Signs of Dyslexia in Adults

What Are the Signs of Dyslexia in Adults? (And Why It’s Not Just About Reading)

What Are the Signs of Dyslexia in Adults? (And Why It’s Not Just About Reading)

Hey, I’m Stephen – I run The Truth About Dyslexia and was diagnosed with dyslexia at age 10. I want to talk to you about something that comes up a lot:

👉 What does dyslexia look like in adults?

Because here’s the thing – it’s not just bad spelling or flipping your B’s and D’s.

Dyslexia in adults can be more challenging than you may realise.

Let’s get into the real signs of adult dyslexia – especially the ones no one warned us about. 

1. You forget what you’ve just read

You might be able to read fine (eventually), but can you retain what you’ve just read? Nope. It’s like your brain translates the words and then instantly dumps the data.

🧠 This is because many dyslexic adults process information visually or experientially, not symbolically. Reading isn’t the issue – meaning is.

2. You constantly miss small details

Whether it’s emails, forms, or to-do lists – the little stuff exhausts you. Your brain naturally zooms out to the big picture. Focusing on the micro? That feels like being stuck in traffic with your engine revving.

“I can read fine now, but it still tires my brain. It’s like translating a foreign language that I know, but slowly.” – me, after years of ‘working on it’20 Eye-Opening Truths A….

3. Your days fluctuate wildly

One day you’re on fire. The next? Ice cream in bed. That inconsistency can feel maddening – but it’s also very normal with dyslexia, especially if you’ve also got ADHD (and many of us do).

Symptoms of Dyslexia in Adults

4. Verbal fluency… but writing is a mess

You can talk a mile a minute and explain complex things beautifully – but ask you to write it down, and your brain stalls. Or worse: you can see it all in your head but can’t get the words out at all.

5. You think in pictures, not words

If someone asked you to explain how you think… you’d probably say: “I see it. I feel it. I just can’t always describe it.”

This is a core trait of dyslexia. Your brain is running six times faster in images than others do in words. 20 Eye-Opening Truths A….

6. You’ve got emotional baggage around feeling “dumb”

Even if you’ve done well in life, that little voice from school or earlier years still pops up.

You question yourself more than others. You might secretly worry you’re a fraud – even if you’re doing great.

That’s not you. That’s the trauma of trying to fit a square peg (you) into a round system.

7. You feel overwhelmed easily – and beat yourself up for it

Adulting is hard. Add a neurodiverse brain and you’re juggling 17 tabs open in your head at once. And if one thing goes wrong? Boom. You crash.

You might even know what you need to do – but feel frozen.

This is executive dysfunction, and it often travels alongside dyslexia_Adulting with a Neurod….

8. You’re deeply intuitive

You feel things. You see patterns others miss. You might even struggle to explain why something feels wrong – you just know it is.

This gift can also make emotional overwhelm more intense.

9. You're great under pressure – but burn out hard

You might thrive in chaotic situations (the “ADHD chaos barrier” as I call it). But then you crash. Because while your brain might enjoy the ride, your nervous system is getting flogged_Adulting with a Neurod….

10. You didn’t realise you were dyslexic until adulthood

Many adults never got picked up at school. You might’ve been called lazy, distracted, slow – or “bright but not applying yourself.” Sound familiar?

Or maybe your child got diagnosed, and you saw yourself in their results.

You’re not alone. And you're not broken.

So… Do I Have Dyslexia?

If any of this is hitting you hard, I’d encourage you to:

  1. Take an online dyslexia screener (it’s not a diagnosis, but it helps).

  2. Listen to stories from other dyslexic adults – you’ll likely hear your own.

  3. Get curious. ADHD, autism, anxiety, perfectionism – these often cluster together. We call it the neurodiverse cocktail.

Final Thought: You’re Not Crazy. 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.

But it’s not the end of the story. It’s the beginning of understanding how your brain really works – and how to work with it instead of against it.

You don’t have to mask anymore. You don’t have to pretend. You’re not alone.

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