patient”.  Labels are by definition limiting.

learning difficulties

 

 

We all know someone with dyslexia: Richard Branson. He had a wonderful April first prank, as he declared he wanted to start the first dyslexia sperm bank. But starting May second 2017, the website he promotes in his film in the blog Made by Dyslexia will be dedicated to positive sides of this learning challenge.

Learning Difficulties: ADD + ADHD

Did you know that nearly 8 % of all children between 3 and 17 get the disgnosis ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)? We all knew someone special that had it: Robbin Williams.

learning difficulties

ADD is like your mind is a racecare using bicycle breaks. The brain is not inhibited, nothing stops the flow of thought.

It is such a relief when you read a quote like “neither therapy nor drugs will render the brain permanently “normal”. And given the remarkable linkage between attentional deficits and extremes of originality, we shouldn’t desire to flatten out those differences”. I hope more experts sin the field think about it this way.

Learning Difficulties and the Power of Different

There are seven types of labels described in this book: dyslexia, distractibility, anxiety, melancholy, bipolar disease, schizoid personalities and autism.

Usually, in our current educational system, the rules are too strict to make those children shine. Often they end up with big holes blown into their self esteem.

 

 

When you read the book, you can’t help but recognizing some of the behaviour described. But what makes the book an asset to your book closet is that it makes you wish your brain was wired in this ways as well.

Being so creative, so artistic and so unique that you can make your mark on this world.

Conclusion

PRO

  • You will read the book effortlessly, it is well written without the use of difficult scientific terms;
  • Each chapter is build up out of the same paragraph structures: the diagnoses, what it mean, the experience, challenges, developing work arounds, the gifts of and how to flourish… It makes the book consistent and it guides your expectations while reading it;
  • I especially liked the “How people with … can flourish” section of each chapter. It gave me a lot of confirmation about things I already do, “like only listen when people tell about their problems, don’t solve it for them”  but also gave me good insights to the strong points of -for example dyslexia: recognizing how my oldest son is indeed so very good at seeing the whole picture, while I get lost in details.
  • It is a practical book but it is based on neurological insights into the brain. If you love neurology as much as I do, you will like this book;
  • Almost every parent realizes how ancient the school system we use has become. This book is filled with stories of parents bold enough to speak up and make chances. This can be the reinforcement you need to try to make things in the life of your child better.

CON

  • There is a content page that only gives the title of the chapter, not the different paragraphs in them. It is a shame, because the book is set up in such a clever and structural way;
  • On a personal level: I get a bit bored when Einstein its dragged out of his grave again to serve as an example of someone with a brain disorder. Even though I know that he did not have a usual brain (see the fourth dot in this blog The Human Brain by Rita Carter), he was never diagnosed in an official way;
  • One thing I missed in this book: there is no mention at all of the book by Richard Soul: ADHD Does Not Exist The Truth About Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder;
    I would have loved to hear Dr. Gail her ideas about that;
  • This book is especially interesting when you are dealing with a child/friend/spouse who has one of the ‘disorders’, so it is for a specific target group. This can be a pro as well.

Mindfunda verdict:

8/10

Do you like this post? Feel Free to Share

I like nothing better than to give away valuable information to make your life better. Here are two books to choose from: 10 tips to remember more dreams and a report on Mutual Dreaming 

Follow me on Twitter

Join me on Facebook


THIS CONTENT IS CREATED BY SUSANNE VAN DOORN, AUTHOR AND OWNER OF MINDFUNDA; MAKING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF PSYCHOLOGY, MYTHOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY EASY TO USE IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE!

What is Mindfunda about?

My name is Susanne van Doorn, I am a Dutch psychologist, blogger and author. I have been working with psychology, dreams and mythology ever since I finished my study in psychology at Tilburg University. I made this independant site to share insights, and recent scientific articles about the brain, dreams, and mythology for use in your personal life.

This posting is categorised as Brainfunda:
articles and relevant information about the brain about how you can use this in your everyday life. Neurology, the brain all the fascinating things we find out in current research.

Read more about Mindfunda here, or visit our Courses Page.


Ready for more free Mindfunda content on ‘NEUROLOGY‘?

3 Facts about Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute defines it like this on their website: "Sleep apnea (AP-ne-ah) is a common disorder in which you have one or more ...

The Ideal World: Is Science Going to Create it?

In an ideal world we would learn from the past and create a future that is based on the progress of science. Adolfo Plasencia talks with some of the biggest names ...

Ramon y Cajal: Father of Neurology and his Vision on Dreams

Today's blog is dedicated to Jordi Borràs, one of the best dream workers in Spain. A Book review of The Dreams of Santiago Ramon y Cajal by Benjamin Ehrlich Oxford ...

Comments or suggestions? Share your thoughts:

    We hate Spam as much as you do, your information is safe with us and we will not provide your data to others.
    To authenticate you are human, you are kindly asked to opt-in on periodic updates as the Mindfunda Monthly.

    Please check the appropriate box below, and fill in the little puzzle

    keep me posted on news (monthly)no mail please

    Leave a Comment

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Verified by ExactMetrics