Dyslexia Testing for Adults & Why it Happens So Late In Life

We often associate dyslexia as something diagnosed in children rather than a condition discovered or developed late in life.  In addition, up until relatively recently, it was thought that only a very small percentage of the population was dyslexic—the reality is that one in five experience dyslexia!

Dyslexia is a neurological brain difference that is typically thought to lead to challenges in reading and writing. It is important to note that dyslexia also can come with many strengths, such as spatial reasoning and creative problem-solving.  In many cases, dyslexic traits present along a spectrum and some experience more challenges than others. As a result, it often goes undetected in children who manage to struggle through it on their own.

 In today’s article, we’ll delve into dyslexia testing for adults, and why they may seek it out late in life.

Anxiety & Coping Strategies

 Kids whose dyslexia goes undiagnosed develop strategies and coping mechanisms to help them muddle their way through the unpleasant process of reading. For many dyslexic kids—even ones who only experience mild challenges—reading is a source of anxiety and stress. It brings up a lot of bad memories of struggling with homework or on tests, and those triggers cause adults with undiagnosed dyslexia to forego the pleasures of a good book.

 As adults, they may struggle with written tasks around the office—so they learn to either offload those tasks to others or avoid them entirely. When companies send out lengthy memorandums, they turn to the water cooler for a quick verbal summary from someone else. Often, people with dyslexia carry some amount of insecurity or shame around their difficulty processing or executing written tasks—but dyslexia has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence.

 As job roles become more dependent on reading off screens—especially as remote work picked up in recent years—coping strategies developed by many adults may seem less effective, causing them to seek out testing and treatment for dyslexia. For others, it’s simply a problem they’ve avoided for a long time and have finally decided to confront.

Dyslexia Worsens Over Time

 There’s some evidence to suggest that challenges that can accompany dyslexia can get worse over time if they go unrecognized. What was a manageable, if not frustrating, problem as a kid gradually worsens until one day, looking at a screen or processing the words on a form becomes much more difficult. Sometimes, this is a factor of worsening eyesight, but other times, it’s due to changes in how our brains process language as we age.

 Those coping mechanisms developed earlier in life may stop working quite so well. In those situations, it’s important to seek support so that it doesn’t drain their self-confidence. Many challenges that accompany dyslexia can be managed with the right tools and techniques.

Formal Evaluation

 If you think you may have dyslexia, it's time to seek out a formal evaluation. Clinical psychologists who specialize in working with neurodivergent folks are a great place to start. Usually, diagnosis occurs over a few sessions, involving tasks, activities, and questions about your history.

Schedule a Consultation

  If you’re interested in learning more about testing for dyslexia as an adult, reach out today. We’d love to talk to you about dyslexia testing.