Dyslexia, known in society as a difficulty in reading and writing, is a neurodevelopmental difference that shapes the mental, emotional and social development of the individual. This difference, which affects not only academic performance but all aspects of life, can lead to problems such as anxiety, loss of self-confidence and depression, especially in adulthood, if not taken into account.
Dyslexia manifests itself as a difficulty in language skills such as reading, writing and spelling in individuals regardless of their intelligence level. This neurodevelopmental difference, which can be seen in individuals with normal or superior intelligence, can negatively affect many areas of an individual's life if adequate support is not provided.
This situation, which manifests itself in the school environment with problems such as reading slower than their peers, mixing up words or making spelling mistakes, manifests itself in different ways during adulthood, especially in business life and social relationships.
While correctly understanding the situation and supporting individuals with appropriate training is of critical importance in preventing mental problems, ignoring the situation can lead to consequences such as depression and anxiety.
May Trigger Anxiety and Depression in Adolescence
Auto Train Brain CEO Günet Eroğlu, who stated that the brain undergoes restructuring, especially in some regions, during adolescence, said, “The brain goes through a natural development process called cortical thinning during this period. However, in individuals with dyslexia, these critical brain regions already have a different structure neurodevelopmentally. These structural differences directly affect the individual's ability to cope with stress, manage social rejection situations and emotional flexibility. Especially when combined with intense pressures such as increasing exam pressure, identity search and social comparisons around the age of 17, this neurobiological ground can lead to clinical conditions such as anxiety and depression.”
Dyslexia Can Appear at a Later Age
Emphasizing that dyslexia can sometimes go unnoticed at an early age with the support of schools and families, Auto Train Brain CEO Dr. Günet Eroğlu continued his words as follows: “However, as time goes by and especially towards the end of high school years, it can manifest itself as the academic load increases. While mental effort increases, a decrease in success can lead to a chronic feeling of failure, low self-confidence, anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms. Therefore, families have a lot of work to do. First of all, they should see this condition as a difference, not a disease, and support the individual with solutions against learning difficulties.
The cortical thinning seen in individuals with dyslexia is not a wall that blocks potential, but a neurobiological difference that can be overcome with the right intervention. However, not supporting it in the post-pubertal period can have serious emotional consequences. In this context, the neurofeedback method, which allows the individual to follow their own brain waves in real time and learn to organize them in the desired direction, offers an important solution. Thanks to this application, permanent improvements are achieved by using neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to restructure itself and establish new neural connections."
