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Many parents believe dyslexia only shows up when a child starts reading. In reality, signs of dyslexia can appear years earlier, often in subtle ways that are easy to overlook or misinterpret. Early Signs may include:  Delayed or Confusing Speech- children may start talking later than peers, mispronounce words for longer than expected and mix up similar-sounding words. Persistent speech difficulties can be an early red flag. Trouble Learning Nursery Rhymes and Songs- if your child struggles to remember nursery rhymes, recognise rhyming words and clap out syllables, this may indicate difficulty with phonological awareness, a core skill affected by dyslexia. Difficulty Remembering Sequences- your child may struggle to remember multistep instructions or retell a story in order. This is not necessarily a memory problem and can relate to how a dyslexic brain processes sequences. Letter and Sound Confusion- a common early sign is difficulty connecting letters to their sounds, remembering letter names and mixing up similar sounding letters. Avoidance of Reading and Writing- children with dyslexia often avoid reading aloud and become upset or tired during reading. This is because the process of reading is mentally exhausting and frustrating, causing them to feel overwhelmed. Strong Verbal Skills but Weak Reading Skills- many children with dyslexia have excellent oral skills and creativity yet they struggle with reading simple words. This uneven profile of abilities is a classic sign parents often miss. Low Confidence or Anxiety About School- children may express that they’re “bad at school” or that everyone else is “better” than them. Such signs of emotional distress often appear before academic difficulties becomes obvious. Dyslexia is not: laziness, lack of intelligence, poor parenting, something children outgrow by trying harder. In fact, dyslexia often co-exists with high intelligence and creativity. The earlier dyslexia is identified, the better the outcomes. Early support can prevent years of frustration, build effective reading strategies and reduce anxiety and school-related stress. Children who receive help early are far more likely to thrive academically and emotionally.

What It’s Really Like to Live with Dyslexia – A young adult’s perspective When people hear the word dyslexia, they often think it just means “mixing up letters” or “having trouble reading.” But for me and for many others it’s so much more than that. Dyslexia isn’t just about reading; it impacts nearly every part of how I experience the world. The Early Years: When Reading Felt Impossible As a child, I remember staring at a page and watching the words blur together. I justcouldn’t seem to read the words accurately. Homework took hours and spelling listsleft me feeling frustrated and tearful. I couldn’t understand why things felt so difficultand often just gave up. Teachers assumed I wasn’t trying hard enough and accusedme of being unfocused or lazy. And I started to believe it! When I look back at thechild I was, that saddens me so much- the feeling I always carried that somethingwas wrong with me. Finding Out There Was a Name for It When I was eventually tested and diagnosed at the age of 23, I finally understood what had been holding me back. Suddenly, there was a reason why reading, spelling, and even remembering sequences of information felt so difficult. There was a realisation that I wasn’t stupid, my brain just worked differently. This was really pivotal and validating for me. Adapting and Thriving Living with dyslexia as a young adult means I’ve learned strategies and incorporated adaptations into my life to help support my learning experience at university. I use text-to-speech software, audiobooks, and note-taking apps that read things back to me. I receive extra tutor support and am not shy to ask for additional help when I need it. A Different Way of Seeing the World Dyslexia can make life complicated but I’ve also learned to see it as a difference not a weakness. I’ve learned not to be so hard on myself and to appreciate the strengths that come with dyslexia such as creative thinking and problem solving. Learning to accept that my brain works differently has been a powerful life. Dyslexia doesn’t define me, but it has definitely enriched my life in unexpected ways.  Jake is a student at a London University. He is in his third year of a media undergraduate degree.

