Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)DyscalculiaDysgraphiaVisual processing disorderAuditory processing disorder
As with dyslexia, symptoms of these co-occurring conditions will begin to appear early in a child’s life. Treating dyslexia can be difficult when other problems occur with the disability, but with the right support team and treatment plans in place, a person living with dyslexia and other difficulties will not have to struggle alone. There’s a term for children who are living with a disability like dyslexia but who are highly gifted in art, science, math, or another creative pursuit — “twice exceptional,” meaning that they have a condition that sets them apart and they also have great talent in a specific area. (1) Perhaps, with time, support, and encouragement, a person living with dyslexia and any of the conditions described below can see themselves as twice — or several times — exceptional. An estimated 30 percent of those with dyslexia also have ADHD, which is a neurological disorder marked by hyperactivity and lack of focus. (2) ADHD may lead a child to avoid or dislike school, which dyslexia can also do. (3) But if your child displays any of the following, they may have ADHD:
Inattention Individuals have trouble focusing on tasks and details.Hyperactivity They may also talk rapidly, constantly fidget, or shake their legs.Impulsivity Individuals may find it difficult to think before they act, and may make hasty decisions that could result in self-harm or long-term damage.
Because ADHD creates problems with focus, it may be hard for people with dyslexia to follow their education or reading plan. ADHD symptoms improve with age, but it’s possible that problems may continue to affect individuals into adulthood. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for ADHD, but medication and psychotherapy can help individuals cope with its symptoms. ASD is a developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior; the word spectrum is used because the condition’s symptoms may appear more severe in some individuals and less severe in others. (5) Symptoms of ASD include: (6)
Restricted number of interestsAn intense focus on those interestsRepeating wordsAvoiding eye contactIntense reactions to smells, sounds, and sightsDifficulty comprehending and responding to social cues
But those with ASD may have an ability to remember large amounts of detail, and some excel at math, art, and science. Researchers aren’t sure why exactly autism and dyslexia occur together, but it’s thought that they may share the same genetic or neurological origins. (7) Specific screenings for autism are part of the well-child examinations that occur at 18 and 24 months. As with ADHD, autism will have to be treated separately from dyslexia; similarly to ADHD, medication and therapy are used to help treat individuals with the condition. Dyscalculia Children and adults who develop this math-related learning issue struggle with numbers, counting, and calculation. This is sometimes called math dyslexia, and while it does often occur with dyslexia, it is not a form of dyslexia. Dysgraphia Individuals with dysgraphia have difficulty spelling and writing, and their handwriting may appear irregular. Some people with this learning difficulty have trouble gripping a pen, or their hands may become tired after writing a few words, and they may write more slowly. This can make it difficult to take tests, write essays, or take notes in class. Auditory Processing Disorder This makes it difficult for a person to distinguish between sounds and to comprehend the sounds they hear. (8) Visual Processing Disorder This makes it hard for individuals to process information taken in by sight. They may have trouble distinguishing between similar sizes, shapes, or objects, and they may also have poor spatial awareness. (9) Even if they try their best and study hard, children with dyslexia may not perform the way they hope to in school, and frustration with this and other setbacks in the classroom can lead to anxiety and depression. Children may feel singled out because they may have to use different tools to learn, or may feel apprehensive when getting up to speak in public, or just feel different in general and even ridiculed by their peers. Teachers may not be as understanding as they need to be, especially if children have not yet been diagnosed. Dyslexia can frequently cause anxiety and depression in the families of those living with the condition. A study published in 2017 found that mothers of children with dyslexia showed higher rates of stress than mothers whose children did not have dyslexia. (14) But with diagnosis and treatment, feelings of anxiety and depression may improve as a person acquires new ways of learning information and new ways of coping.
