The Disconnect Between Dyslexia and IQ

By Lauren Cantor

LJC Learning, LLC

Albert Einstein, Charles Schwab, John F. Kennedy, Steven Spielberg, and Whoopi Goldberg are just a few of the many highly successful individuals who have made a significant impact on the world and society while having, or having had, a diagnosis of dyslexia.

While reading Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz, I am rediscovering key truths that highlight the connection between dyslexia and IQ.

According to Shaywitz, a person’s IQ is not related to a dyslexia diagnosis. She states, “The data show that dyslexics can have a very high IQ but still struggle to read; that is, they can think quickly and read slowly” (Shaywitz 102).

However, many individuals experience the false perception that dyslexia makes them “not smart” or incapable of learning at the same rate as their peers. As a result, they may believe they have a lower IQ. I worry that this self-perception can negatively affect self-confidence and potentially hinder success.

Shaywitz discusses a study she conducted with a college-aged man with dyslexia, exploring this very misconception. She asked him to estimate his IQ, and he believed it was below average. However, after administering various cognitive tests, she showed him that his IQ was actually above average.

How can we ensure that young readers understand they are smart and capable, regardless of a dyslexia diagnosis?

Dyslexia presents challenges—there is no disputing that. Yet, it is essential to recognize that critical, creative, and quick thinking are not limited by this diagnosis. Intelligence can manifest in many ways, and dyslexia does not define one’s intellectual potential.

Works Cited
Shaywitz, Sally. Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level. 2nd ed., Vintage, 2020.