Dyslexia, for surgeons

How might dyslexic surgeons' brains work differently?

3 Oct 2026

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Lilli Cooper’s no fluff newsletter.

Helping surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Lilli Cooper’s no fluff newsletter.

Helping surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Lilli Cooper’s no fluff newsletter.

Helping surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Dyslexia, for surgeons

Key points:

Dyslexia is a difference in the way that the brain processes language, which can affect reading, writing, recall and attention.

About 10% of the adult population are thought to be dyslexic and it has been reported by 1.8% of doctors in the UK.

For doctors, specific issues can include reading under pressure, holding a lot of verbal information, recalling evidence on the spot, taking longer to perform administrative tasks, and mistakes when writing or transcribing words or numbers.

Dyslexic doctors also perform worse in written exams, though performance is equivalent in vivas and OSCEs, suggesting that the issue is in the format.

Compensation or masking can be exhausting and lead to feelings of shame or imposterism.

Dyslexic brains are associated with enhanced visuospatial abilities, creative and innovative thinking and problem solving, empathy and communication skills, partly due to the different left to right sided brain activity, and partly due to coping strategies developed over the years.

Reading fatigue and information overload often push dyslexic professionals to create structure, batch tasks, use short daily routines and protect energy with planning blocks, turning a coping tool into a competitive advantage.

Dyslexia is considered a disability under the Equality Act (2010, UK) and formal adjustments can make a real difference, as well as personal ones.

Our instrument - our voice - is stronger with deep breathing, an open posture, and warmed up vocal cords.

Communication relies on ethos (credibility), logos (logic, data and statistics) and pathos (stories and appealing to emotions) - Aristotle.

Vulnerability and personal stories are powerful. The most powerful talks are those that change the way you feel about something.

References:

Brennan CM, Harrison W. The dyslexic surgeon. Bull RCS Engl. 2020;102(3):72–75

Kinsella M, Waduud MA, Biddlestone J. Dyslexic doctors, an observation on current UK practice. MedEdPub 2017;6:60

GMC Workforce report 2025, p.31. Available at: gmc-uk.org/stateofmed

Reference 4

Tarafdar SA, Seoudi N, Luo R, Winston K. Experiences of medical students and doctors with dyslexia: a systematic review. Med Educ. 2025;59:797-811

Dyslexia, for surgeons

Key points:

Dyslexia is a difference in the way that the brain processes language, which can affect reading, writing, recall and attention.

About 10% of the adult population are thought to be dyslexic and it has been reported by 1.8% of doctors in the UK.

For doctors, specific issues can include reading under pressure, holding a lot of verbal information, recalling evidence on the spot, taking longer to perform administrative tasks, and mistakes when writing or transcribing words or numbers.

Dyslexic doctors also perform worse in written exams, though performance is equivalent in vivas and OSCEs, suggesting that the issue is in the format.

Compensation or masking can be exhausting and lead to feelings of shame or imposterism.

Dyslexic brains are associated with enhanced visuospatial abilities, creative and innovative thinking and problem solving, empathy and communication skills, partly due to the different left to right sided brain activity, and partly due to coping strategies developed over the years.

Reading fatigue and information overload often push dyslexic professionals to create structure, batch tasks, use short daily routines and protect energy with planning blocks, turning a coping tool into a competitive advantage.

Dyslexia is considered a disability under the Equality Act (2010, UK) and formal adjustments can make a real difference, as well as personal ones.

Our instrument - our voice - is stronger with deep breathing, an open posture, and warmed up vocal cords.

Communication relies on ethos (credibility), logos (logic, data and statistics) and pathos (stories and appealing to emotions) - Aristotle.

Vulnerability and personal stories are powerful. The most powerful talks are those that change the way you feel about something.

References:

Brennan CM, Harrison W. The dyslexic surgeon. Bull RCS Engl. 2020;102(3):72–75

Kinsella M, Waduud MA, Biddlestone J. Dyslexic doctors, an observation on current UK practice. MedEdPub 2017;6:60

GMC Workforce report 2025, p.31. Available at: gmc-uk.org/stateofmed

Reference 4

Tarafdar SA, Seoudi N, Luo R, Winston K. Experiences of medical students and doctors with dyslexia: a systematic review. Med Educ. 2025;59:797-811

Dyslexia, for surgeons

Key points:

Dyslexia is a difference in the way that the brain processes language, which can affect reading, writing, recall and attention.

About 10% of the adult population are thought to be dyslexic and it has been reported by 1.8% of doctors in the UK.

For doctors, specific issues can include reading under pressure, holding a lot of verbal information, recalling evidence on the spot, taking longer to perform administrative tasks, and mistakes when writing or transcribing words or numbers.

