Dyslexia in adults

Dyslexia is one of the most common problems with learning, mastering the native language. The problem affects reading, spelling, and information processing, affecting approximately 10% of the population to some extent. Dyslexia often occurs in combination with other conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADHD), dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Dyslexia is usually diagnosed when a child first enters school and has difficulty with these skills. But as a lifelong condition, symptoms may persist or first develop in adulthood.

Dyslexia in adults can manifest itself in many different and unexpected ways. Symptoms of dyslexia in adults can make it difficult to achieve success in areas such as careers and relationships, and lead to low self-esteem, especially if not diagnosed in childhood and not treated for many years.

Dyslexia is a reading disorder that occurs in people of normal intelligence. It is a reading disorder despite intelligence, motivation, and educational ability that occurs when the brain does not recognize and process certain characters properly. “Dys” means “difficulty” and “lexia” means “words”, so “dyslexia” means trouble with words.

Dyslexia is a disease that affects millions of people around the world. Approximately 5 – 17% of the world’s population suffers from some degree of dyslexia. Dyslexia occurs when the brain’s ability to translate images from the eyes or ears into understandable language is impaired. This is a lifelong condition, so the problem can affect a person differently at different stages of life. Even if a dyslexic child has great difficulty with regular school work, he may be interested in other aspects, such as sports or extracurricular activities. It is here that the child needs to be strongly encouraged so that he can overcome low self-esteem and then he is realized in life. If the problem is not discovered in elementary grades, dyslexic children grow up to become dyslexic adults. There is no cure for this disease, and they must learn to compensate for their problems.

Among people with dyslexia and extraordinary intelligence, Albert Einstein, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, Benjamin Franklin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and John Lennon stand out.

Causes of dyslexia in adults

The neuroanatomical features of people with this problem are highlighted. Dyslexia occurs when the brain’s ability to translate images received from the eyes or ears into understandable, native language is impaired. It has been proven that the brain of a person with dyslexia is structurally and functionally different from the brains of other people. Studies have shown that the innate structure of the nervous system of the brain associated with the development of mental abilities is different in dyslexics, and this is the main cause of the pathology.

The brain wiring system or neural pathways are the structures that encode the information received by the senses. They store it in the brain for further assimilation. This information is later used to evaluate situations and develop patterns of response to situations, improve muscle coordination according to situations, or even help understand and make sense of the constant streams of information the brain receives about daily activities, work, and the like. For a person with dyslexia, even these minor acts of understanding and use may require much more time and skill than for a normal adult.

Dyslexia has also been linked to genetic causes. According to a study by M. Noten and others, the inability to learn written language may be due to genes on chromosomes 6 and 15.

Symptoms of dyslexia in adults

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

Dysnemkinesia – this type is associated with motor skills and with difficulties in understanding how to write letters correctly. People with this type usually write letters backwards.

Dysphonia – this type includes hearing problems or hearing impairments. It also causes difficulty in pronouncing words or understanding unfamiliar words.

Dysedesia – this type affects the formation of visual skills, causes difficulty or inability to recognize or understand written words. It also forms difficulties in recognizing words by sound.

Some symptoms of dyslexia in older children and adults include problems with:

• with reading;
• with the solution of mathematical problems;
• with memorization.

Adults with dyslexia also cannot articulate a summary of a story they have heard or read, and may have trouble understanding jokes and idioms. Sometimes reading problems in adults with dyslexia are subtle, so the condition may not have been diagnosed in childhood.

In addition to these symptoms, other problems can interfere with daily work:

• a person can hardly concentrate on one task;
• tries to avoid meetings that relate to planning;
• has difficulty or stupor if asked to fill out a long form;
• reacts sharply to his mistakes, imposing strict rules on himself;
• learns better visually or through tactile experience, repetition;
• easily stressed;
• has low self-esteem.

In general, dyslexia is characterized by:

• complexity of speech skills, abstract thinking;
• impaired visual-motor coordination;
• poor concentration, perception and memory;
• violation of social adaptation.

These problems lead to the fact that the child receives poor grades and is classified as underachieving. Because of this, a child with dyslexia is often described as lazy, low intellect, and unmotivated. In the end, this affects the personality, which leads to low self-esteem already in adults.

Treatment of dyslexia in adults

After a neurologist, speech therapist or psychologist assesses the severity of dyslexia, they will create a treatment plan to help the person manage their condition.

Diagnostics

General practitioners do not diagnose dyslexia. It is not usually considered a disease or physical defect, but requires evaluation and treatment by a psychologist, neurologist, or speech therapist. The specialist will evaluate and make a diagnosis. Dyslexia in adults has many symptoms that usually require a personal consultation, so do not make a diagnosis on Internet tests.

A specialist may perform several types of tests to determine the level or severity of dyslexia. These tests may include:

• vision and hearing test;
• reading test;
• psychological tests;
• questionnaires about lifestyle or work.

Other conditions and problems that are common in people with dyslexia include:

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD);
• organizational problems;
• dyspraxia or problems with basic coordination;
• short-term memory problems.

Modern treatments

The treatment plan may include:

• teaching or tutoring to improve reading skills, which is very important for dyslexia at any age;
• Occupational therapy can help you learn how to work around and deal with problems that dyslexia causes in the workplace.
• please speak instructions rather than write them in texts that will help you recognize and remember the information;
• additional training in subjects or tasks that cause discomfort.

Technology can also be an important part of treating dyslexia, especially for working adults. Here are some things that might help:

• recording meetings or important conversations to listen to them later if you missed important information;
• the help of speech-to-text apps and software so you don’t have to write or type everything;
• using corporate apps or electronic organizers to keep you informed and minimize distractions.

Prevention of dyslexia in adults at home

Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, so the first step in treatment is early recognition and intervention, followed by a multisensory learning approach and emotional support.

Popular questions and answers

We discussed the issue with neurologist of the highest category Evgeny Mosin.