For adults

Dyslexia in adults is difficult to identify as many people reach adulthood unaware of their dyslexia.

Also, many of them would have been hiding their difficulties for years Nevertheless, no matter how good a dyslexic individual is at hiding their difficulties, simple tasks like filling in a form will remain difficult and may become increasingly obvious, which can lead to anxiety and frustration.

Dyslexic difficulties can make every day-to-day task problematic, but with understanding and awareness, a dyslexic person can be successful.

Dyslexia can present itself in several ways and for that reason it is important to remember that all the signs in the list below will not be present in every dyslexic, as each dyslexic has their own individual difficulties.

Some of the signs of adult dyslexia:

• Other family member have dyslexia
• There is a difference between your academic and practical achievement
• Taking a great amount of time to read anything, like books and instructions
• Missing of ends of words in reading and spelling
• Losing your place or missing out lines when reading
• A need to re-read anything for understanding
• Difficulty reading aloud in groups
• Misreading information
• Difficulty reading maps or finding your way around a strange place
• Poor spelling and punctuation in written work
• Difficulty taking down telephone messages and numbers
• Difficulty taking notes in meeting, lectures, etc.
• Reversal of figures or letters or leaving words out
• Difficulty filling in forms
• Work slowly
• Working well below your intellectual capacity
• Difficulty with short term memory
• Difficulty organising your thoughts when writing or doing anything
• Having problems with time management
• Difficulty with planning, organisation and managing time, materials and tasks
• Concentration difficulties
• Problem learning names
• Difficulty explaining things clearly to others
• Difficulty following what others are saying
• Confused when you are given several instructions at once
• Remembering where thing have been put
• Trouble with remembering times tables, order of the months or the alphabet
• Difficulty with mental maths
• Confusing left and right
• Co-ordination difficulties

If after reading this list of signs, you find that a number of them apply to you, then please consider having an assessment for dyslexia with a relevant specialist.

Unless you know you have dyslexia and gain the strategies to cope with it, you may find it difficult to deal with your day-to-day tasks or be successful in reaching your full potential.