In today’s episode, I share one of the most powerful studies I came across after my own diagnosis — a 2021 study by Virginia Stern and colleagues titled Enhanced Visceral Motor Emotional Reactivity in Dyslexia and its Relation to the Salience Network. Though the name might sound complex, the findings are profound: dyslexic individuals—especially those with phonetic processing differences—may experience heightened emotional and social awareness.

This episode explores how:
• Dyslexia affects more than reading or learning — it shapes social and emotional experiences.
• Phonetic dyslexics may have stronger facial expressiveness and heightened empathy.
• These sensitivities can lead to both deep connection and emotional overwhelm.
• Emotional regulation, through tools like breathwork, helps dyslexic individuals stay grounded while embracing their perceptive strengths.
• Together, we’ll look at what this study reveals about how dyslexic brains feel and connect — and how understanding these emotional nuances can help us rewrite the dyslexic story from one of limitation to one of deep human insight.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Welcome to Unmasking Dyslexia
0:38 – Why this study changed how I understood my dyslexic brain
2:10 – Overview of Stern et al. (2021): Emotional reactivity and the dyslexic brain
3:50 – The importance of identifying which type of dyslexia is studied
5:15 – How phonetic dyslexics process emotion differently
7:20 – Facial expression, empathy, and emotional intensity
9:30 – The link between emotional expression, anxiety, and depression
12:10 – What this means for relationships and communication
15:00 – Emotional regulation for dyslexic sensitivity
16:15 – Using the breath to restore balance and calm
18:30 – Why we need more research — and a new story of dyslexia

Key Takeaways:
• Dyslexia is not only about reading — it’s about how we experience the world emotionally and socially.
• Phonetic dyslexics may have heightened emotional awareness and expressive empathy.
• Emotional regulation is a vital skill for dyslexics — the breath can be a powerful anchor.
• Science is beginning to show that dyslexia shapes connection, not just cognition.
• It’s time to rewrite the story of dyslexia from deficit to difference.

#UnmaskingDyslexia #CarleenRoss #DyslexiaAndEmotion #Neurodiversity #EmotionalIntelligence #DyslexicStrengths #Neurodivergent #DyslexiaAwareness #PositivePsychology #SocialNeuroscience #EmotionalRegulation #MeaningAndMattering

Study:
Sturm, V. E., Roy, A. R. K., Datta, S., Wang, C., Sible, I. J., Holley, S. R., Watson, C., Palser, E. R., Morris, N. A., Battistella, G., Rah, E., Meyer, M., Pakvasa, M., Mandelli, M. L., Deleon, J., Hoeft, F., Caverzasi, E., Miller, Z. A., Shapiro, K. A., … Gorno-Tempini, M. L. (2021). Enhanced visceromotor emotional reactivity in dyslexia and its relation to salience network connectivity. Cortex, 134, 278–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2020.10.022

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic.

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com or to connect with me directly, email me at connect@CarleenRoss.com.

In this episode, we’re diving into the terms neurotypical and neurodivergent — where they come from, what they actually mean, and why the definitions we’ve been given don’t always tell the full story. Who decides what’s “typical” or “average” anyway? And how does the DSM-5 shape our understanding of difference?

We’ll also explore:
• The origins of the term neurodivergent — from Harvey Blume (1998) to Judy Singer’s advocacy.
• Why separating neurotypical from neurodiverse can create unhelpful “us vs. them” thinking.
• The idea of Complementary Cognition, introduced by Helen Taylor — a theory that celebrates all processing styles as essential for human evolution.
• How dyslexic brains might just be the next step in our collective creativity and innovation.
• Through storytelling and research, Carlene reframes what it means to be different — showing how every brain has a purpose and every perspective has value.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
0:40 – What does “neurotypical” really mean?
2:30 – The DSM-5 and who decides what’s “normal”
5:10 – Understanding spectrum experiences
7:30 – Mild, moderate, and severe dyslexia — what that really means
11:15 – The hidden ways dyslexics “mask” during assessments
14:00 – Origins of the term “neurodivergent”
17:45 – The role of Judy Singer and the rise of neurodiversity
19:10 – Why “us vs. them” misses the point
21:00 – Helen Taylor’s Complementary Cognition
22:45 – Dyslexic processing as a gift for human evolution
24:30 – Closing reflections: There’s nothing wrong with you — you were meant to think this way.

