In this episode, we dive deep into the idea that none of us are only one identity—not even our strongest ones. I share why I say “I am dyslexic” rather than “I have dyslexia,” and how my dyslexic brain filters everything I see, feel, understand, communicate, and create.

Drawing from psychology, neuroscience, positive psychology, spirituality, and shamanic practices, we explore how our identities function like lenses—shaping the way we experience relationships, emotions, safety, communication, and meaning.

You’ll learn:

✨ Why identity is a constellation of many “little i’s” under one “big I”
✨ How dyslexia can be a processing identity, not just a learning difference
✨ How trauma, gender, culture, and spirituality shape how we filter the world
✨ Why the word AND (A-N-D) is essential for self-understanding
✨ The “starburst” exercise for mapping your multiple identities
✨ Why positive experiences matter (4:1 ratio) for balancing negative ones
✨ How collecting your “ands” strengthens wellbeing, resilience, and clarity

This episode is an invitation to honour the many parts that make you you.
You are not just one identity—you are a starburst.

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.

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.

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.