Dyslexia impacts people in different ways and can create challenges to education, work and personal life. These may include difficulties with planning, writing, taking notes, understanding text, working under pressure and self-organisation. There are a range of resources, apps and assistive software available to help make things easier for people of different ages with dyslexia. Reading and spelling programmes for younger learners include: Nessy Learning- an online game-based programme aimed at children aged 5–16 years. Touch-type Read and Spell- a multi-sensory phonics programme which teaches typing while strengthening spelling and reading. Suitable for age 7+ Dyslexia CodeBreakers- uses a multi-sensory approach to teach reading and spelling, suitable for students of all ages.  Support with reading and writing tasks for older students may include: Text to speech software such as Dragon and Speak which aid comprehension by reducing the pressures of text reading. Speech-to-Text software such as Apple Dictation and Google Docs Voice Typing which change speech into written text helping to create documents. Grammar and Spell Checkers such as Grammarly and ProWritingAid which help improve writing accuracy. Reading Pens such as the C-Pen read text aloud thereby supporting reading comprehension. Support with general organisation may include: Mind-mapping software such as MindMeister or SimpleMind which allows ideas to be jotted down quickly and visually. Organisation and planning apps such as Todoist which help structure tasks, set reminders, and manage to-do lists. Audio notes such as Otter.ai or Audionote which record voices and sync with typed notes. Using technolgy can make a huge difference for people with dyslexia, because it helps remove some of the barriers that they face and gives more control over how they read, write, and learn—which can boost confidence and success in school, work, and everyday life!

London Dyslexia Centre supports Neurodiversity Celebration Week 17th to 23rd March 2025! This global movement is all about breaking down stereotypes and changing the way people think about neurological differences. It’s a chance for schools, universities, workplaces, and communities to recognise the talents and strengths of neurodivergent individuals — and to build more inclusive, supportive spaces where everyone can shine.          

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia are two different neurodevelopmental disorders, each with unique traits and difficulties. Reading, writing, and effective language processing are all impacted by dyslexia, which is predominantly a language-based learning disorder. In contrast, attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity are all impacted by ADHD, which can make it challenging for people to concentrate, maintain organisation or finish activities. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia are two different neurodevelopmental disorders, each with unique traits and difficulties. Reading, writing, and effective language processing are all impacted by dyslexia, which is predominantly a language-based learning disorder. In contrast, attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity are all impacted by ADHD, which can make it challenging for people to concentrate, maintain organisation or finish activities. Even though these disorders are distinct, they frequently co-occur, which presents a distinctive set of difficulties for people who are impacted. Indeed, studies indicate that up to 40% of people with dyslexia also have ADHD, and between 25% to 40% of people with ADHD diagnoses may also have dyslexia. Understanding Dyslexia Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects the skills involved in accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. Individuals with dyslexia often experience difficulty with phonological awareness, verbal memory and verbal processing speed. These difficulties may lead to decreased confidence, frustration with academic assignments, and slower reading progress. Understanding ADHD ADHD impacts executive functioning, impulse control, and attention. People with ADHD frequently have trouble with maintaining focus, particularly on activities requiring extended mental effort,  planning assignments, efficiently managing time and controlling impulsive actions. Such difficulties may lead to academic underachievement. Similarities The common co-occurrence of dyslexia and ADHD suggests that these two conditions may share fundamental elements, although they affect different cognitive areas. Some researchers suggest that genetic factors could contribute to the overlap, as both dyslexia and ADHD run in families. There are notable similarities between dyslexia and ADHD in terms of how they affect behaviour and learning, despite their differences. These include: Problems with Attention: Although attentional difficulties are the main characteristic of ADHD, people with dyslexia may also struggle to concentrate on reading and writing assignments due to the increased mental work involved. Processing Speed: Slower processing rates are linked to both dyslexia and ADHD. This shows up as difficulty identifying words or converting sounds into letters for those with dyslexia. Due to distractibility, reduced processing speed in ADHD might manifest as difficulty moving between tasks or taking longer to finish assignments. Working Memory: People with dyslexia and ADHD frequently struggle with working memory, which is essential for tasks like recalling information while reading or following multi-step directions. Social and Emotional Effects: When dyslexia and ADHD coexist, students may feel overwhelmed, alone, or misunderstood, particularly in typical educational environments that might not be able to meet their specific learning needs. Improving Outcomes The co-occurrence of dyslexia and ADHD presents a complex array of challenges for individuals, especially in educational settings. However, understanding the unique ways these conditions interact—and providing tailored support—can significantly improve outcomes. With the right interventions, people with both dyslexia and ADHD can develop strategies to manage their learning differences and succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.