Stephanie Ruhle Turns Dyslexia Into Strength

Quick Smiles:

• Stephanie Ruhle excels as an anchor despite dyslexia.
• Her diagnosis inspired advocacy for students with learning differences.
• Creative approaches help her thrive on and off camera.

Stephanie Ruhle lights up the national stage as a leading MSNBC anchor, all while navigating the challenges of dyslexia—a discovery she made as an adult.

Before her journalism career, she advanced in investment banking, finding ways to work around her reading struggles, which went undiagnosed through her school years.

“I really can’t read the teleprompter,” Ruhle shares of her nightly routine.

She opened up about her experiences for Dyslexia Awareness Month, reflecting on how memorizing books and using presentations instead of written reports allowed her to shine.

Ruhle describes her journey, explaining, “When people were reading to me, I could memorize the book. As soon as I had to start reading on my own, it got harder and harder, and that’s when I started cheating.”

The anchor’s diagnosis emerged only after her son faced similar hurdles in school, highlighting the hereditary nature of the learning difference.

“You don’t realize all that you go through until you have a child going through it,” she notes.

Her advocacy intensified when her son’s learning improved at a specialized school, which inspired her to champion support for dyslexia in public education.

Living with dyslexia means adapting every day. Ruhle uses index cards and a photographic memory to prepare for interviews and speeches.

“If you see me anywhere, I constantly have giant index cards and a Sharpie,” she says, describing her methods for staying organized.

She believes embracing one’s learning style can unlock success: “You just have to know who you are.”

While Ruhle admits the condition has required a little more effort, she considers it a unique advantage. “I know my guests appreciate that I’m not reading a teleprompter or looking down when I’m asking a question — I’m listening, because I have to.”

The anchor’s story is a testament to resilience, creative problem-solving, and the power of self-awareness in overcoming obstacles.

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