Dyslexic doctors also perform worse in written exams, though performance is equivalent in vivas and OSCEs, suggesting that the issue is in the format.

Compensation or masking can be exhausting and lead to feelings of shame or imposterism.

Dyslexic brains are associated with enhanced visuospatial abilities, creative and innovative thinking and problem solving, empathy and communication skills, partly due to the different left to right sided brain activity, and partly due to coping strategies developed over the years.

Reading fatigue and information overload often push dyslexic professionals to create structure, batch tasks, use short daily routines and protect energy with planning blocks, turning a coping tool into a competitive advantage.

Dyslexia is considered a disability under the Equality Act (2010, UK) and formal adjustments can make a real difference, as well as personal ones.

Our instrument - our voice - is stronger with deep breathing, an open posture, and warmed up vocal cords.

Communication relies on ethos (credibility), logos (logic, data and statistics) and pathos (stories and appealing to emotions) - Aristotle.

Vulnerability and personal stories are powerful. The most powerful talks are those that change the way you feel about something.

References:

Brennan CM, Harrison W. The dyslexic surgeon. Bull RCS Engl. 2020;102(3):72–75

Kinsella M, Waduud MA, Biddlestone J. Dyslexic doctors, an observation on current UK practice. MedEdPub 2017;6:60

GMC Workforce report 2025, p.31. Available at: gmc-uk.org/stateofmed

Reference 4

Tarafdar SA, Seoudi N, Luo R, Winston K. Experiences of medical students and doctors with dyslexia: a systematic review. Med Educ. 2025;59:797-811

More about this here:

You can read more about Dyslexia for Surgeons in this article I’ve written for the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Read the article

More about this here:

You can read more about Dyslexia for Surgeons in this article I’ve written for the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Read the article

More about this here:

You can read more about Dyslexia for Surgeons in this article I’ve written for the Bulletin of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Read the article

Wise words

“Dyslexia is just an alternative way of thinking.”

Richard Branson

Wise words

“Dyslexia is just an alternative way of thinking.”

Richard Branson

Wise words

“Dyslexia is just an alternative way of thinking.”

Richard Branson

On your commute?

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On your commute?

Recommended listening

Listen to related content

On your commute?

Recommended listening

Listen to related content

Did you knowse...

Dyslexia can be associated with visual stress, including Irlen Syndrome. Using pastel backgrounds in presentations or documents instead of pure white, and avoiding light font on dark backgrounds can help. Other tips to decrease visual stress include: larger text size, fewer words per line, avoiding serif, underlined, capitalised or italicised fonts, left-aligning, using colour, and fewer words and larger size per line on handheld devices (e.g. phone/kindle).

Did you knowse...

Dyslexia can be associated with visual stress, including Irlen Syndrome. Using pastel backgrounds in presentations or documents instead of pure white, and avoiding light font on dark backgrounds can help. Other tips to decrease visual stress include: larger text size, fewer words per line, avoiding serif, underlined, capitalised or italicised fonts, left-aligning, using colour, and fewer words and larger size per line on handheld devices (e.g. phone/kindle).

Did you knowse...

Dyslexia can be associated with visual stress, including Irlen Syndrome. Using pastel backgrounds in presentations or documents instead of pure white, and avoiding light font on dark backgrounds can help. Other tips to decrease visual stress include: larger text size, fewer words per line, avoiding serif, underlined, capitalised or italicised fonts, left-aligning, using colour, and fewer words and larger size per line on handheld devices (e.g. phone/kindle).

Good thinking

Reduce the burden by developing templates, pro formas and standard phrases for repeat writing, e.g. consent forms, op notes or work-based assessments.

This can also be a learning opportunity with your clinical supervisors, peers or resident doctors.

Good thinking

Reduce the burden by developing templates, pro formas and standard phrases for repeat writing, e.g. consent forms, op notes or work-based assessments.

This can also be a learning opportunity with your clinical supervisors, peers or resident doctors.

Good thinking

Reduce the burden by developing templates, pro formas and standard phrases for repeat writing, e.g. consent forms, op notes or work-based assessments.

This can also be a learning opportunity with your clinical supervisors, peers or resident doctors.

Find some affiliation-free resources that may help you in managing ADHD, below:

Grammarly

A free tool to correct your grammar and spelling. Many software programmes have inbuilt spell checks too.

Find Grammarly

Speechify

Text-to-audio software can convert long documents to audio files if you find it easier to listen than to read.

Find Speechify

Granola

Audio-to-text software can save you needing to write everything down. (Don’t forget to ask permission in meetings.)

Find Granola

Find some affiliation-free resources that may help you in managing ADHD, below:

Grammarly

A free tool to correct your grammar and spelling. Many software programmes have inbuilt spell checks too.

