Dyslexia in adults: causes, symptoms and how to diagnose it
Dyslexia is a more common disorder than is believed and is generally diagnosed at school age. It is a neurodiversity and not a disease, as it is often erroneously written, and as such, it is to be considered a characteristic of the individual that therefore persists throughout his life. If diagnosed early, the child can be directed towards study methodologies that can help him compensate for his difficulties and thus allow him to face his school career in a more serene way. Furthermore, as we grow up, we usually learn to know ourselves better and to develop personal strategies to calmly face this neurodiversity, thus coming to speak of compensated dyslexia. Also in this case, the characteristic remains, but the individual has understood how to make the most of their potential and thus overcome their difficulties. Attention to this difficulty has only sharpened in recent years, which is why adults are penalized. In fact, to date there are still not many specialized structures that deal with diagnosis for adults. We will now discover together how adults diagnosed with ASD or who suspect they have specific learning disabilities can behave.
In the video that follows, we show you the main signs to watch out for in detecting this disorder.
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What is the significance of dyslexia in adults and what does it entail?
Dyslexia would affect 4% of the school-age population in Italy, but only in recent years has it begun to be talked about more widely. As a result, many adults suffer from it and have never been diagnosed.
These people may have encountered difficulties at work or in everyday life, also facing problems of maladjustment, mistrust and depression. But what is the meaning of dyslexia? It is a reading learning disorder and does not mean at all that the sufferer is not intelligent, on the contrary! The problems can concern difficulties in the speed and correctness of reading and in understanding what has been read.
Among the other specific learning disorders (SLD), in addition to dyslexia, we find dysgraphia (a specific disorder of handwriting that manifests itself with a difficulty in the motor ability of writing), dysorthography (a specific disorder of writing that manifests itself with difficulty in spelling and phonographic competence) and dyscalculia (specific disorder of the ability to number and calculate which manifests itself with a difficulty in understanding and working with numbers). We reiterate that this is not a cognitive disorder but a neurodiversity, which therefore depends on different modes of functioning of the neuronal networks involved in the processes of reading, writing and calculating. They are not caused either by an intelligence deficit or by environmental or psychological problems or by sensory deficits, as we mentioned earlier, in some cases some subjects have managed to find their own strategies thus compensating their difficulties, independently, even without having been followed by children or without knowing they have specific learning disabilities. This often depends on the degree of SLD, the individual's personal path, that is, what kind of environment he has found in his experience (stimulating or oppositional) and character.
In general, the studies agree in confirming that in adulthood the slowness of reading tends to persist, even if fewer errors are made, especially if supported in school age.
Dyslexia in adults
Many adults find themselves in the difficulties described by ASDs, and thus suspect they may have this characteristic. In particular, they may encounter difficulties in work and in daily life, realizing that they have difficulty in memorization or exposure without having notes at hand. Many adults may find that they have difficulty managing time, organizing or planning skills or learning a foreign language.
Knowing your own characteristics and finally giving a name to this difficulty can allow the adult to focus on his potential, finding strategies to face these daily difficulties for which he previously could not find an explanation, also risking feeling wrong in some way. .
Symptoms of dyslexia in adults
The symptoms of dyslexia in adults are not very different from those that occur in children. First of all there is a difficulty in reading, slowness and comprehension problems.
You may also have difficulty in memorizing what you have read or learned, as well as difficulty in summarizing a story. Many adults also have problems managing time or learning a foreign language.
Difficulties in planning, organization, poor spelling or poor vocabulary may also be symptoms of dyslexia in adults.
Is there a test to diagnose dyslexia in adults?
Yes, but unfortunately there are not many centers in Italy that are also qualified for diagnosis for adults. The advice is to ask your local health authority or the Italian Dyselssia Association for information, which can direct you to the specialist centers closest to your area of residence. It is also possible, at the source of a suspicion, to orient oneself first on self-assessment questionnaires, such as adult dyslexia check list, (M. Vinegrad, 1994), which you can easily find online. However, remember that this questionnaire has only an indicative value and has no diagnostic value. If a person suspects that they have a specific learning disorder, it is good that they contact specialists immediately in order to understand the validity or otherwise of their doubts and, possibly, understand how to deal with their difficulties.
Famous Dyslexics: Why Dyslexia Doesn't Prevent You From Becoming Special Adults!
Let's repeat it once again: dyslexics are certainly no less intelligent than those who do not suffer from this disorder, on the contrary! It often happens that they develop skills and abilities above the norm and that they have very high IQs.
There are many famous people who suffer from it or have suffered from it, from Leonardo Da Vinci to Albert Einstein, but also more contemporary. Browse our gallery to discover the most famous dyslexics, let yourself be inspired and rediscover the strength of a smile!
To find out more about dyslexia in adulthood, visit the Medicina 360 website.
