Learned to read at 62... time to rethink dyslexia? - David Chalk

Topics covered in this episode:
• Overcoming Reading Challenges: David Chalk shares his personal journey—from struggling with dyslexia, face blindness, and other cognitive hurdles to learning to read at 62—and explains how a flow-based, gamified method can revolutionize learning for neurodivergent children and adults.
• Gamification & Flow in Education: David details how creating a state of flow through focused attention, immediate feedback, and belief transforms the traditional reading process into an engaging, almost magical experience.
• Sensory Enrichment for Emotional Regulation: Claudie demonstrates a practical sensory enrichment technique—using an ice pack paired with a vanilla scent—to stimulate dopamine release and reset the brain, helping ease stress and improve emotional regulation.

Episode Highlights

[2:00] – He candidly shares, “I could understand some words but. But the context of reading was the impossibility for me."

[8:00] – David recalls vivid childhood memories—the boat ride to Canada, the train ride, and sensory details—that illustrate his remarkable, photographic memory.

[13:00] – He recounts the painful humiliation in school when he was singled out and labeled “dumb,” a turning point that fueled his fierce determination to learn.

[29:35] – David reveals the transformative moment in his breakthrough: “I found the secret was the focus, the flow, the attention, the belief. Reading transformed into something almost magical.”
[32:12] – He describes entering a state of flow during his reading breakthrough: “Time disappeared... it was like magic,” capturing the moment learning became effortless.
[34:53] – David reflects on how this breakthrough shifted his reading ability from struggling with simple words to reading fluidly, emphasizing that he wasn’t unintelligent—he simply wasn’t taught correctly.
[40:43] – David explains his natural flow of reading: he sees words as part of an uninterrupted stream, reinforcing his innovative, holistic approach.
[50:32] – Claudie introduces a sensory enrichment game by explaining how an ice pack combined with a vanilla scent can trigger dopamine release, effectively resetting the brain’s state and easing stress.