Key takeaways:
Dyslexia is a common learning disability that starts in childhood and lasts throughout life.
Estimates show that most adults with dyslexia don’t know they have it.
Dyslexia is genetic and runs in families. But the environment shapes how it affects a person’s life.
There’s no cure for dyslexia, but coaching and accommodations can usually help people who have it.
When you think about dyslexia, perhaps you picture a young student struggling to read or write. So you may be surprised to learn that dyslexia doesn’t just affect children. In fact, dyslexia affects as many as 20% of adults in the U.S., but most don’t know they have it.
Recognizing dyslexia is the first step in learning to live better with it — but it can sometimes be the hardest step. So, how can you tell if you or someone you know has dyslexia? Here, we’ll run you through what dyslexia is, how adults experience dyslexia, and how you or a loved one can get help.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is the most common learning disability. It affects how you read and write, but there’s more to it than that. People with dyslexia have different wiring in the parts of the brain that understand, store, and retrieve words. Simply put, it’s an information processing disorder. The result is that “working memory” in people with dyslexia is less powerful than people without dyslexia.
Search and compare options
A problem with ‘working memory’
Working memory is powered by connections between different parts of the brain. These connections allow us to hold on to information we already have and retrieve it from storage when we need it — all while learning and processing new information.
In other words, it’s a type of information “multitasking.” For people with dyslexia, juggling multiple tasks can feel pretty challenging at times. This is also true for tasks that involve words, such as reading, understanding, writing, and remembering.
If you have dyslexia, you may feel that your brain doesn’t seem to work as well as other people’s brains. But this doesn’t mean anything about your intelligence. It just means your brain works differently.
Signs and symptoms of dyslexia in adults
There is no one type of dyslexia. Dyslexia affects people differently and can be anywhere from mild to severe. But there are some common characteristics. People with dyslexia often face common difficulties because of an inefficient working memory. Some examples include:
Rereading words several times to understand them
Feeling uncomfortable reading out loud
Having a short attention span while reading or listening
Missing key information while reading
Having difficulty reading and retaining information while distracted
Finding it hard to remember details about conversations, facts, or dates
Struggling to remember names of people but not faces
Problems with personal organization, time management, and prioritizing tasks
Relying on technology and/or other people (assistants, children, spouses) to keep up with day-to-day tasks
Avoiding certain types of occupations or pastimes that are challenging
Quiz: Do I have dyslexia?
Secondary symptoms of dyslexia in adults
Living with dyslexia can be challenging. Beyond the actual issues with information processing, there’s a lot of misunderstanding about the condition. Secondary symptoms refer to the general difficulties and feelings that dyslexia can cause in day-to-day life.
These can include:
Anxiety
Frustration
Lack of confidence
Shame
Low self-esteem
As a result, people with dyslexia may pass up promotions or new challenges at work if they require detail-oriented tasks. They may struggle to get through certain types of training or tests.
Read more like this
Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.
On the other hand, people with dyslexia often compensate, or make up for their struggles in other ways. They develop other strengths, such as relationship building, leadership, entrepreneurship, hospitality, and practical skills.
How do you become dyslexic?
Anyone can have dyslexia. It affects people of all genders and sexes, ethnicities, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, and levels of intelligence.
Dyslexia runs in families
Dyslexia is genetic, which means that it runs in families. Researchers have identified several genes, and there’s ongoing research on others.
If you have dyslexia, it’s very likely one of your parents has it as well. If you have children, then they are likely to have dyslexia, too. In short, the risk for dyslexia is largely dependent upon genetics. So be on the lookout for signs a family member could be struggling, and be open to having them screened and tested.
That said, the impact that dyslexia has on a person’s life can depend on their environment. Some examples of how environment can shape the way dyslexia affects a person’s life include:
Family support
Access to specialized support at school
Coaching
Career choice
Can you get dyslexia as you get older?
Most adults with dyslexia were born with it. And most of them don’t know that they have it.
Dyslexia can become more obvious in adulthood. Many people with dyslexia develop their own “workarounds,” or strategies, that allow them to function in everyday life. At times of high stress or significant life change, these coping mechanisms can fail. This makes the challenges of living with dyslexia more visible.
But it’s possible to develop dyslexia later in life, after a brain injury or stroke. And there’s some evidence that some people could become mildly “dyslexic” with age. But more research is needed to understand this better.
How do you test for dyslexia in adults?
If you think you or someone you know could have undiagnosed dyslexia, an online screening tool is a good place to start. Screening is no substitute for a diagnosis, but it can help you decide if you need more testing.
Testing for dyslexia involves a formal, in-depth evaluation by a trained professional. It often takes several hours for a dyslexia specialist to assess your learning style and skills. This professional may be a:
Clinical psychologist
Educational psychologist
Neuropsychologist
Other medical professional
What kind of doctor should I see for adult dyslexia?
If you think you could have dyslexia, start with your primary care provider. They can help you find a licensed professional for testing. If you don’t have a primary care provider, there are other options for help with testing.
Keep in mind that not everyone who offers diagnostic dyslexia testing has the credentials to do so. Before you move forward with a dyslexia assessment, make sure it will count as a formal diagnosis — you may need it as support for workplace or schooling adjustments. The International Dyslexia Association can help you find a certified professional near you.
