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Original poster

Is this normal.

25 replies

Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 18:57

So I have dyslexia and learning difficulties. Is this situation linked with having dyslexia?

If I'm cooking I have to read the recipe every time even though i have made the same meal several times . I can never learn it even though it's not complicated. Recipe I find really hard because there are numbers and words to read . If im adding spices/seasoning . I will get the messure spoon then get mixed up was it turmeric that was 1/2 a tea soon. Or was it chilli and so on.

Then if one of my teens come in. Mum what you doing what you cooking . Every completely falls apart. I don't know what im doing . What I have already done. It feels like the end of the world. And I feel like giving up .even if the kids just walk in the kitchen and say just grabbing a drink. It has the same effect I'm completely lost. I have tried to talk to them but they don't seem to understand.

OP posts:
MaidOfSteel · 21/09/2024 19:02

I imagine Dyslexia causes cognitive issues and this might be why you're having trouble following the recipe, losing your place, getting mixed up.

Tomorrowisyesterday · 21/09/2024 19:03

As far as I understand it, your working memory is affected so what you can hold in your head at one time is different to someone without dyslexia. Hence needing to recheck the recipe and to struggling to focus when someone has interrupted you.

CottonPyjamas · 21/09/2024 19:07

It sounds like poor working memory. My son has this. It was one of the more prominent points from his dyslexia report

MarkingBad · 21/09/2024 19:10

Yes it can be related to dyslexia because following instructions is hard for dyslexics to remember in sequence. The interruptions don't help.

I'm dyslexic it is really difficult to remember things in sequence

NigelHarmansNewWife · 21/09/2024 19:13

Would a strategy like getting everything measured out before you start to actually cook and ticking it off a list as you go help?

Original poster
Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 19:19

NigelHarmansNewWife · 21/09/2024 19:13

Would a strategy like getting everything measured out before you start to actually cook and ticking it off a list as you go help?

No not really

OP posts:
fridaynight1 · 21/09/2024 19:39

Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 18:57

So I have dyslexia and learning difficulties. Is this situation linked with having dyslexia?

If I'm cooking I have to read the recipe every time even though i have made the same meal several times . I can never learn it even though it's not complicated. Recipe I find really hard because there are numbers and words to read . If im adding spices/seasoning . I will get the messure spoon then get mixed up was it turmeric that was 1/2 a tea soon. Or was it chilli and so on.

Then if one of my teens come in. Mum what you doing what you cooking . Every completely falls apart. I don't know what im doing . What I have already done. It feels like the end of the world. And I feel like giving up .even if the kids just walk in the kitchen and say just grabbing a drink. It has the same effect I'm completely lost. I have tried to talk to them but they don't seem to understand.

This is so strange. We have just been talking about this.

We only have a tiny freezer and pizzas will only fit in if I take them out of the box. I asked my DH to take a picture of the cooking instructions on the package so I’d know what temperature to cook it on and for how long.

I don’t know about dyslexia but my family have just diagnosed me with weirdness. I must have cooked thousands of pizzas but I need to read the instructions every single time. Same goes with everything I bake or cook - I can’t do it without the recipe or instructions in front of me no matter how many times I have made it.
Cakes, lasagna you name it - I can’t remember. It doesn’t matter if it’s making from scratch or simply a ready meal.

I just don’t retain the information.

tarheelbaby · 21/09/2024 19:43

There are plenty of recipes I cook often but very few I have memorised despite having an fantastic memory for other things. That's why it's great to have written reminders - either the original cookbook or written in my personal files.

MarkingBad · 21/09/2024 19:54

NigelHarmansNewWife · 21/09/2024 19:13

Would a strategy like getting everything measured out before you start to actually cook and ticking it off a list as you go help?

It's really hard to explain how dyslexia manifests itself and it is different for each individual because it's really an umbrella term for a lot of different brain wiring.

If it was just poor working memory on its own which is rare then a list can help but when you have an issue with reading words like word and sentence construction issues, words that won't stay still, curve around in a wavy or fish eye like fashion, double lines of words with shadows appearing all over the place, or the letters appear halved etc. Comprehension and retention goes out of the window.

Interruptions and noise that distract you from anything makes it hard to get back on track. A lot of dyslexics get a Auditory Processing Disorder on top which is such fun! So noise starts to build the dyslexic brain can't tune out background noise to hear or process language effectively. Cue the child in a noisy classroom staring out of the window, nothing makes sense to them. Everything is turned up to 11 all of the time. Most people walking out of a nightclub need a couple of minutes to tune back into the quieter world outside, this is what it is like for us on a daily basis in all sorts of situations.

We are absolutely wonderful at 3D thinking and spacial awareness though.

Original poster
Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 20:15

MarkingBad · 21/09/2024 19:54

It's really hard to explain how dyslexia manifests itself and it is different for each individual because it's really an umbrella term for a lot of different brain wiring.

