Reading out loud seems simple for many people. However, for some dyslexic individuals, it is a difficult task. Personally, it is something I try to avoid at all costs. It is a moment of strong pressure, because immediately, you think of the worst. You imagine scenarios: if you make a mistake, how others might react, if you get stuck on a word, or if you lose your place in the text. While for some people it feels natural, for us it requires much more effort and concentration.

Even today, I remember the anxiety when I was at school. There was this oral exercise where each student would take turns reading a sentence, then naming one of their classmates. I dreaded hearing my name. So, before each sentence, I would mentally rehearse what I was going to say, in order to avoid making a mistake, which only increased that inner pressure.

When my turn came, stress took over. All eyes seemed to be on me, eyes that perhaps only existed in my mind. My thoughts became muddled as I began to read. I read slowly, and I felt like it was immediately noticeable, which made me even more uncomfortable. All I wanted at that moment was for it to be over as quickly as possible.

Once my sentence was finished, I felt a mixture of relief and embarrassment. Relief because it was over, but embarrassment because I knew I had probably hesitated or stumbled over certain words. I always wondered how others had perceived it, and I stayed for a long time with this feeling of having “done it wrong,” even though I had simply done my best.

I know I am not the only one who feels this way. Many dyslexic people go through the same situations. Reading out loud may seem trivial to some, but for us, it can become a real source of anxiety. Over time, we learn to cope with it, to prepare mentally, or sometimes to avoid these moments when possible. But that doesn’t make it easy. I hope others can better understand what this represents, in order to make these situations less difficult and more kind for everyone.

Sophia Ali