Lauren Sánchez Bezos Opens Up About Concealing Dyslexia During Journalism Career
Lauren Sánchez Bezos, the former Emmy-winning journalist, has publicly disclosed that she spent decades hiding her dyslexia, even while working as a television news reporter. During an appearance on NBC's Today show, the 56-year-old revealed that she was not diagnosed with the learning disability until she was 19 years old.
Late Diagnosis and Classroom Support
"My community college teacher ... got me tested," Sánchez Bezos recounted. "She literally looked at me, because I was like, 'I can't write,' and she goes, 'You're not dumb, you just can't spell. You were learning differently.'" This pivotal moment came after years of struggling without understanding the root cause of her challenges with spelling and writing.
Secret Support in the Newsroom
The journalist explained how she managed to conceal her condition during her time as a news anchor. "I went through life hiding it, even when I was a news anchor; no one knew I was dyslexic, except my co-anchor [Rick Garcia]. And he would help me," she said. Sánchez Bezos described how Garcia would whisper words to her when she struggled with on-screen text, demonstrating the covert assistance that allowed her to maintain her professional image.
Understanding Dyslexia's Prevalence
Dyslexia affects approximately 15-20 percent of the global population, according to the International Dyslexia Association. The condition primarily impacts word recognition, reading fluency, spelling, and writing abilities, though its manifestation varies significantly between individuals. Sánchez Bezos's experience highlights how even successful professionals can navigate such challenges with appropriate support.
New Children's Book and Personal Mission
The interview coincided with the release of Sánchez Bezos's new children's book, The Fly Who Flew Under the Sea, which she dedicated to her college professor, Lori. This marks her second children's book following 2024's The Fly Who Flew to Space. She emphasized the book's dual purpose: encouraging parents to read to their children and supporting children with learning differences.
"If you take just 10 minutes, you release what's called oxytocin, you release it, and your child releases it. So on a biological level, when you read to your kid, you are bonding," she explained, underscoring the scientific benefits of shared reading time.
Message to Children with Learning Differences
On Instagram last week, Sánchez Bezos wrote about her motivation for the book: "Some kids just see the world differently. I was one of them. This book is for all of the kids who hide in the back of the class, afraid to be called on, worried they're not smart enough." She noted that after her first book's publication, several children with dyslexia approached her, reinforcing her commitment to this audience.
Post-Wedding Creative Project
The Fly Who Flew Under the Sea represents Sánchez Bezos's first major project since her high-profile wedding to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in Venice last August. The story follows Flynn, who takes a wrong turn en route to Cape Canaveral, leading to an unexpected underwater adventure. "But what starts as a misstep soon becomes a grand voyage of discovery," reads the book's description, mirroring perhaps the author's own journey of turning challenges into opportunities.
