User:Lubna Allabboudy/sandbox/Dyslexia in Adults

Dyslexia in Adults

Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called reading disability, dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language.

Dyslexia is part of a group of conditions called specific learning difficulties (SLD). It is typically diagnosed in childhood; so, many dyslexia guides focus on helping children manage symptoms of this condition. But dyslexia often continues into adulthood.

Some children with dyslexia are not diagnosed until they reach adulthood, while some diagnosed adults find that their symptoms change as they age.

Adults with dyslexia have had it their entire lives, but it may not have been diagnosed. Having dyslexia as an adult can present some challenges that children with the same condition do not experience.

There are three main types of dyslexia. Most people have all three types, usually at differing levels.

These include:

• Dysnemkinesia: This type involves motor skills. It also involves difficulty knowing how to make letters when writing. People with this type usually write letters backward.
• Dysphonesia: This type involves listening or auditory skills. It also causes difficulty with pronouncing words or understanding unfamiliar words.
• Dyseidesia: This type involves visual skills. It causes difficulty or an inability to know or understand written words. It also causes difficulty knowing words by sound.

Signs of dyslexia in adults

Everyone's experience of dyslexia will be individual to them but there are common indicators. A cluster of these indicators alongside abilities in other areas could suggest dyslexia, and should be investigated further.

Common symptoms include:

• Confusing visually similar words (such as cat and cot).
• Spelling erratically.
• Finding it hard to scan or skim a text.
• Needing to re-read paragraphs multiple times to understand them.
• Finding it hard to listen and maintain focus.
• Finding it hard to concentrate if there are distractions.
• Feeling sensations of mental overload/switching off.
• Getting confused when given several instructions at once.
• Often forgetting conversations or important dates.

If you feel some of these symptoms reflect you, you can get an indication of whether or not you may be dyslexic from the adult dyslexia checklist and/or a dyslexia screener. These are not a diagnostic tool but can also be used to indicate whether further investigations should take place.

If a checklist and/or screener indicates you are likely to be dyslexic, a formal Diagnostic Assessment is the only way to confirm whether or not the difficulties you encounter are due to dyslexia. A formal diagnosis will, in turn, help you to get the right support within the education system, and in the workplace.

Treatment

Dyslexia treatment for adults, as with children, involves identifying and implementing accommodations and interventions to facilitate reading, writing, and other skills that are affected by dyslexia. There is no medication that can treat or cure dyslexia.

For people with co-occurring ADHD, treating their ADHD with medication can help with some symptoms of dyslexia.

Treatment for dyslexic adults typically focuses on workplace accommodations. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects employees from discrimination for dyslexia, and requires employers to make reasonable accommodations.

Some interventions can include:

• Using assistive technologies, like dictation software.
• Keeping written communications brief.
• Using specific fonts in written documents.

Adults with dyslexia can also benefit from reading and writing tutoring and programs if need be.

Available programs include:

• Language!
• Wilson Reading System
• Starting Over

External links

• https://www.gemmlearning.com/can-help/learning/info/specific-learning-disability/
• https://www.healthline.com/health/dyslexia-in-adults
• https://www.voyagersopris.com/literacy/language/overview
• https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/programs/wilson-reading-system/