Complications of dyslexia extend beyond reading difficulties to include significant emotional/psychological issues (low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, social withdrawal), academic struggles (poor performance, school avoidance, dropping out), and broader life challenges (memory, organization, time management, career progression, multitasking, and learning other languages). Often co-occurring with ADHD, untreated dyslexia can lead to long-term negative impacts on education, employment, and overall well-being, though early support helps individuals thrive.
There is a common misconception that dyslexia only affects the ability to read and write. In reality, dyslexia can affect memory, organisation, time-keeping, concentration, multi-tasking and communication.
Yet people with dyslexia can overcome many of the symptoms with lessons, practice and patience. “A person's reading can get better with high-quality instruction that helps them with the parts of reading they struggle with, coupled with a lot of practice reading,” says Norton.
Dyslexia causes difficulties with reading accuracy and fluency, spelling, writing, working at speed, holding information in mind while working on it, and processing verbal information. It can impact maths and other curriculum areas, and many dyslexics feel exhausted and challenged every day in school.
Embracing Strengths and Overcoming Obstacles
Adult dyslexia may present challenges but doesn't need to define a person's potential. Through utilising support and strategies, life can be fulfilling and highly successful.
Dyslexia does not worsen over time. However, the demands of adult life—more complex reading, multitasking, or workplace expectations—can make its effects more noticeable. With continued support, individuals often learn to manage their challenges and build on their strengths.
Dyslexic individuals often excel in creative fields like art, design and storytelling. Our brains are wired to think visually, making us great at generating unique ideas and seeing connections where others might not.
The key to success in managing dyslexia is understanding that it is an impairment in brain functioning, not a learning disability. Dr. Raffle performs an evaluation to help identify specific areas of brain impairment that results in reading problems.
Research by the University of Strathclyde has found that people with dyslexia are much better at being curious and exploring new ideas and more likely to be found in careers where this is an advantage, such as art, media, architecture, creativity, engineering and inventing things!
There are four types of dyslexia in common those are; Phonological dyslexia, surface dyslexia, rapid naming deficit, and double deficit dyslexia.
Dyslexia results from individual differences in the parts of the brain that enable reading. It tends to run in families. Dyslexia appears to be linked to certain genes that affect how the brain processes reading and language.
The treatment of dyslexia is based on two main strategies: specific assistance with the impaired learning areas (reading and spelling) and psychotherapy for any coexisting psychological disturbance that may be present. Evaluated preventive strategies are available for use in kindergarten and at home.
Longitudinal data confirm that dyslexia is positively associated with stress and depressive symptoms in children, and the higher the DCCC scores, the more severe their symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression were. The emotional symptoms can persist among dyslexic children.
Challenges and strengths of dyslexia
Common Characteristics of Untreated Dyslexia:
Trouble with storytelling or finding the “right” words when writing or speaking. Avoidance of reading, reading below grade level. Difficulty with saying the alphabet, naming letters, and numerous spelling errors.
Multiple brain regions and cognitive processes come into play when someone connects the symbols of the alphabet to the meaning those words convey. A dyslexic brain develops and functions differently. For people with dyslexia, wiring in the left-brain hemisphere makes processing written language difficult.
It's a form of extra money to support people who have a long-term physical or mental illness or disability. If you're wondering whether you can get PIP for dyslexia, the short answer is yes. People with dyslexia do fall into the category of having a disability, by law, and can apply for a PIP to receive extra money.
Albert Einstein
He had problems through school, that lead people tio believe he was Dyslexic. He overcame these problems to become arguably the most famous scientist of the modern era.
Individuals with dyslexia often excel in colour theory, layout design, and conceptual thinking, which are key elements in design work. With flexible freelance opportunities and growing demand across various industries, this field offers creative freedom and a strong career path.
Dyslexic strengths include:
Common Misconceptions about Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a sign of low intelligence: Dyslexia does not impact your child's intelligence in any way. As a matter of fact, many dyslexic students are super intelligent and bursting with talent. The only challenge they have is that their brains process language differently.
For example, many individuals with dyslexia are right-brain dominant. The right and left hemispheres of the brain are organized in a slightly different way. On the right, cells are more evenly distributed (versus in clusters).
Dyslexia is a common specific learning difference that mainly affects reading, writing, and spelling. It can also impact how someone remembers instructions or organises their work. It is not linked to intelligence, and many dyslexic people have strengths in creativity, problem-solving, and thinking in new ways.
Do you:
Highly intuitive – Dyslexics often have a strong sense of intuition and heightened emotional intelligence. They can quickly grasp complex concepts and situations, often arriving at conclusions before others.