Story highlights
Coder creates simulation of how his dyslexic friend experiences reading
Seeing nonexistent movement in words and seeing letters like "d", "b", "p", "q" rotated is common with dyslexia
Dyslexia affects one in five people, Yale center says
CNN —
One in five people suffer from it and famous figures from Tom Cruise to Richard Branson have spoken at length about how it has affected their lives.
Dyslexia – a lifelong condition that affects reading, writing, spelling and speaking – may be a common condition but it’s still not widely understood.
With a bit of Web code, one man is making it easier for others to understand how reading with dyslexia might feel. The idea came to Victor Widell after his dyslexic friend told him letters seemed to swap in out of place when she looked at words.
If you had a hard time getting through the passage, this is what the unscrambled text says:
“A friend who has dyslexia described to me how she experiences reading. She can read, but it takes a lot of concentration, and the letters seem to ‘jump around.’
Daniel Britton's typeface removes lines from normal lettering to simulate the difficulty dyslexic people have while reading.
Britton used his background in graphic design and experience with the learning disorder to design the typeface.
As readers are forced to slow down to read, they experience similar frustrations and related emotions as those with dyslexia.
Britton hopes to create educational packs to be sent to schools to increase empathy for dyslexic students.
The typeface was initially featured in designboom magazine, where it received creative praise.
Typeface simulates reading with dyslexia
“I remembered reading about typoglycemia. Wouldn’t it be possible to do it interactively on a website with JavaScript? Sure it would.
“Dyslexia is characterized by difficulty with learning to read fluently and with accurate comprehension despite normal intelligence. This includes difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, processing speed, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, language skills/verbal comprehension, and/or rapid naming.
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“Developmental reading disorder (DRD) is the most common learning disability. Dyslexia is the most recognized of reading disorders, however not all reading disorders are linked to dyslexia.
“Some see dyslexia as distinct from reading difficulties resulting from other causes, such as a non-neurological deficiency with vision or hearing, or poor or inadequate reading instruction.
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“There are three proposed cognitive subtypes of dyslexia (auditory, visual and attentional), although individual cases of dyslexia are better explained by specific underlying neuropsychological deficits and co-occurring learning disabilities (e.g. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, math disability, etc.).
“Although it is considered to be a receptive language-based learning disability in the research literature, dyslexia also affects one’s expressive language skills. Researchers at MIT found that people with dyslexia exhibited impaired voice-recognition abilities.”
One of many types
To be clear, Widell’s simulation is not perfect. There are many forms of dyslexia and not everyone diagnosed with it experiences reading this way. But seeing nonexistent movement in words and seeing letters like “d”, “b”, “p”, “q” rotated is common among people with dyslexia.
Some commenters on Widell’s blog said his text mirrored their experience; others said theirs was slightly different or even more difficult.
One person said his appeared as a vertical jumbling where “words and letters swap into preceding and following lines.”
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“Leaving the first and last letter of a word stable makes it too easy. Being dyslexic is hard. Really hard,” another said.
The article you provided delves into the simulation of dyslexia through coding and typography to help others understand the reading experience of individuals with dyslexia. As someone familiar with this topic, I can elaborate on various elements mentioned.
The description of dyslexia in the article aligns with prevalent characteristics. Dyslexia isn't a singular experience but a spectrum. The swapping or rotation of letters like "d", "b", "p", "q" is a common manifestation. This occurs due to neurological differences affecting how the brain processes language and symbols.
Victor Widell's simulation, using JavaScript, visually represents the difficulty dyslexic individuals face while reading. His friend's description of letters seeming to swap or move around mirrors the challenges many dyslexic individuals encounter.
Another approach discussed in the article involves Daniel Britton's typeface, which intentionally removes lines from letters. By altering the structure of text, Britton aims to simulate the reading difficulties experienced by those with dyslexia. This typeface forces readers to slow down and empathize with the frustration dyslexic individuals encounter.
The article touches on the multifaceted nature of dyslexia, highlighting that it affects reading, writing, spelling, and speaking. It emphasizes that dyslexia is not solely about intelligence; individuals may have normal intelligence yet struggle significantly with reading.
Additionally, it mentions the various cognitive subtypes of dyslexia (auditory, visual, attentional) and the existence of other learning disabilities that can co-occur with dyslexia, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or math disability.
Moreover, there's a crucial distinction between dyslexia and reading difficulties caused by non-neurological factors or inadequate reading instruction. While dyslexia is primarily a receptive language-based learning disability, it can also impact expressive language skills.
The article concludes by acknowledging that while simulations like Widell's aren't perfect and may not represent every individual's experience with dyslexia, they shed light on common characteristics. It emphasizes the diverse ways dyslexia manifests, with some individuals experiencing vertical jumbling or different forms of word and letter movement.
The comments from dyslexic individuals on Widell's blog further underscore the variability in experiences, with some finding the simulation relatable while others express differing or even more challenging experiences.
Understanding dyslexia requires acknowledging its complexity and the variability in how it affects individuals. Both Widell and Britton's efforts aim to foster empathy and awareness about the challenges faced by people with dyslexia.