Find Grammarly

Speechify

Text-to-audio software can convert long documents to audio files if you find it easier to listen than to read.

Find Speechify

Granola

Audio-to-text software can save you needing to write everything down. (Don’t forget to ask permission in meetings.)

Find Granola

Find some affiliation-free resources that may help you in managing ADHD, below:

Grammarly

A free tool to correct your grammar and spelling. Many software programmes have inbuilt spell checks too.

Find Grammarly

Speechify

Text-to-audio software can convert long documents to audio files if you find it easier to listen than to read.

Find Speechify

Granola

Audio-to-text software can save you needing to write everything down. (Don’t forget to ask permission in meetings.)

Find Granola

Low hanging fruit:

Across your practice, what’s one area that makes you sweat?

This might be an area of work, e.g. the ward, theatre, clinic, teaching OR a particular task e.g. writing the op note. Then select one aspect from Table 1 in this article that might help you overcome it.

See table 1

Low hanging fruit:

Across your practice, what’s one area that makes you sweat?

This might be an area of work, e.g. the ward, theatre, clinic, teaching OR a particular task e.g. writing the op note. Then select one aspect from Table 1 in this article that might help you overcome it.

See table 1

Low hanging fruit:

Across your practice, what’s one area that makes you sweat?

This might be an area of work, e.g. the ward, theatre, clinic, teaching OR a particular task e.g. writing the op note. Then select one aspect from Table 1 in this article that might help you overcome it.

See table 1

Got 5 minutes?

If you want to go further you can book a dyslexia assessment via the Professional Support Unit, the Department for Work and Pensions or Dyslexia UK.

Take this short quiz of features predictive of dyslexia

Got 5 minutes?

If you want to go further you can book a dyslexia assessment via the Professional Support Unit, the Department for Work and Pensions or Dyslexia UK.

Take this short quiz of features predictive of dyslexia

Got 5 minutes?

If you want to go further you can book a dyslexia assessment via the Professional Support Unit, the Department for Work and Pensions or Dyslexia UK.

Take this short quiz of features predictive of dyslexia

Hit reply

Pilot opportunity

Are you a surgeon who wants to understand your body and performance with actual data - not just instinct?

I'm running a small pilot with five surgeons. Using whatever wearable data you already have - or just voice notes if you prefer - we'll track patterns, connect dots, and use coaching to help you make changes that actually stick.

It's part data, part coaching, completely personalised. One of those things where the design comes from the conversations we have with you.

Register interest

Hit reply

Pilot opportunity

Are you a surgeon who wants to understand your body and performance with actual data - not just instinct?

I'm running a small pilot with five surgeons. Using whatever wearable data you already have - or just voice notes if you prefer - we'll track patterns, connect dots, and use coaching to help you make changes that actually stick.

It's part data, part coaching, completely personalised. One of those things where the design comes from the conversations we have with you.

Register interest

Hit reply

Pilot opportunity

Are you a surgeon who wants to understand your body and performance with actual data - not just instinct?

I'm running a small pilot with five surgeons. Using whatever wearable data you already have - or just voice notes if you prefer - we'll track patterns, connect dots, and use coaching to help you make changes that actually stick.

It's part data, part coaching, completely personalised. One of those things where the design comes from the conversations we have with you.

Register interest

Who is Lilli?

A surgeon by background and also a professional coach

This newsletter aims to share relevant, concise tips to help surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Thanks for being here — feel free to message with thoughts, suggestions, or just to say hi.

Who is Lilli?

A surgeon by background and also a professional coach

This newsletter aims to share relevant, concise tips to help surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Thanks for being here — feel free to message with thoughts, suggestions, or just to say hi.

Who is Lilli?

A surgeon by background and also a professional coach

This newsletter aims to share relevant, concise tips to help surgeons perform, and feel, better.

Thanks for being here — feel free to message with thoughts, suggestions, or just to say hi.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or professional services. The information shared should not be used for diagnosing or treating any health conditions. For personalised medical advice, please consult with a licensed healthcare professional.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or professional services. The information shared should not be used for diagnosing or treating any health conditions. For personalised medical advice, please consult with a licensed healthcare professional.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or professional services. The information shared should not be used for diagnosing or treating any health conditions. For personalised medical advice, please consult with a licensed healthcare professional.

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A monthly letter sharing insights, reflections, and resources for clinicians and high stakes professionals who want to perform or feel better, or both!

Thoughtful content, no spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Sign up for Lilli's Newsletter

A monthly letter sharing insights, reflections, and resources for clinicians and high stakes professionals who want to perform or feel better, or both!

Thoughtful content, no spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Supporting healthcare professionals to thrive through evidence-based resources, coaching, and community.

lilli@lillicooper.co.uk

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