Key Takeaways:
• “Normal” is a construct — not a scientific truth.
• Every brain is unique, and difference is essential for human growth.
• Dyslexia exists on a spectrum — mild, moderate, and severe experiences all matter.
• The idea of Complementary Cognition shows how diverse minds move humanity forward.
• Dyslexics are not broken — we are beautifully designed to see the world differently.

#UnmaskingDyslexia #CarleenRoss #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #Neurotypical #DyslexiaAwareness #ComplementaryCognition #PositivePsychology #HumanEvolution #DifferentNotDeficient #XMenOfThinking #mindfulscience

Show Notes:
Learn more about where the term neurodiversity came from here: https://www.carleenross.com/neurodiversity

Read Helen Taylor's paper:
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/cambridge-archaeological-journal/article/evolution-of-complementary-cognition-humans-cooperatively-adapt-and-evolve-through-a-system-of-collective-cognitive-search/F198B30682343E92C7E9C986332D380A?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=bookmark

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic.

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com or to connect with me directly, email me at connect@CarleenRoss.com.

In today’s episode, we’re stepping outside the usual conversation about dyslexia. This isn’t about the classroom. This isn’t about work. This episode is about how dyslexia influences our relationships, our communication, our identity, and our lived moments with the people closest to us.

We explore what happens when the dyslexic brain moves into the social world — how we interpret tone, language, meaning, and intention differently, and why this often leads to misunderstanding between dyslexic and neurotypical communicators.

You’ll hear my own story of diagnosis, the relief of finally having a name I could own, and the challenge of learning the deficits and the strengths that come with dyslexic processing. We talk about how dyslexics often see the forest, not just the trees, and why that big-picture thinking changes the texture of our interactions.

We’ll also examine research from psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science to understand why dyslexic communication is unique — and why the system rarely discusses these social impacts.

And we end on a positive: the web-based memory system that makes dyslexic thinking powerful, rich, creative, and deeply interconnected.

In This Episode:
(0:00) Welcome and introduction
(0:14) Why we need to move dyslexia beyond school and work
(0:28) Getting a diagnosis — and finally having something to own
(1:01) The deficits as described by research — from a neurotypical lens
(1:35) Big-picture processing: seeing the forest AND the trees
(2:27) Communication differences: high-concept expression, not fine-detail scripting
(3:04) Word recall, memory, and why arguments can feel distorted
(4:10) Meaning vs. words: the dyslexic brain listens differently
(5:21) The missing research: why organizations overlook the social realm
(6:16) Looking at dyslexia through psychology, neuroscience, and medical data
(6:41) What dyslexia could mean beyond “learning disability”
(7:27) The beauty of web-based memory
(8:24) Why our answers seem off-topic (but usually aren’t)
(9:21) Seeing what others don’t — and celebrating that strength
(9:53) Why dyslexics matter in the social world

Key Takeaways:
• Dyslexia doesn’t stop at reading or writing — it shapes social interaction, communication, and emotional processing.
• Dyslexic communication focuses on meaning, not just words.
• Big-picture thinking can cause conflict, but it also creates incredible insight.
• Dyslexic memory works like a web, not a filing cabinet — deeply interconnected.
• Understanding dyslexia socially helps us understand ourselves more fully.

#UnmaskingDyslexia #DyslexiaAndRelationships #Neurodiversity #DyslexiaAwareness #CommunicationDifferences #PositivePsychology #MeaningAndMattering

connect@CarleenRoss.com
https://www.carleenross.com/

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic.

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com or to connect with me directly, email me at connect@CarleenRoss.com.

Positive Psychology is the science of well-being — it asks, what makes life good? What helps us grow, even when life challenges us?

