Overcoming Dyslexia: Health Story

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, July 15 and September 2, 2007
Show 416 

Fred Newman is known for his wacky sound effects on A Prairie Home Companion. And he also teaches kids how to read on the PBS kids show Between the Lions.

As a boy, Fred had trouble reading, and was diagnosed with dyslexia. Dyslexia is a learning disorder that effects more than just reading abilities, but also memory and thought process.

"I knew I was just odd and weird and I thought differently than other people. And that's one thing that I think that people look at, you know, dyslexia as a learning disability and I don't see it as that. I just see it as this sort of different way of thinking," says Fred.

Some signs of dyslexia can include mispronouncing words, difficulty carrying out a sequence of directions and disorganized thinking. Contrary to popular belief, it's not a visual problem causing letters and words to appear backwards.

Clearly, Fred Newman's brain found a way around the road blocks. He even went on to graduate from Harvard Business School no less and credits his teachers for not sticking to the rigid teaching methods of that time.