With dyslexia, letters can appear to flip (b/d, p/q), jumble, move, blur, or get bunched up, and words might look backwards or be hard to sound out, but it's often a brain processing issue (not just eyes), leading to letter confusion, slow reading, poor spelling, and difficulty with sequences, making letters feel like they are shaking or swapping places, though experiences vary greatly between individuals.
The high contrast can lead to visual discomfort, causing letters to appear as if they are dancing or moving. Some dyslexics may even experience a green and red edge with a small shadow when overcompensating to focus.
When people with dyslexia see text on a page, a whole range of different phenomena can occur. For example, some people may experience letters appearing to jump around, while others might confuse similar-looking letters that are close in appearance. It can vary greatly from person to person.
Common mistakes when reading and spelling are mixing up b's and d's, or similar looking words such as 'was' and 'saw', 'how' and 'who'. Letters and numbers can be written back-to-front or upside down. The most common numbers for visual dyslexics to reverse are 9, 5 and 7.
Five key characteristics of dyslexia include difficulty with accurate and fluent reading, trouble with spelling, problems with sequencing (like days of the week or instructions), difficulty retrieving the right words, and avoiding reading/writing tasks, often stemming from a core issue with phonological processing (connecting sounds to letters). These challenges can also manifest as poor organization, trouble with time management, and issues with short-term memory.
No, dyslexia is not a form of ADHD; they are separate neurodevelopmental conditions, but they often co-occur (comorbid) because they share some symptoms like attention issues and can affect similar brain functions, though their core problems differ: dyslexia is a language-based learning disorder, while ADHD involves inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Many people have both, making proper assessment crucial for targeted support, as dyslexia impacts reading/language processing, while ADHD broadly affects executive functions like focus and self-regulation.
Babies and preschool
Even though most people do not read in preschool, children can demonstrate symptoms of dyslexia by the age of 3 years, or even earlier. All children learn how to talk in their own way and at their own pace. However, a delay in starting to speak can be an early sign of dyslexia.
According to UMHS, the following conditions can present similar symptoms and difficulties to dyslexia:
Bill Gates, one of the richest people in the world didn't let his dyslexia hold him back.
There's no single test that can diagnose dyslexia. A number of factors are considered, such as: Your child's development, educational issues and medical history. The health care provider will likely ask you questions about these areas.
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!
School age
Famous actors like Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom all have dyslexia. Pablo Picasso's teachers described him as “having difficulty differentiating the orientation of letters”.
Understanding and supporting individuals with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Dyspraxia is essential for fostering an inclusive and effective learning environment. These disorders can also coincide with other conditions such as ADHD and Autism, requiring a comprehensive approach.
A dyslexic person might have any of the following problems:
Dyslexic strengths include:
Albert Einstein was dyslexic. Like many of the world's 7.5 million children with learning disabilities he was thought to be unintelligent by his teachers. Fortunately, his parents placed him in a special school where he was taught in accordance with his disability.
Singer and songwriter Robbie Williams is known for being open about the challenges he's faced – as seen in the 2024 film based on his life, Better Man – and he's no different when talking about his dyscalculia and dyslexia.
In reality, the two – dyslexia and intelligence – are not related. The misconception that children with dyslexia are not intelligent arises from a few factors: Performance Misinterpretation: Since dyslexia primarily affects reading and writing, children with dyslexia might struggle with academic tasks.
General signs to look for are:
While there are various ways to classify dyslexia, four commonly discussed types focus on specific reading challenges: Phonological Dyslexia (sound-letter connection), Surface Dyslexia (whole-word recognition), Rapid Naming Dyslexia (speedy identification), and Double Deficit Dyslexia (a combination of phonological and rapid naming issues). These types highlight different core difficulties, from sounding out words to recognizing them quickly, and help guide tailored support strategies.
People with stealth dyslexia have problems sounding out (or decoding ) words just like people with “classic” dyslexia. Yet their scores on tests of reading comprehension are typically above average, or even very strong.
Dyslexia is not a disease. It's a condition a person is born with, and it often runs in families. People with dyslexia are not stupid or lazy. Most have average or above-average intelligence, and they work very hard to overcome their reading problems.
Famous dyslexics
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.