Dyslexia in adults

Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder that mainly affects reading and spelling. People with this learning difference have trouble connecting letters to sounds. That makes it hard to decode words. 

Dyslexia is the most common learning disorder. Anywhere between 5 and 17.5 percent of people in the United States have it.¹ It’s also a lifelong condition.² If you were diagnosed as a child, you still have it as an adult. And if you get diagnosed as an adult, you had it as a child. Your symptoms just weren’t detected and evaluated. 

But no doubt, the signs were there. Maybe you read very slowly and struggled to finish tests and assignments on time. Spelling and writing might have been difficult for you. These are common red flags, beyond having trouble sounding out words. 

As an adult, your skills have probably improved. You’ve likely found ways to minimize the challenges. That doesn’t mean you don’t have dyslexia. 

What causes dyslexia

Dyslexia is a neurodevelopmental disorder, like ADHD and other learning disabilities. That means it’s caused by differences in how the brain develops and functions.

Genetics is also a factor in dyslexia, which runs in families. Researchers have identified a number of genes that appear to be related to reading. 

There’s a common myth that dyslexia is caused by vision problems. It isn’t. Dyslexia is a problem with how the brain processes language.

Signs of dyslexia in adults

Dyslexia affects everyone differently. Many people only struggle with reading, spelling, and possibly writing. Others also have issues with organization, memory, problem-solving, and other executive function skills.

How you experience dyslexia can change over time. The earliest signs center around working with sounds. Kids with dyslexia usually have trouble recognizing sounds, matching them to letters, and decoding (sounding out) written words. 

As an adult, you probably struggle less with these early skills, if at all. But reading and spelling may still be a challenge. 

Here are some of the signs of dyslexia you might have as an adult:

• Guessing at unfamiliar words

• Mixing up words that sound similar, like imposter and intruder

• Misreading or skipping small words, like the or of

• Avoiding reading out loud

• Reading very slowly

• Weak vocabulary

• Trouble remembering names

• Trouble recalling what you’ve read

• Spelling words the way they sound, like coff for cough

• Not remembering or using spelling rules

• Having little interest in reading

• Struggling with executive function skills

Not everyone with dyslexia will experience all of these signs. And the severity of symptoms can vary widely. Plus, some of these difficulties can be associated with other learning differences.

Diagnosing dyslexia in adults

When parents or teachers think a child might have dyslexia, the school system must do a free evaluation. The process is different for adults. If you think you might have dyslexia, you’ll have to seek an evaluation on your own. 

Only certain specialists can provide a diagnosis. These include neuropsychologists, educational psychologists, and clinical psychologists.

A private evaluation can be expensive and chances are you’ll have to pay for it yourself. Some health insurance companies pay for evaluations, but most don’t.

Don't be discouraged, though. You may be able to find a mental health clinic or academic department near you that provides services on a sliding scale. State vocational rehabilitation agencies may provide testing at no cost for adults who are accepted as new clients. The Learning Disabilities Association of America is a good place to start your search for a professional. 

The evaluation involves a series of tests that identify specific reading issues. They measure skills like reading accuracy and fluency (reading smoothly and at a good pace).

An evaluation will give a full picture of your learning differences and strengths. The results will include strategies to help. You may also be able to use the evaluation to request accommodations at work.

You may think there’s no point in being evaluated at this stage because there’s nothing you can do to improve your skills. That’s not necessarily true. 

The same kind of instruction that helps kids with dyslexia can often help adults. The teaching methods just need to be adjusted. Look for literary specialists or reading tutors who are trained to teach adults. Just know that these services can be costly. 

Living with dyslexia 

Dyslexia mainly involves reading and spelling, but it can also affect writing and math. The challenges can show up in many parts of your life — even if you were diagnosed and had support as a child. You can still reduce the difficulties, though. 

At work

Dyslexia can affect just about every aspect of your workday, even if your job itself isn’t reading-heavy. From team emails to printed notices to written instructions, reading is hard to escape in most workplaces.

Tasks can take extra effort and more time when you have dyslexia, causing stress and anxiety. You may worry about getting things done and doing them correctly — or being put on the spot to read out loud. These added stressors can lead to job burnout.³ 

Dyslexia can affect employment overall. Research shows that people with dyslexia tend to have lower rates of employment than people without it. They also earn less and have lower rates of job satisfaction. 

There are tools you can use at work to reduce challenges with reading and writing. One is text-to-speech technology (TTS). This tool takes words on a computer or digital device and turns them into audio. It’s built into many computers and smartphones. 

Grammar and spelling tools can also help. So can dictation technology (speech-to-text), which takes spoken words and converts them into text.

Not surprisingly, many people with dyslexia become self-employed. Working for themselves lets them focus on their strengths and avoid the expectations and rigid rules that come with many jobs. It also allows them to find and use strategies and tools that work best for them.

At home

Reading is part of everyday life — whether you’re following a recipe, setting up a new TV, or texting with friends and family. News alerts and community notices often come in written form. So do school reports and applications for joining programs and facilities.

There are strategies and tools that can help with daily tasks. You can use TTS or dictation technology to make emailing and texting easier. TTS can also read you online information or instructions. If you do better with visual information, you might watch how-to videos instead of reading directions.

