Recognising the Wide Range of Dyslexia Symptoms in Adults and Children—Beyond Reading Struggles

Dyslexia Symptoms: What stands out?

Understanding Dyslexia Symptoms

Dyslexia is one of the most misunderstood learning differences. While it's often associated with trouble reading or writing, dyslexia symptoms go much deeper—and they’re not the same for everyone. The reality is, many adults and children with dyslexia are incredibly bright and creative, but traditional education systems fail to recognise how they learn best.

If you or someone you know seems to “zone out,” struggles with spelling but can build a house or win an art competition—read on. You might discover that dyslexia is the missing piece of the puzzle.

Why Are Dyslexia Symptoms So Hard to Spot?

One of the most consistent things about dyslexia symptoms is their inconsistency. Someone with dyslexia might perform brilliantly one day and struggle deeply the next. These fluctuations can confuse teachers, employers, and even parents, making it easy to mislabel dyslexic individuals as lazy, careless, or “not trying hard enough.”

The truth? Dyslexia is not about low intelligence. In fact, it often shows up in those with high IQs and incredible talents—in music, design, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship.

Most Common Dyslexia Symptoms

Most people with dyslexia show around 10 or more of the following traits. However, these symptoms of dyslexia vary day to day and from person to person.

 

General Dyslexia Traits including Vision, Spelling & Reading

Two young children reading books—exploring early signs of dyslexia symptoms.

  • Appears bright and articulate, but struggles with reading, writing, or spelling.

  • Has been labelled lazy, dumb, or disruptive in school.

  • Not “bad enough” to get support—often slips through the cracks.

  • Tests well verbally, but struggles with written exams.

  • Often feels dumb, leading to low self-esteem and frustration.

  • Hides their challenges with clever compensating behaviours.

  • Strong in art, drama, music, mechanics, storytelling, or business.

  • Tends to daydream, get lost easily, or lose track of time.

  • Difficulty with attention—may seem hyper or disconnected.

  • Learns best via hands-on experiences, visuals, and real-life demos.

  • Complains of headaches or stomach aches when reading.

  • Confused by letters, numbers, sequences, and verbal instructions.

  • Written work often shows reversals, omissions, and strange errors.

  • May see or feel non-existent movement when reading.

  • Seems to struggle with vision, though eye tests come back normal.

  • Either very keen-sighted or lacks depth/peripheral vision.

  • Reads and rereads but has low comprehension.

  • Spelling is often inconsistent and phonetic.

Hearing and Speech Clues

  • Has heightened hearing—notices background sounds others miss.

  • Struggles to put thoughts into words, especially under stress.

  • Leaves sentences unfinished, stutters, or mispronounces long words.

  • Transposes words or syllables when speaking (“flutterby” instead of “butterfly”).

Writing and Motor Skill Symptoms

Handwriting on paper with frequent spelling errors—showing dyslexia symptoms in writing.

  • Difficulty with writing or copying from the board.

  • Unusual pencil grip or inconsistent handwriting.

  • May seem clumsy or uncoordinated—especially in team sports.

  • Fine and gross motor skills are often delayed.

  • Confuses left vs. right or may use both hands interchangeably.


Math and Time Management Struggles

  • Difficulty telling time or remembering appointments.

  • Trouble learning sequences, steps, or managing time.

  • Uses fingers or other tricks to count, even as an adult.

  • Can calculate mentally but fails written word problems.

  • Struggles with money, counting, and basic arithmetic concepts.

  • Has a hard time grasping algebra or abstract math.


Memory and Thought Processing

  • Exceptional long-term memory for experiences, places, and people.

  • Poor short-term memory for facts, numbers, or sequences.

  • Thinks in pictures and emotions rather than words.

  • May have little to no internal dialogue (self-talk).


Behaviour, Health & Personality Clues

  • Either super tidy or extremely messy—rarely in between.

  • Can be the class clown, rebel, or withdrawn and shy.

  • May have hit developmental milestones (talking, walking) early or late.

  • Sensitive to foods, additives, or chemicals.

  • May sleep deeply or struggle with sleep (bedwetting beyond age norms).

  • Has unusual pain tolerance—either very high or low.

  • Highly empathetic, justice-driven, and emotionally intense.

  • Symptoms become worse with stress, time pressure, or poor health.

Symptoms of Dyslexia in Adults vs. Children

While many dyslexia symptoms appear in childhood, others become more noticeable in adulthood—especially in high-pressure environments like university or work.

In Adults:

  • May avoid reading aloud or writing in public.

  • Struggles to follow long written instructions.

  • May bounce between jobs, feeling unfulfilled or misunderstood.

  • Often very entrepreneurial—good at problem-solving, people, or strategy.

In Children:

  • Teacher reports they are bright but not focused.

  • Struggles to follow multi-step instructions or remember routines.

  • Has meltdowns during homework, especially around reading.

  • Might be misdiagnosed with ADHD due to attention issues.

Is It Really Dyslexia? Or Something Else?

Many people don’t realise that dyslexia rarely shows up on its own. It often travels with a “cocktail” of other neurodivergent traits like ADHD, dyspraxia, or even mild autism. That’s why understanding the full picture is so important. The better you understand yourself—or your child—the more you can build a life that works for your brain.

What To Do If You See These Symptoms of Dyslexia

Adult with dyslexia listening to podcast while walking—learning about dyslexia symptoms.

Recognising dyslexia symptoms is the first step. But what now?

  1. Get assessed – through a psychologist or dyslexia specialist.

  2. Build support strategies – like audiobooks, mind-mapping tools, and visual aids.

  3. Connect with others – community makes a massive difference.

  4. Listen to our podcast – The Truth About Dyslexia is packed with short episodes (12–14 mins) designed for neurodiverse brains. It’s like having a mate who gets it.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Broken—You’re Wired Differently

Struggling with reading, writing, or memory challenges that others seem to breeze through? Our comprehensive adults with dyslexia test offers a breakthrough moment for thousands who've spent years wondering if their brain works differently. This quick dyslexia examination, built from real experiences of adults with dyslexia, cuts through confusion with targeted questions about everyday struggles you might have dismissed as personal failings. Unlike generic dyslexia testing for adults, our quiz delivers personalised insights that help you understand your unique cognitive patterns, complete with tailored strategies. Whether you're ready to put a name to lifelong challenges or simply curious about why certain tasks feel inexplicably difficult, this confidential adults with dyslexia test tool transforms self-doubt into self-awareness and for many, that's the first step toward unlocking their true potential.

If you’ve made it this far and a dozen of these dyslexia symptoms are ringing bells, take a breath. You’re not broken. You’re just wired differently—and that’s something to be proud of.

From creativity to problem-solving to empathy, the dyslexic mind is powerful. The challenge is that society hasn’t always created space for this kind of brain. But that’s changing.

Whether you’re a parent trying to help your child, or an adult finally putting the pieces together—this is your invitation to dig deeper. Love you to check out the podcast if you have not. Learn from someone who has been there and gets it.

And remember: You’re not alone.

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