Most people think of dyslexia as a reading and writing difference, but auditory dyslexia reveals an entirely different side of how the dyslexic brain processes the world. In this episode, I share what it’s really like to have a brain that sometimes hears the wrong words—even when you know what the person actually said.

Auditory dyslexia can make similar-sounding words blend together, make pronunciations harder to interpret, and turn everyday conversations into a full-brain decoding exercise. This means the dyslexic individual isn’t simply listening—they’re processing, filtering, and mentally working through each word. That extra mental load often leads to the social exhaustion so many dyslexic individuals experience but rarely talk about.

I share personal examples from childhood, teaching, relationships, and even music (including why I still hear Ed Sheeran singing about “camel thighs”). While some moments bring humor and joy, auditory dyslexia also comes with challenges—especially in learning environments, professional settings, and emotionally important conversations.

We discuss:

✨ What auditory dyslexia actually is
✨ Why it isn’t typically tested for
✨ How it affects relationships, learning, and communication
✨ The hidden exhaustion of constant mental filtering
✨ The importance of wellbeing factors—sleep, hunger, emotional state, background noise
✨ Post-traumatic growth and building resilience around dyslexic processing
✨ How humor can increase wellbeing and reduce shame

This episode is an invitation to honour your auditory processing differences, find compassion for the mental load you carry, and embrace the joy and humour in how your unique brain hears the world.

Connect with me at: 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.