Helen Spencer, 44, who works as a consultant in older people’s services in York, was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of 37 – part way through her training as a junior doctor.
Helen said: “Throughout my early years I met all my developmental milestones. I was consistently at the top of the class in primary school and top set in secondary school for all subjects.
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“Unsurprisingly, in subjects like music and drama, where most of the assessment was practical, I excelled. Science and maths were also strong subjects because I didn’t have to write long sentences to demonstrate my understanding.”
After undertaking work experience at a mental health hospital as a teenager, Helen knew she wanted to pursue a career in medicine, but had lost all confidence in her academic ability – believing that she was not clever enough to attend medical school.
From there, she went to university to study drama – working in a GP practice alongside her degree – and ended up setting up an international theatre company.
Despite this, her desire to work in psychiatry persisted and she decided to apply for a pre-medical course, passing with a distinction and earning her a scholarship into Manchester University to study medicine.
Helen said: “Every year of my medical training I thought, this is the year that I will fail.
Helen on stage (Image: Provided) “I was always the top of the year in my practical exams and bottom of the year in my written papers. I excelled on placements but sat shaking with fear at the back of lecture halls.
“After getting good feedback, I was starting to feel competent! I got into psychiatry training and my dream was coming true, but it wasn’t until I kept failing my psychiatry exams and watching my peers finish core training while I had multiple extensions, that I realised something wasn’t quite right.”
While talking to a Year Two Foundation doctor about a failed attempt, they asked if Helen had taken a reading test. After this, she was diagnosed with dyslexia and given exam adjustments, allowing her to pass her exams on the next sitting.
She added: “At first, at the age of 37, I felt ashamed to tell people I was dyslexic, perhaps they would think I wasn’t a safe doctor.
“I felt like everything changed once I knew. Lots of things became clearer and easier, but there was also a psychological struggle and battle with stigma that I hadn’t anticipated.
“I started looking into dyslexia and found a whole world of people who are incredibly successful, pioneering and at the top of their fields. It was so inspirational to see and feel a part of a community of innovators and creatives.
“Every single one of them had a story like mine, of feeling misunderstood, not good enough and tired of working twice as hard in environments that are designed for non-dyslexics.
“Eighty per cent of dyslexics leave school unidentified and most of them will be high achievers who have spent years learning how to cope and compensate.
“It’s not a surprise that I was drawn to a specialty that allows me to use my dyslexic thinking to the full.
She has also run workshops, presented her work at the RCPsych Medical Education Conference, and had an article published in RSPsych’s neurodevelopmental psychiatry newsletter.
She added: “We need to widen our understanding of the strengths that dyslexics bring because if we only focus on the weaknesses we will never benefit from their unique gifts.
“I am now proud to tell people I am dyslexic and very grateful for all the strengths it has given me.
“It may not have always been easy, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