In this episode, you’ll learn how Positive Psychology has evolved over time, from Martin Seligman’s focus on strengths to Paul Wong’s integration of shadow and struggle, and into newer waves that explore culture, meaning, and spirituality.

I’ll also share how these frameworks shape the way I support dyslexic individuals — using both resilience and purpose to create a fuller, more compassionate understanding of who we are.

In This Episode:
(0:00) Welcome to Unmasking Dyslexia
(0:43) What is Positive Psychology?
(1:11) The four waves of Positive Psychology
(1:24) Wave 1: Strengths and the science of a good life (Martin Seligman)
(1:53) Wave 2: Growth through struggle and balance (Paul Wong)
(2:35) How this connects to the dyslexic experience
(3:43) Wave 3: Representing diverse and underrepresented voices
(3:58) Wave 4: Meaning, spirituality, and existential growth
(4:57) How I use Waves 2 & 4 to support dyslexic well-being
(5:08) The importance of holding both light and shadow

Key Takeaways:
• Positive Psychology isn’t about ignoring pain — it’s about finding growth through it.
• Wave 2 reminds us that struggle and resilience coexist.
• Wave 4 invites us to explore meaning, mattering, and our connection beyond self.
• Dyslexia research and support benefit from integrating both science and soul.

#UnmaskingDyslexia #CarleenRoss #PositivePsychology #AdultDyslexia #Neurodiversity #EmpoweredDyslexic #DyslexiaAwareness #ScienceOfWellbeing #MeaningAndMattering #CoachingPsychology #ThriveWithDyslexia

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic.

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com or to connect with me directly, email me at connect@CarleenRoss.com.

In this episode, Carleen explores how our understanding of dyslexia has been shaped by different frameworks — and why it’s time for a shift. From the traditional medical model that focuses on what’s “wrong,” to the social model that highlights how environments shape identity, and finally to the neurodivergent model that embraces dyslexia as a unique way of processing the world — this conversation challenges us to rethink what it truly means to be dyslexic.

Carleen also shares insights from her master’s research, revealing the continuum of dyslexic identity — from the hidden dyslexic to the empowered dyslexic — and discusses how wellbeing, self-compassion, and positive psychology can help individuals move toward empowerment.

This episode invites you to see dyslexia not as a deficit, but as a different and deeply valuable way of being in the world.

In This Episode
(0:00) Welcome and introduction
(0:19) How the medical model shapes our understanding of dyslexia
(1:56) The social model and the importance of “nothing about us, without us”
(3:15) Research findings: the continuum of dyslexic identity
(5:25) Introducing the neurodivergent model and why it matters
(6:30) How wellbeing and positive psychology support dyslexic growth
(8:10) Moving beyond limitation — toward post-traumatic growth
(9:18) Redefining what it means to be dyslexic in society

Key Takeaways:
• The medical model looks for what’s wrong and what can be “fixed.”
• The social model centres lived experience and social context.
• The neurodivergent model reframes dyslexia as a difference, not a deficit.
• Dyslexic identity exists on a continuum — from hidden, to socially defined, to empowered.
• Positive psychology and wellbeing practices are essential for resilience and thriving.

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic.

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com or to connect with me directly, email me at connect@CarleenRoss.com.

In this first episode of Unmasking Dyslexia, host Carleen Ross shares her personal journey of discovering her dyslexia at 49 and rewriting her self-story. Through the lens of positive psychology, she explores how embracing all parts of ourselves leads to healing and self-acceptance. Join her as she unpacks both the struggles and strengths that come with seeing the world through a dyslexic brain.

Thank you for listening to Unmasking Dyslexia. This podcast is dedicated to reframing how we understand dyslexia—shifting the narrative from deficit to difference.

If you found today's episode valuable or think someone you know could benefit from its message, please share it. By doing so you become apart of the positive shift society needs around what it means to be dyslexic.

To learn more about Carleen Ross’s work in positive psychology, coaching, and neurodiversity advocacy, visit https://www.carleenross.com or to connect with me directly, email me at connect@CarleenRoss.com.