Dyslexia is a learning disability that can cause various difficulties – particularly with reading and writing. Though it’s commonly identified in younger children during their school years, dyslexia can affect people of any age.
According to the UK government, around 10% of the UK population have dyslexia and one in six adults have the reading level of an 11-year-old.
While dyslexia can be tricky to cope with, the good news is that with the correct support, it’s possible to make daily tasks much easier and life to the full – both at home and at work.
Here we’ll cover what dyslexia is, what the causes and symptoms are, and what help and support there is for people who’re struggling.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a common learning disability that can cause problems with reading, writing, and spelling. People with dyslexia often find it difficult to connect the sound of words with the letters that create them.
Symptoms can differ with age and dyslexia has no relation to intelligence.
There are three main types of dyslexia. Experts believe that most people with dyslexia have all three types, usually at differing levels. These include:
- Dysnemkinesia: Involves motor skills and makes it difficult to understand how to write letters. People with this type of dyslexia often write letters backwards.
- Dysphonesia: Involves listening or hearing skills and can cause difficulty pronouncing words or understanding unfamiliar words.
- Dyseidesia: Involves visual skills and causes difficulty or inability to read and understand written words. It can also make it difficult for people to know or understand words by how they sound.
It’s fairly common for people with dyslexia to also have other conditions such as dyscalculia (difficulty understanding numbers), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and ADD (attention deficit disorder).
Dyslexia is a lifelong condition that can present challenges in daily life. But there’s plenty of support available to help people improve their reading and writing skills, and achieve great things.
For example, among many other highly successful people, former President of the United States George W. Bush is dyslexic and struggled with the condition into adulthood. Pablo Picasso, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, and Leonardo Da Vinci – some of the greatest minds and talents in history – were dyslexic too.
What causes dyslexia and who can be affected?
People of all ages and intellectual abilities can be affected by dyslexia. While the condition is most often identified in childhood when reading problems first become apparent, it’s not uncommon for dyslexia to go undiagnosed for years, or even decades.
The exact cause of dyslexia is currently unknown, however, it appears to run in families. Experts believe that certain genes inherited from parents may combine in a way that affects how some areas of the brain develop during early life.
For example, according to studies, around 40% of siblings of children who are dyslexic also have reading difficulties – and as many as 49% of their parents do as well.
What are the symptoms of dyslexia in adults?
Though difficulty reading is often regarded as the most tell-tale sign of dyslexia, there are others to look out for too.
It’s also important to note that over time a lot of dyslexic adults develop strategies to work around their reading difficulties. As a result, focusing only on someone’s reading abilities can contribute to their condition remaining undiagnosed.
Some of the most common symptoms of adult dyslexia to look out for include:
- Never, or rarely, reading for pleasure because you find it difficult
- Confusing visually similar words like ‘cab’ and ‘can’
- Strongly disliking reading out loud in front of others
- Struggling to carry out tasks that require repetition and memorisation
- Finding it difficult or impossible to summarise a story you’ve heard or read
- Difficulty recalling past conversations and often being accused of not listening
- Struggling with time management, or finding that things take much longer than you anticipated
- Avoiding meetings that are centered around planning
- Having trouble understanding puns, jokes, or turns of phrase
- Learning more effectively through visual or hands-on experiences
- Feeling overwhelmed when asked to fill out a lengthy form
In conjunction with these symptoms, research has also found that it’s not uncommon for dyslexic adults to experience low self-esteem, shame, stress, humiliation, and a lack of confidence in their ability to perform at work.
How is dyslexia in adults diagnosed?
If you suspect that you may have dyslexia, there are several tools and resources you can use to help you better understand what you’re struggling with, and get a diagnosis.
Screening tests can help to give people an indication of whether or not they’re living with some form of dyslexia. These tests are often free or available online for a small fee. You can find out more about dyslexic screening tests and how they’re carried out on the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) website. However, it’s important to remember that screening tests are only early indication tools and cannot provide actual diagnosis or 100% accuracy.
Dyslexia can only be formally diagnosed through a Diagnostic Assessment carried out by a certified assessor. Assessments typically include a series of tests that explore a person’s reading, writing, and spelling abilities; handwriting and motor skills; phonological awareness; memory speed; speech and language; and auditory processing.
You can find more about what happens during a Diagnostic Assessment and get information and advice about how to find an approved assessor on the BDA website. At present, assessments aren’t available through the NHS.
The advantage of having a formal diagnosis is that dyslexia is covered by the Equality Act 2010. This means that educational institutions and workplaces are required to take your diagnosis into account and make reasonable adjustments to accommodate people with dyslexia. You can find out more about your rights at work on the BDA website.
Many people also find that having a formal diagnosis is reassuring, as it helps them to understand themselves and why they’re struggling better.
How can dyslexia in adults be treated and managed?
While dyslexia is a lifelong condition, there’s a range of resources that can help people manage their symptoms and improve writing and reading skills.
A lot of the advice and techniques used to help children manage dyslexia also applies to adults.
Therefore, some of the most effective techniques include:
- Undertaking training or tutoring to help improve reading skills. You can browse adult study skill ideas and resources available on the BDA website.
- Occupational therapy to help you learn and develop ways to work around and manage any issues or hurdles that your dyslexia causes in your place of work.
You can read more about the role of occupational therapy in dyslexia and how it can help you on the Number Dyslexia website.
- Making use of assistive technology such as word processors, speech-recognition software, and electronic organisers to help improve writing and stay on top of tasks.
LDRFA has a useful list of assistive technology apps and tools for students and adults with dyslexia that you can browse here.
- Finding methods that suit your style of learning and remembering.
- Breaking down large tasks and activities into smaller sections.
- Requesting instructions to be spoken to you instead of written down.
- Using mind maps with images and keywords when making notes about a certain topic, rather than writing a list.
- Recording important meetings or conversations so that you can re-listen if any information was missed.
Adjustments for people with dyslexia in the workplace
If you’re a working adult, it’s important to tell your employer that you have dyslexia. Employers are required by law to make reasonable adjustments in the workplace to assist you.
Reasonable adjustments in the workplace could include:
- Providing you with assistive technology, such as speech-to-text software or digital recorders.
- Allowing you extra time to complete tasks.
- Giving you instructions verbally instead of in writing.
- Providing you with all the information needed to complete a task in formats that are accessible to you.
You can read more about reasonable adjustments in the workplace on the Gov.uk website.
What support is there for adults with dyslexia?
If you suspect you might have undiagnosed dyslexia, remember that it’s never too late to seek help. The first step is to speak with your local GP about getting an evaluation.
For extra support, national dyslexia charities like the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) offer various resources including general information, assessments, and a helpline.
There are also several local dyslexia associations listed on the BDA website to consider. These are independently registered charities that run workshops and provide people with local support and access to information.
Final thoughts…
Dyslexia can be frustrating, but it doesn’t have to prevent you from leading a successful and fulfilling life. If you have – or think you may have – dyslexia, it’s important to reach out and seek help from those around you. Often, understanding your condition is the first step in helping you overcome it.
For more health information and advice, head over to the general health section of our website. Here you’ll find everything from important health checks to ways to improve gut health.