You also don’t need to put yourself in situations that make life more difficult because of your reading challenges. Focus on your strengths and interests, instead. 

For example, if you want to volunteer in your community, don’t take just any assignment. Offer to help in areas you’re best at. If you’re creative, help come up with the theme for a community cleanup campaign. You don’t have to take on addressing envelopes, even if that needs to be done.

Challenges also don’t have to keep you from enjoying books. If reading is a chore, but you love storytelling or delving into topics, make the most of audiobooks. You may be able to get them for free through your local library instead of buying them. 

Support for dyslexia at work

There are many tools and strategies you can use to help with dyslexia on the job, whether you work for a company or are self-employed. Most are free or low-cost.

Dyslexia is considered a disability and is covered by civil rights laws.⁴ The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a law that protects against job discrimination in the workplace. It applies to employers with 15 or more employees.

The ADA requires employers to provide “reasonable” accommodations to employees (and applicants) who are qualified to do the job. An accommodation is a change that removes barriers so an employee can do their best work. 

The type and amount of formal support people with dyslexia need varies. But here are some common accommodations for reading challenges:

• Assistive technology. Examples include text-to-speech and screen-reading software

• Extra time. Having more time can allow you to do your best work, without missing deadlines or having to stay up all night to finish.

• A quiet workspace. An area away from noise and activity can make it easier to concentrate. Or you might be allowed to work remotely. 

• Visual reminders. Posted in workstations or common areas, these provide a different way of taking in information.

• Information in more than one format. Having information read out loud or demonstrated relieves the pressure of reading.

Formal accommodations aren’t the only way to get the help you need at work. Support from your manager and co-workers can make a huge difference. 

For example, they might be willing to read information aloud or answer questions you have about something you’ve read. They might agree to put their presentations into slide decks that are easy to read. It can help just to have people you work closely with understand your challenges.

Getting accommodations at work

There’s no standard process for getting accommodations at work. You can make a request verbally, in a conversation. Or you can do it in writing, which will give you a record of what you requested.

Start by talking to your manager or human resources. They can tell you if your company uses a request form. (The ADA doesn’t require one.)⁵ 

The process is interactive and informal. You don’t need to use formal terms or language.

When you make your request, be sure to explain that you’re asking for accommodations because of a disability. That way, your employer will know that your request relates to the ADA. Also explain that the accommodation has to do with an essential function of your job. 

You can suggest a specific accommodation you think will help, but an employer may suggest a different one. Employers are required to provide reasonable accommodations. They’re not required to provide the exact support an employee suggests. 

Strategies to manage dyslexia

A number of strategies can help with dyslexia challenges no matter what setting you’re in:

• Break up tasks into manageable chunks.

• Use the virtual assistant on your smartphone to keep running lists for tasks.

• Turn on read-aloud settings on your computer or phone.

• Use a read-aloud website that lets you copy and paste any text into it.

• Use the reading mode in your web browser to reduce distractions on the screen, like ads.

• Preview text before reading it (look at headings, subheadings, and images).

• Re-read sections for better understanding.

• Use spellcheck and grammar check when you write.

• Read aloud what you write to catch errors.

Mental health challenges

Living with dyslexia can take a toll on your mental health. Struggling with reading can be isolating. You might feel anger or frustration over the challenges. Ongoing stress and worries about making mistakes can lead to anxiety and anxiety disorders. Depression is also common with dyslexia.

Dyslexia can also take a toll on self-esteem. When you work hard and feel like you constantly come up short, you can begin to question your value. It can also shake your confidence and self-esteem. These feelings can make people avoid putting themselves “out there” at work, in relationships, and in social settings.

Support groups for adults with dyslexia can provide a safe space where you and others can share ideas, strategies, and understanding. 

You might also consider counseling with a licensed therapist. They can help you build confidence and self-esteem. Getting help is especially important if you’re feeling depressed or overwhelmed with anxiety.

Having dyslexia doesn’t mean you’re “less than” in any way. It means you think differently. Use your strengths, and try to do things you enjoy and are good at. Identify your talents and interests and pursue activities that tap into them. And take time to recognize and celebrate your wins.

Summary 

Dyslexia is the most common learning disorder. It mainly affects reading and spelling. But it can make writing and math more difficult, too. 

Dyslexia is caused by differences in how the brain develops and functions. Genetics is also a factor. Some people still wrongly believe that dyslexia is a problem with vision. But it’s really a problem with how the brain processes language.

It’s also a lifelong condition. If you were diagnosed in childhood, you still have it as an adult. If you were diagnosed in adulthood, you had it as a child. Your symptoms just weren’t detected. 

You can be evaluated for dyslexia as an adult. But you’ll likely need to find a qualified professional and pay for testing yourself. Still, a diagnosis may help you to get accommodations at work or if you’re going for further education.

There are many strategies and tools, like read-aloud features and dictation apps, that can help you with reading and writing tasks.

It’s not too late to get help. Specialized tutoring can help adults improve their reading skills. And there are strategies you can use at home to help manage the challenges.