Can you be number dyslexic?

Here’s a question I get every now and then — “Hey Stephen, is dyslexia with numbers actually a thing?”

Short answer: Yep. 100%. Absolutely.
Long answer? Let’s dive into it, because this is one of those juicy topics that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime.

Wait… isn’t dyslexia just about words?

That’s what we were all told, right?
Reading. Writing. Spelling like a toddler with a broken keyboard.
But here’s the deal — dyslexia isn't limited to letters. It can absolutely mess with numbers too.

And no, we’re not talking full-blown math disability here (that’s called dyscalculia, which is related but different).
We’re talking about number-based dyslexic challenges that affect:

• Time

• Sequences

• Directions

• Basic maths

• Calendars

• Even understanding how money works sometimes

So yeah — numbers and dyslexia? Definitely a thing.

Why is dyslexia and numbers such a tough combo?

Here’s what I’ve learned on my journey (and heard from so many others):

1. Numbers are symbols too

Just like letters, numbers are symbols that need to be decoded.
Your brain’s visual processing system has to:

• Recognise the symbol (like a 6 or a 9)

• Know its meaning

• Keep it in sequence

• Hold it in working memory
  And for some of us? That process feels like herding cats. Blindfolded. On a trampoline.

If you’ve ever flipped a 6 and a 9, or written your phone number backwards — you’re not alone.

2. Working memory… not so ‘working’

A lot of us with dyslexia have patchy working memory. That’s the short-term brain RAM that lets you hold info in your head while you do something with it.

Like trying to do 45 + 37 in your head…
But by the time you’ve added the 5 and the 7…
You’ve forgotten the 30-something from before.

Relatable?

This shows up everywhere. From mental maths to remembering PIN codes to just trying to read the damn time on an analogue clock.

3. Sequencing = Chaos

Numbers are all about order. Step-by-step. Logic.
And if there’s one thing a dyslexic brain loves, it’s doing things out of order.

We see this with letters (hello, spelling errors). And we see it with numbers too:

• Mixing up digits (52 instead of 25)

• Losing place in a long equation

• Struggling to remember steps in the right order

Ever followed a recipe and added the eggs after baking the cake? You get the idea.

4. Time blindness and dyslexia? Yep.

If you’ve ever said, “Was that last Tuesday or three months ago?” — you’re not broken, you’re just wired differently.

Many of us with dyslexia (and especially with ADHD in the mix) experience time dyslexia — a foggy, inconsistent awareness of time passing.
That means:

• You’re always early. Or always late. Never in between.

• Estimating how long something takes? Forget about it.

• Reading a calendar feels like decoding the Da Vinci code.

And don’t get me started on time zones.

It’s not dyscalculia… but it’s real

To be clear — this isn’t a formal diagnosis in itself.
Dyslexia with numbers doesn’t mean you have dyscalculia.
But it does mean that numbers — especially in written, visual, or structured forms — can be just as tricky as reading or spelling for a lot of us.

And most of us never got told this growing up.

I know I didn’t.

Instead, I was called lazy. Disorganised. A smart kid who just didn’t try hard enough.
Classic story, right?

So what can you do if this is you?

Here’s a few real-life tricks I’ve learned (usually the hard way):

• Use tools. Calculators, calendars, clocks, apps — if it helps, use it. Screw the “you should just know this” brigade.

• Write it down — always. Don’t rely on memory for anything number-based. If it’s not written, it’s gone.

• Chunk it up. Break numbers into smaller bits. Visualise them. Turn them into stories if you need to.

• Visual timers and alarms. Help anchor your brain in reality. Digital clocks don’t always cut it.

• Compassion > Perfection. You are not stupid. You are not slow. You are a beautifully wired problem-solver navigating a system that was never built for you.

Final thoughts

Can you be number dyslexic?

Yes!

You’re not imagining it.
You’re not lazy.
You’re not alone.

And the more we talk about it — the more we bring it into the light — the more we start seeing solutions instead of shame.

So if you’ve ever struggled to calculate a tip, write your phone number properly, or manage a budget without a mini meltdown — I see you.

Your brain’s just doing its thing. And that’s okay.

💬 Want to go deeper?

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I talk more about this kind of stuff on the podcast — real talk for real people with dyslexia, ADHD, and everything in between.

If this post helped, give it a share. Or better yet — send it to someone who needs to know this is a thing.