Ways dyslexia can impact your life
If dyslexia is undiagnosed or untreated, unwanted outcomes can include:
Problems with self-esteem, anxiety, and depression
Higher likelihood of dropping out of school and unemployment
Poor physical health (as education is tied to health and longevity)
Recognizing and treating dyslexia as early as possible is the best way to minimize negative effects. Intervention can increase the likelihood of success and improve mental well-being.
But it’s important to note that there is much work to be done. Dyslexia disproportionately affects incarcerated adults and is largely undiagnosed in people of racial minorities and those who live in poverty.
How to treat and manage dyslexia in adults
If you have dyslexia, you’ve likely already developed your own coping strategies — maybe without being aware of them. There are many resources available online that discuss ways to manage dyslexia. Here are a few coping strategies that may help:
Break down tasks into manageable chunks.
Move at your own pace.
Plan or outline your work before you start.
Do one thing at a time.
Take regular breaks.
Use multisensory formats (audio, speech, drawing, acting out) to enhance your learning and memory.
Write lists or use wall charts.
Use memory aids like mnemonics, rhymes, diagrams, or other visual imagery.
Finally, ask for adjustments at your workplace and school to take the pressure off and give yourself a chance to thrive.
Frequently asked questions
A private dyslexia assessment can be several hundred dollars or more. Some insurance plans will cover it, but that’s not always the case. If you need help with testing, there are a few places to look, such as your state’s vocational rehabilitation agency, some universities and hospitals with psychology training programs or research projects, or a community mental health center. Finally, Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) has local chapters in every state and may be able to point you in the right direction.
No, dyslexia is likely to stay with you for life. But learning better or different ways to deal with your daily tasks (as outlined above) will have long-term benefits.
People with dyslexia struggle with processing information, whereas people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with concentration, attention, and executive functioning. But there’s a lot of overlap between the two, making it hard to tell the difference sometimes. And it’s possible for someone to have both conditions. When in doubt, a qualified healthcare professional can help you sort through your symptoms.
A private dyslexia assessment can be several hundred dollars or more. Some insurance plans will cover it, but that’s not always the case. If you need help with testing, there are a few places to look, such as your state’s vocational rehabilitation agency, some universities and hospitals with psychology training programs or research projects, or a community mental health center. Finally, Learning Disabilities Association of America (LDA) has local chapters in every state and may be able to point you in the right direction.
No, dyslexia is likely to stay with you for life. But learning better or different ways to deal with your daily tasks (as outlined above) will have long-term benefits.
People with dyslexia struggle with processing information, whereas people with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with concentration, attention, and executive functioning. But there’s a lot of overlap between the two, making it hard to tell the difference sometimes. And it’s possible for someone to have both conditions. When in doubt, a qualified healthcare professional can help you sort through your symptoms.
The bottom line
Dyslexia is a very common learning disability due to a difference in how the brain understands and processes information. It starts in childhood but can have lifelong effects on education, career success, self-esteem, and mental health.
Getting a diagnosis of dyslexia as an adult is important. It can help a person develop coping strategies and make adjustments to be able to thrive. Certified professionals can help with testing and learning strategies. Dyslexia assessments and treatments come at a cost, and insurance doesn’t always cover them. But there are low-cost options that can help point you in the right direction.
Why trust our experts?
References
Balani, A. B., et al. (2023). Acquired reading impairment following brain injury. Applied Neuropsychology: Adult.
British Dyslexia Association. (n.d.). Adult (16+).
Brown, D. S. (n.d.). Job accommodation ideas for people with learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities Association of America.
Erbeli, F., et al. (2021). Insights into dyslexia genetics research from the last two decades. Brain Sciences.
Harley, T. A., et al. (2013). Ageing makes us dyslexic. Aphasiology.
International Dyslexia Association. (n.d.). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) and dyslexia.
International Dyslexia Association. (n.d.). Dyslexia screener for adults.
International Dyslexia Association. (n.d.). Provider directories.
Job Accommodation Network. (n.d.). State vocational rehabilitation agencies. Office of Disability Employment Policy.
Johnson, R. B. (2019). Poor education predicts poor health – a challenge unmet by American medicine. National Academy of Medicine.
Learning Disabilities Association of America. (n.d.). State affiliates.
Learning Disabilities Association of America. (n.d.). The adult learning disability assessment process.
Moll, K., et al. (2022). Economic evaluation of dyslexia intervention. Dyslexia.
Paraccini, S. (2022). The genetics of dyslexia. The Science of Reading.
Schelbe, L., et al. (2021). Dyslexia in the context of social work: Screening and early intervention. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services.
Shaywitz, S. E., et al. (2021). Dyslexia in the 21st century. Current Opinion in Psychiatry.
Shields, L. B. E., et al. (2023). Impact of dyslexia and health literacy on racial and gender disparity in the incarcerated population. Journal of Correctional Health Care.
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. (n.d.). Signs of dyslexia.
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. (n.d.). Time & tools.
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. (n.d.). What is dyslexia?
Wissell, S., et al. (2025). ‘I hate calling it a disability’: Exploring how labels impact adults with dyslexia through an intersectional lens. Neurodiversity.
