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The Dyslexic Advantage: big picture thinking

Updated: Oct 2, 2022



People with dyslexia often see things more holistically. They can miss the trees but see the forest. Neuroscience is giving us an insight into the differences in dyslexic brains that lead to these enhanced thinking skills.


What is big picture thinking?



Dr. Manuel Casanova (University of Kentucky School of Medicine) found that dyslexic brains have a bias to long distance connections between mini- columns, which he suggests leads both to the big-picture processing skills and a weakness in fine-detail processing. For example, nine out of ten dyslexics describe their thinking as being able to “see past detail to gain a strategic (big picture) view of a subject or problem”.


“It’s as if people with dyslexia tend to use a wide-angle lens to take in the world, while others tend to use a telephoto, each is best at revealing different kinds of detail.” Matthew H. Schneps, Harvard University

One of the most fascinating dyslexic advantages, in my opinion, is big picture thinking. Most neurotypical people are not big picture thinkers. They make sense of the world by understanding how all of the little pieces add together as a whole. Or, this can be thought of as bottom-up thinking. They get to their conclusions by lining up all of the information and facts in a nice order- this is how most people teach us too.




However, big picture thinkers are the opposite, we are part of a group who are top-down thinkers. As dyslexics, we start at the top, seeing the big picture and then we break it down to make sense of the little pieces. Big picture thinkers tend to mentally turn off when it comes to the linear step-by-step instructions, that's why conventional teaching methods are unsuitable to the way we think.


“9 out of 10 dyslexics describe their thinking as “seeing past detail to gain a strategic (big picture view of a subject/problem”



Big picture thinking can enable the following advantages in our practice:

- We value perseverance

- We see problems differently

- We make unexpected connections

- We see things that aren’t there

- We embrace creativity

- We explore internally and externally


Big picture thinking in assessments


When I was in an assessment role, I would receive positive feedback about the breadth and depth of the assessments.

Families fed back that they felt their stories, voice and conversations had been captured clearly. Mangers comment that they felt they knew the family, their individual personalities and their individual stories. I believe this feeling of familiarity felt through relaying conversations and stories was because of the advantage of seeing the bigger picture.


When working with a family, I often found myself deep in conversations, asking lots of questions, so the family and I had reflected on and captured their story to their present. It could be one little bit of missing information that completed their stories and capture their voice, relationships and identities- 'big picture' thinking (their favourite TV show and the impact watching it has on them for example).

Moreover, big picture thinking enables you to capture risk and the needs of the family, bring it all back to the impact on the child or young person’s and including their voice. Capturing the big picture with the family, child/young person is especially important for children/young people who are looked after. The stories, conversations, and voices we are privileged to capture whilst working with families are important for care leavers who access their file in adulthood to understand, factually and emotionally, their childhood.


Big picture thinking and relationships


Whilst working with children and families I have utilised being able to spot connections nearly every day. It could be something small that helps build relationships with children and young people, for example spotting an association between a young person's anxiety and a specific trigger enabling you to provide support and advice when they are ready. This demonstrates that you are observant and interested in the young person and their family, and will enable you to personalise their support.



Seeing different perspectives


I will often look at an event/decision/needs from different points of view, which is an important skill for support planning and decision making. By using the perspective of children and families (informed through their voice and conversations) you can personalise decision making and support specific to their needs. Looking at an event/decision/needs from different points of view additionally enables you to reflect on the power you hold as a social worker and the importance of ensuing, through reflective and relational practice, that you do not abuse the power. This especially important as support services for children and families still fail to be invested in.


Spotting connections and seeing different perspectives further enables you to tailor support based on emotional needs. Through conversations with families, you begin to see lots of different perspectives, importantly it enables you to understand that although a family may have been physically present for the same event, they have experienced and internalised it differently.


Seeing the bigger picture is also invaluable when conversing about family histories and stories of familial ancestors. Big picture thinking can enable you to spot more readily where there have been generational patterns of abuse, emotional dysregulation, bullying or domestic violence. If you or a family spot something this whilst working together, you can both understand what is needed to support the family and help both understand why support is needed in a specific way.


Finally, Big picture thinking is not only beneficial to understanding needs, but it can act as a stepping stone for families to understand their histories, trauma histories and subsequent behaviours- a great starting block to effective support.


Multi agency working and support planning


Seeing novel connections is essential with multidisciplinary work and support planning. For example, finding connection between working relationships that work well and other’s that don’t- as opposed to placing responsibility on the family. Or, if you have strong working relationships and understanding of local support services and charities, you might make a previously unthought link between a need and a support service, information or advice.




Big picture thinking in policy


Finally, big picture thinking will inevitably support you in challenging or suggesting policies. There are many different ways this advantage can support you, too many to be able to discuss here.


By understanding the blanket aim of a policy, big picture thinking breaks down where it is effective, harmful or inefficient in practice. Making connections between practice, and the experiences and voices of the families provides valuable evidence for policy reform or introduction.


Tell a friend: do you know any big picture thinkers in your life? Forward this their way and let them know you see their superpower!



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