Dyslexia And ADHD: Siobhan's Diagnosis Experience

This week’s episode is all about that “lightbulb moment” of realising you’re not only dyslexic but also have ADHD. It’s the kind of discovery that can rock your world. Our returning guest shares how that new insight has shaped her daily life, revealed hidden challenges, and even opened up a few exciting opportunities.

If you’ve ever wondered how dyslexia and ADHD often show up together, you’ll find plenty of honest reflections here. We explore the personal impact, the emotional rollercoaster, and a few practical tips that have helped our guest make sense of it all.

Dyslexia and ADHD: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Ever suspected that your dyslexia might be just one piece of a bigger puzzle? Our guest did. She always knew she was dyslexic, but it wasn’t until she started noticing scattered concentration and restlessness that she realised ADHD also played a part.

It’s not uncommon for ADHD to hide in plain sight. Distracted moments, drifting off in conversations, or getting completely absorbed in new ideas can slip by unnoticed. But, when you pair these signs with dyslexia, the overlapping challenges can double.

“I had no idea ADHD would be such a big deal in my life until it just clicked one day. Suddenly, a lot of my quirks made sense.”

The Power of Self-Awareness

Self-awareness changes everything. Once she found out about her ADHD, our guest started looking at her habits in a new light. Instead of feeling lazy or forgetful, she saw the patterns rooted in a brain that processes information differently.

She talked about taking small steps like using noise-cancelling tools to help filter out distractions. One that came up was a product called Loop. It’s designed to help manage those overwhelming sounds that creep in and drain mental energy. Here’s the link if you want to check it out:

Loop Noise-Cancelling Earplugs

For her, earplugs do more than block noise. They boost focus and lower stress. In a busy environment, it’s easy to burn out fast. Small changes like this can refuel you so you don’t end the day feeling wiped out.

Day-to-Day Strategies

Daily life with dyslexia and ADHD can feel like juggling too many balls. But simple tweaks can help you stay on track. Our guest and I talked about methods to organise those wandering thoughts.

A few approaches stood out:

• Setting friendly reminders on her phone, especially for routine tasks
• Keeping a quick “brain-dump” notebook handy to catch sudden ideas
• Building short breaks into daily schedules rather than pushing through
• Allowing herself to do tasks in small, focused chunks instead of one long session

Each strategy aims to cut the frustration factor. Knowing you’ll forget something isn’t a bad thing if you’ve got an easy fix in place, like your phone’s reminder system.

Emotional Highs and Lows

We didn’t skip the emotional side. Coming to terms with a double diagnosis can trigger relief one moment and worry the next. You might feel validated that your experiences have a name. Then the doubts pop up — “Will this hold me back? Do I have to do everything differently now?”

She has learned to ride those emotional waves by sharing her journey with friends, family, and professionals who understand. Opening up has given her a place to vent, and to hear encouraging stories from others in the same boat.

Despite the ups and downs, there’s also a sense of hope. Dyslexia and ADHD don’t define you. They inform how you work, learn, and communicate, but they’re not the whole story.

Moving Forward with Confidence

At the end of the day, embracing your neurodiversity means accepting every part of who you are — the creative sparks alongside the occasional chaos. If you’ve been wondering whether to delve deeper into your own struggles, this episode might give you that gentle nudge to explore further.

Here’s a quick review of the takeaways you can expect:

• Realising ADHD might be linked to your dyslexia can feel like a relief.
• Noise-cancelling gear like Loop can make daily life more manageable.
• Small organisational changes can reduce stress and improve focus.
• Emotional support from friends or professionals is key.
• Awareness is the first step towards living confidently with a double diagnosis.

Ready to hear the full story? The podcast player is right at the top of this page, so give it a listen. You’ll get to hear the personal side of juggling dyslexia and ADHD, tips that worked — and a few laughs along the way.

Go ahead, hit play, and let’s dive in together.