The Gift of Dyslexia: The Book that Completely Changed my World

Caragh McMurtry, an Olympic Rower for Team GB, shares her remarkable journey on this podcast. Despite the already challenging path of pursuing Olympic excellence, Caragh’s neurodiversity added an extra layer of complexity. She reveals how she initially struggled as she was misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and underwent ineffective treatments, including medication that hindered her rowing performance.

It took five years, until 2019, for Caragh to receive the correct diagnosis of High-functioning Autism. This revelation empowered her to embrace her uniqueness, leading to newfound happiness. Following her retirement after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Caragh founded Neurodiverse Sport CIC to ensure others with neurodiversity don’t face the same hurdles she did. Her mission is to provide support, education, and advocacy for neurodivergent athletes, believing that no athlete should feel isolated due to not conforming to neurotypical standards.

Caragh’s inspiring story highlights the importance of inclusivity in sports and is a must-listen for all.

In this episode, Matthew Head interviews Dr. Robert Melillo, a renowned specialist in childhood neurological disorders, about how understanding neuroanatomy can reshape dyslexia treatment. Dr. Melillo, creator of the ‘Melillo Method,’ has developed a holistic approach to address brain imbalances behind learning and behavioral disorders, including dyslexia, autism, and ADHD. He explains “functional disconnection,” a leading theory for understanding these conditions, and how his method combines brain exercises, nutrition, and lifestyle changes to help patients of all ages achieve brain and body balance. Dr. Melillo’s work, inspired by his children’s struggles with learning disabilities, aims to minimize dyslexia’s challenges while enhancing its strengths. This episode offers fresh insights into navigating dyslexia and explores Dr. Melillo’s research and bestselling books, which provide valuable resources for parents and educators.

**Podcast Show Notes:**

**No Money in the NHS for Adult ADHD!**

Sarah Templeton repeatedly heard this from NHS GPs before going private to confirm her ADHD diagnosis. This diagnosis led to discovering she also had Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, and Central Processing Disorder in her 50s. Reflecting on her past, Sarah reveals how undiagnosed ADHD and Dyscalculia impacted her education, preventing her from attending Grammar School and receiving adequate support in a Secondary State School.

Decades later, Sarah is dismayed by the lack of improvement in screening children for these conditions. Driven by her experiences, she became a specialist in neurodiversity awareness, advocating for ADHD screening in the criminal justice system. With over nine years of experience, Sarah founded ADHD Liberty, offering free ADHD screening to those in the justice system. She has authored three best-selling books on ADHD, frequently speaks on neurodiversity, and collaborates with various agencies to support neurodiverse individuals.