Brain Speed = coordination?

[RATTER15]

As some of you may be aware I am severely Dyslexic, now I have always thought that the dyslexia does not affect my coordination but now im not so sure?

I probably write at 1/4 of the speed of most people for a few reasons, I cant think as fast as my hand is writing so I need to pause to let the brain catch up, I only write in block capitals, that way I can write a little faster as I dont have to try to remember how to connect letters (my writing really is not fluent) when I see other write so fluently I am envious and amazed at the speed people are able to think, let alone be able to write so fast! I type with one finger only, my brain will not allow me to switch between finger quickly or to coordinate them both working together. I have tried typing courses but I just cant think fast enough.
There are many computer games I cannot play or only able to play at a beginners or basic level due to the game play speeding up or becoming more complex I cant cope or if I need to use more than one key at a time I cant remember the keys fast enough. Are these all symptoms or poor coordination or is it just brain speed or are they both the same thing?

I am fascinated by this condition and I am learning more and more, I like most people thought Dyslexia was just a reading and writing problem, it goes far deeper than that.

[Zacs-Master]

I presume you've read this ratter
http://www.dyslexic.org.uk/research-coord.html

[RATTER15]

Thanks Zac, I have read similar documents but Im not sure if that refers to what I describe above.

[NOX]

I'm not sure Ratter tbh,it's an odd condition and seems to be uniquely personal to each person affected. My one adult son is terribly dyslexic but his co-ordination with computer games especially faster than average as he's a competition gamer. He can read okay now in his own time but he literally can't write like other people can- again a block capitals man. He also can't read maps- I mean at all- they are a total mystery to him, which given his enhanced gaming to me makes little sense.

[Sir Alec]

I don't think we will ever have answers unless we can work on living brains. They have almost perfected this procedure now and I would be a willing volunteer. I'd love to know how my brain works, the way that it does. Apparently I have a huge hypothalamus, which explains my amazing memory, especially long term.

[daffy654]

Have you ever considered that as well as dyslexia you may also have dyspraxia? They often go hand in hand.

[RATTER15]

I agree Nox it is unusual as it does have quite a few symptoms that can appear at both ends of the scale, from being totally unable to perform some functions to excelling at the same function in others. The block capital writing and the map reading symptoms are very common. Another annoying symptom for me is the inability to hear what people are saying if there is music playing, even if the music is low volume, i just hear garbled noises and totally unable to seperate the voice from the music. I also cant take notes when in meetings and on courses, as soon as I start to write I cannot hear what is being said and then when I read back what I have written it makes no sense, again very typical of many dyslexics. I can read words with no problems but struggle understanding a sentence or a paragraph without reading it over and over and over. Punctuation is a complete mystery to me and I usually get it very wrong, oftem making what I write difficlt for others to read. Its a strange condition indeed. I must add that dyslexia can also seen as a gift and will bless sufferes like myself with other tallents.

[RATTER15]

Daffy, I dont think I have Dyspraxia, I think my symptoms would be far worse but I am looking into it.

[anneasquith]

good morning RATTER, how is your new job going. is cara well ? :)

[Meg888]

I have to say I have learned something here Ratter - I did not realise dyslexia affected so many other aspects of a sufferer's life. My daughter has dyspraxia, but is not dyslexic - so I empathise with you on the co-ordination / brain speed prob, as these are her biggest problems.

[cazzz1975]

I used to suffer from this at school a lot and was made to feel like an idiot for needing extra time to digest a question before giving an answer. My brain cannot cope with anything that requires an immediate answer or anything quick fire.

Unfortunately my daughter has this as well, she is also having the same problem in school.

[Robinia]

I've got a friend who's dyslexic and it's not only his reading that's affected.

I'm not dyslexic and I don't know whether it's because I've got long arms, lol, but messages from my brain seem to take a long time to reach my hands. Despite years of practise, school lessons and night classes I've never been able to type fast or use more than two fingers on my right hand and one on the left. I don't write fast and even though I'm a good knitter I think I'm a bit slow. I see people operating machinery using both hands with such accuracy and speed...I'd never be able to do that. (Before anyone starts worrying, I don't drive!)
I like to take time to think and prefer a quiet background if I'm concentrating.
I'd like to know how my brain works too...it's a miracle I can exist on my own sometimes :)

[jno]

some manual dexterity is learned, like typing or playing the piano. I can still change gear in a car though I've had an automatic for 20 years, because that's the way I learned. But I wouldn't swear that inability to do these things necessarily means there's something wrong with you. People with acute spatial awareness make better footballers than people without, but just because some are very good at it doesn't mean others are somehow failing.

My own guess is that all sorts of abilities fall onto a spectrum, with some people good at them, some less so. Whether it's a "problem" is entirely down to the individual. Ten-finger typing has stood me in good stead over the years but I can't play video games or pianos. As I don't want to, it isn't a problem.

I can see slow writing/typing could be a problem for you. But how's your talking, for instance? Is it the case that your tongue works at "normal" speed even if your fingers can't?

As to whether this is all dyslexia, I don't know. Illnesses are what doctors say they are. Maybe they don't consider poor coordination a symptom; but then again, maybe they'll change their minds next week. At the moment, it might be interesting to know that X% of people share a lot fo your symptoms and Y% don't. But my overall advice (which you probably know perfectly well already, of course) would just be to see what you can do about the things you consider problems and not bother about the rest.

Looking back on this, I can see I haven't actually said anything very helpful at all. Sorry.

[Ellipsis]

How odd. I think my handwriting is poor because my brain is working faster than my hand can keep up with! I don't see why a brain working slower would be a problem - it seems much easier for the hand to wait than for the brain to wait. So maybe you're smarter than you think ...

[masma]

Mr M is dyslexic, when he writes anything it's hard to understand how he got to that conclusion, his words look nothing like they're meant to. He also has difficulty in remembering numbers but.... give him a piece of wood and he can make almost anything. He has recently won a Highly Commended prize for his model of HMS Invicible which he made from odd bits of wood found in the garage.

[RATTER15]

Ellipsis,// it seems much easier for the hand to wait than for the brain to wait.// If it was so easy I wouldnt have the problem lol. that is what coordination is all about. //So maybe you're smarter than you think ...//
some of the wolds smartest people are dyslexic, I don't have a problem with not being smart, Dyslexia is not related to intelligence. I was just asking if my problems are associated with coordination. It is looking like I may have a few symptoms of dyspraxia, not really sure on that one.

jno, I think I know what you're saying, thanks :-)

Im only asking these questions out of interest really, whilst I do have problems I get around most situations one way or another but I am very interested in the whole dyslexia in adults thing.

[Ellipsis]

Apologies Ratter, I think we are separated by a language barrier. No offence intended ...

[China Doll]

Some of the paediatric patients my docs see with learning difficulties (various issues) also have developmental delay with fine and gross motor skills so I think it's probably quite common.

[RATTER15]

Ellipsis, I wasnt offended, I just made a couple of points, certainly not offended by your comments lol Sorry if it sounded that way. :-)

[boxtops]

Ratter - all I can say at this point is that until you spoke of your dyslexia, I would never have known about it. Your posts are always coherent and to the point. Well done to you - and for educating some of us about the condition, too.

[RATTER15]

Thanks Boxy, it will often take me a long time to write a post and then spell and grammar check it in MS word before posting lol.