So, you have ADHD - but do you have Dyslexia too?

Mar 11 (edited) • 💡 Tips

Do you want to know if you are dyslexic? Read on. Are you dyslexic? Share your experience.

I found out I was dyslexic when I was 42 years old (ADHD at 59). It's not uncommon for those who are dyslexic to have ADHD and vice versa - but not 100% (just common). If you never thought about it, here's some signs you may have it if you are interested (since you're on a self-reflection). This post is for both the curious and those who know they are dyslexic. I hope some of it helps you.

Here’s one quick question researchers often ask adults, because if you answer, "Yes," then that's one of the strongest adult indicators.

Do you find that speaking your ideas is much easier than writing them down?

I don't know about you, but I'm ALWAYS speaking outlaid what I need to do or my ideas before I write them down.

Dyslexia in adults often looks very different from the classic “reversing letters” stereotype people think of. Most adults have developed coping strategies, so the signs show up more in processing, organization, and language tasks than in obvious reading mistakes.

Here are the most common adult signs.

1. Reading Difficulties (Even if You Read a Lot) - Many adults with dyslexia can read well, but it takes extra effort or time.:

Reading slower than others
Needing to re-read sentences to absorb meaning
Losing your place while reading
Skipping small words (like of, the, in)
Reading out loud feels uncomfortable
Fatigue after long reading

2. Writing and Spelling Problems - This is usually where dyslexia shows up most clearly.:

Inconsistent spelling of the same word in the same paragraph
Spellcheck becomes your best friend
Avoiding writing tasks if possible
Trouble organizing written thoughts
Writing feels much harder than speaking
Mixing up similar words (there/their, affect/effect)

3. Word Retrieval Issues - The brain knows the word but can’t pull it out quickly.:

“It’s on the tip of my tongue.”
Using filler words like “thing,” “stuff,” “you know.”
Talking around a word instead of saying it
Pausing mid-sentence to find the right word

4. Memory and Processing Differences - Dyslexia affects working memory.

Trouble remembering lists of instructions
Difficulty remembering names
Forgetting numbers quickly
Struggling to repeat information someone just said
Having to write things down immediately

5. Direction and Sequencing Issues - Many dyslexic adults struggle with ordered information.:

Mixing up left and right
Difficulty remembering sequences
Trouble following multi-step instructions
Problems with calendar planning

6. Math and Number Confusion (Sometimes) - Not everyone with dyslexia has this, but many do.:

Transposing numbers (54 → 45)
Difficulty doing mental math
Trouble remembering math facts

7. Strengths That Often Come With Dyslexia - This is important: dyslexia also tends to come with very strong abilities. Common strengths:

Excellent spatial awareness
Strong visual thinking
Creativity and problem-solving
Seeing patterns others miss
Big-picture thinking
Strong storytelling ability
Mechanical or hands-on skill

Many dyslexic people are:

inventors
entrepreneurs
artists
builders
storytellers

Your brain tends to process information visually and conceptually, not word-by-word.

BUT >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> BUT

Do all dyslexics have ADHD? Are all ADHD dyslexic? Do they go hand-in-hand, or what is the science and percentage of them together? Short answer: No to both. But they overlap a lot more than chance, which is why people often see them together. Here’s what research shows.

1. They Are Different Conditions

Dyslexia

Language processing difference
Difficulty with reading, spelling, and phonological decoding
Brain areas involved: left hemisphere language networks

ADHD

Attention regulation difference
Difficulty with focus, impulse control, task initiation, and working memory
Brain areas involved: frontal cortex, dopamine systems

So scientifically, they are different neurological systems.

2. But They Overlap A LOT.. Studies consistently show a strong overlap. Approximate research ranges:

25–40% of people with ADHD also have dyslexia
30–50% of people with dyslexia also have ADHD

That’s a huge overlap compared to the general population. To give perspective:

Dyslexia in the general population: ~10–15%
ADHD in the general population: ~5–10%

So the chances of having both together are much higher than random chance.

3. Why They Often Occur Together - Scientists think there are three main reasons.

1. Shared genetics - Both conditions run strongly in families. Some of the same genetic markers are involved in:

brain development
neural timing
working memory systems

2. Shared brain processing systems - Both conditions involve:

working memory
processing speed
executive function
temporal processing

But they affect them in different ways. Example:

ADHD problem: “I can’t stay focused long enough.” but Dyslexia problem: “The words don’t decode smoothly.” Together: “I can’t focus, and decoding words is slow.”

3. One can hide the other. This happens constantly. Examples:

A child with dyslexia may look inattentive because reading is exhausting.

A child with ADHD may look dyslexic because they rush reading and skip words.

So sometimes they are misdiagnosed as each other.

4. Signs When Someone Has Both - People with both often experience:

Reading that is slow and tiring
Losing place when reading
Difficulty organizing writing
Forgetting instructions quickly
Difficulty starting tasks
Strong creativity and visual thinking

But again: not everyone with one has the other.

5. Famous People With Both - Many successful people have both ADHD and dyslexia, including entrepreneurs, inventors, and artists. The brain style often includes:

big-picture thinking
strong spatial reasoning
creative problem solving
storytelling ability
mechanical intuition

6. Important Thing to Understand

ADHD and dyslexia are both neurodevelopmental differences, not intelligence issues.

In fact, many people with either condition have above-average intelligence.

The difficulty comes from how information is processed, not from ability.

Simple Visual Explanation _ Think of it like this:

Dyslexia = language decoding system
ADHD = attention control system

There are two different control panels in the brain, but the wiring sometimes overlaps.

Quick Stats Summary

Dyslexia in the population: 10–15%
ADHD in the population: 5–10%

Overlap:

ADHD with dyslexia: 25–40%
Dyslexia with ADHD: 30–50%

So they don’t automatically come together, but they show up together far more often than random chance would predict.

This is a quick guideline to see if you might have it. I hit ALL of the markers - and yes, I'm a creative in everything they say they can do well. I'd love to hear your thoughts (what you can relate to) and if this post (or my posts in general) are helpful.

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