Entrepreneurship Closely Linked to Dyslexia

In 2004, a British research study surprised the world by reporting that entrepreneurs are five times more likely to suffer from dyslexia than the average. But a new study of U.S. entrepreneurs indicates that dyslexia may be much more common among entrepreneurs than even previously thought. In the latest study, a full 35 percent of U.S. entrepreneurs surveyed identified themselves as dyslexic, significantly higher than the 20 percent of British entrepreneurs in the 2004 study.

A few other highlights of the study:

• Dyslexics were more likely than nondyslexics to delegate authority and to excel in oral communication and problem solving.
• Dyslexics were twice as likely to own two or more businesses.
• The greater share in the U.S. vs. Britain was attributed to "earlier and more effective intervention by American schools to help dyslexic students deal with their learning problems."
• By contrast, among U.S. corporate managers, whose jobs require a high reading component, only 1 percent are dyslexic.

Some famous dyslexic entrepreneurs include:

• Richard Branson (Virgin)
• Charles Schwab (Charles Schwab)
• Ted Turner (Turner Broadcasting Systems)
• John Chambers (Cisco)
• Henry Ford (Ford Motor Company)

Related on About.com

• Understanding Dyslexia
• The AD/HD Entrepreneur: Most Entrepreneurs Have It - It's Just a Matter of Degree
• The AD/HD Entrepreneur: How Your AD/HD Affects Your Business

Elsewhere on the Web

• Famous People with the Gift of Dyslexia
• Overcoming Dyslexia (FORTUNE)