If it was just poor working memory on its own which is rare then a list can help but when you have an issue with reading words like word and sentence construction issues, words that won't stay still, curve around in a wavy or fish eye like fashion, double lines of words with shadows appearing all over the place, or the letters appear halved etc. Comprehension and retention goes out of the window.

Interruptions and noise that distract you from anything makes it hard to get back on track. A lot of dyslexics get a Auditory Processing Disorder on top which is such fun! So noise starts to build the dyslexic brain can't tune out background noise to hear or process language effectively. Cue the child in a noisy classroom staring out of the window, nothing makes sense to them. Everything is turned up to 11 all of the time. Most people walking out of a nightclub need a couple of minutes to tune back into the quieter world outside, this is what it is like for us on a daily basis in all sorts of situations.

We are absolutely wonderful at 3D thinking and spacial awareness though.

Show quote history

Thank you. This is fantastic. I'm going to screen shot it. In the hope my kids might get it 🙏

OP posts:
MarkingBad · 21/09/2024 20:16

Thanks! I find it fascinating and annoying all at the same time 😂

Nagatha · 21/09/2024 20:21

I’m not dyslexic but have the same problem.. I also have to read each instruction multiple times. It’s part of the reason I almost fear cooking (and people just think I can’t be arsed).

Seaweed42 · 21/09/2024 20:24

Buy over the ear headphones for when you are cooking.

Mrsgreen100 · 21/09/2024 20:29

Yep normal for me to
i find watching cooking shows , I can remember exactly what goes into a recipe , visual and audio memory works well for me

Original poster
Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 20:40

Seaweed42 · 21/09/2024 20:24

Buy over the ear headphones for when you are cooking.

How's that going to help ?

OP posts:
Tomorrowisyesterday · 21/09/2024 21:14

Presumably to help with focus and so you can't hear the family?

GreenFlamingo11 · 21/09/2024 21:18

Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 20:40

How's that going to help ?

Show quote history

I imagine it would help to tune out background noise/make interruptions from your kids less stressful.

Seaweed42 · 21/09/2024 21:42

When your teens come into the kitchen they will see you have the headphones on, and then know not to speak to you at that time.

Even if you explain to them not to disturb you when you are cooking, they'll probably forget.

So clearly signalling your need to remain undisturbed would help everyone.

Original poster
Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 21:42

Tomorrowisyesterday · 21/09/2024 21:14

Presumably to help with focus and so you can't hear the family?

No that would make it worse. It's still a sound. I can't read something and take it in whilst there is sound in my ears

OP posts:
Original poster
Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 21:43

GreenFlamingo11 · 21/09/2024 21:18

I imagine it would help to tune out background noise/make interruptions from your kids less stressful.

Show quote history

No it does not work like that when its a dyslexia situation

OP posts:
Original poster
Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 21:45

Seaweed42 · 21/09/2024 21:42

When your teens come into the kitchen they will see you have the headphones on, and then know not to speak to you at that time.

Even if you explain to them not to disturb you when you are cooking, they'll probably forget.

So clearly signalling your need to remain undisturbed would help everyone.

No they would still do the mum mum mum. Plus o also have chokdrem with special needs do even if it could work . I can't because I Need to be able to hear incase

OP posts:
Original poster
Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 22:07

Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 21:45

No they would still do the mum mum mum. Plus o also have chokdrem with special needs do even if it could work . I can't because I Need to be able to hear incase

Show quote history

Sorry I meant to say : No they would still do the mum mum mum . Plus I also have children with special needs so even if it could work I can't do it as I need to be able to hear.

OP posts:
Tomorrowisyesterday · 21/09/2024 22:27

The earphones can be noise cancelling rather than playing music. Though many people with issues such as ADHD find various types of noise (look up "brown noise", "pink noise" etc if you haven't already) can help with focus.
You are tending to dismiss suggestions from posters, do you think there isn't anything that will help and you'd just like some sympathy? Or do you want ideas. Either is fine.

Original poster
Dustybrain · 21/09/2024 22:39

Tomorrowisyesterday · 21/09/2024 22:27

The earphones can be noise cancelling rather than playing music. Though many people with issues such as ADHD find various types of noise (look up "brown noise", "pink noise" etc if you haven't already) can help with focus.
You are tending to dismiss suggestions from posters, do you think there isn't anything that will help and you'd just like some sympathy? Or do you want ideas. Either is fine.

That would be ear defenders. I'm not dismissing suggestions . I'm saying they won't work for me . If I just said yeah that's great. I would be agreeing it would work for me when it does not .

Also my op says is this normal with an (example) of what happens. They fact i added is this normal means I'm exploring it and trying to understand within myself. So I'm not really looking for anything I'm just exploring and trying to understand it.

I have only ever heard of white noise . I will have a look

OP posts:
Original poster
Dustybrain · 22/09/2024 09:11

I just had a listen to the white ,brown, pink sounds. They would drive me insane. There's no way it would help in my situation. I understand they can help people when they want to relax or get to sleep. When I just listen it made my head feel full.

OP posts:
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