When the going gets tough, the dyslexic uses concentration. What does that mean? And isn't concentrating a good thing?

Yes and no. If you're not paying adequate attention, using concentration is good. If you focus too hard on one thing, you lose everything else. And this intense behavior ultimately creates confusion for a dyslexic.

In reading, when a dyslexic encounters words they don't know, they see a blank picture. Dyslexics in a general sense create pictures for everything. And a word that is not a true object or an action word just does not have a picture on its own.

So, they encounter a blank picture. They can skip the word a couple of times. But too many skipped words and too many blank pictures start to add up. And they add up to confusion. And it takes concentration to get past those blank pictures.

I'm sure you can see the circle - blank picture, concentration, too much focus, confusion, skip a word or a blank picture. What can be done?

Because dyslexics are so visual they can create pictures for abstract words. And need to. Average people just skip the words, no headaches, no confusion. But average people also aren't too good at creating pictures in their heads.

To create a picture for an abstract word, use a simple dictionary and modeling clay to define the word. Create a physical picture of the word. These are simple words like 'and' or 'the' or 'can' or 'have.' This exercise is very effective and each word only has to be done well once for this person to have a picture for life.

A small investment of time and support and each word will stop being a source of confusion and blank pictures. Less concentration and more understanding.