My only tips are just take everything steady and remember it has absolutely nothing to do with intelligence or creativity, your brain simply processes things in a different way.Just be the measure of your own sucess. You are special and in a way it is an extra testament to the way your brain works and its capabilities that you are doing a PhD.

Personally I find that reading requires a little extra time for me and I need a gap between reading and writing notes for digestion. Before I can write up anything useful I usually have to go back and read stuff again -which I think most non-dyslexics can skip. I also print drafts out on yellow paper as for some reason this seems to help.

Definately get intouch with your uni's student support services and they should hook you up with an Ed -psychologist who should recommend some structures for you to put in place to make your life easier.

Hurrah! You are not alone.
I am a dyslexic soc sci research student & share my office with 2 other dyslexic research students who are computer scientists.
I went through my entire school career ( bottom set for everything, extra lessons at lunchtime etc) & a BA before I was diagnosed.
It was only during my MA after I had watched a documentary on dyslexia and thought hang on a minute, that's me - that is and took myself along to student services. After answering a vast questionaire , showing them an example of my hand written notes and an indepth interview -they agreed to send me along to an educational psychologist who formally diagnosed me.
Many my problems are with short term memory, syntax and grammar & anything that requires sequencing. For instance I can't remember any telephone numbers even my Mum's who has had the same number for 12 years. Supposing you said to me 1,2,3,4,5,6 then I could repreat back to you but it would come out 6,5,4,3,2,1. I am hopeless with directions, can't ride a bike or drive a car.

Yes I had Binoche in my head for the female lead!
Although Harrison Ford was my 1st choice , Mia I have just gone a bit faint and swoony at the thought of Alan Rickman as an academic. Sexy & Clever OMG toooo much.

With so many negative reviews about Tom Hanks. Who would you have cast.
I know when I was reading the book I had Harrison Ford as the lead & Stephen Fry as the english badie.

Big hugs cc.
Suggest you 1st have a night out or night in with a sympathetic ear.
Try to forget about it all over the weekend if you can.
You should finish the project, it would be such a shame if you didn't, but it sounds as if you are lacking confidence and motivation -you need someone to give you what I call a Rocky talk i.e. "you can do it" type of thing. Try to think of all the reasons you started in the first place and how good it will feel when you finish and have the doctorate.

Don't you mean "EM I got algo rhythm, who could ask for anything more?"

Via Las Viva.

Expectation Maximisation could be a big tap number.

PhD "The Musical" or PhD "On Ice". I am thinking that perhaps you could gets some serious commercial millage from your thesis. Michael Ball & Bonnie Langford to star as 'The Supervisors' & a Hollywood name over for a stint in the west-end to play yourself!

Thanks everyone. This is all very useful & interesting.
The exact reason I asked is that someone I have in mind I am due to hear speak at a conference in a few days and I was wondering about introducing myself and smoozing abit ( but not mentioning the external examining thing). I am still collecting data so all this is over a year away - but this is my first and maybe only chance to meet the person concerned and try to make sure they know I exist & (ahem) am a wonderful, motivated, thoughtful and thought provoking individual....

By what process of selection is the external examiner selected for marking of your final thesis?
I am starting to worry about this since the options for my subject ( in Soc Sci) are quite limited, because of the area of expertise. I have almost certainly referenced 2 of the people most qualified for the job.
I hae actually been fairly complimentary without being sickly or sucky up, but obviously my work will encrouch on their territory.
What are people's expereiences or knowledge of this?
Thanks.

No I am the crowned Sienna Miller of the research world!
Brighton is a v.casual institution. Definately not a suit in sight.

I can recommend some general reading
Adam Arvidsson 2006 "Brands Meaning & Value in Media Culture" Routledge & Lury, C. (2004) Brands: The logos of The Global Economy. Routledge.

Can you expand a little more? What type of brands or products? Do you mean extension of brand identity, or addded customer value, or brand equity? This is a vast topic.

Geeky Chic is the new black.

Thanks very much. Gives me a bit more of a idea. Ta