ADHD and dyslexia often occur together and have similar symptoms, but dyslexia primarily affects reading and math skills while ADHD can impact many areas of life. Both are learning disabilities and may be caused by similar brain problems. Treatment involves medication and multisensory teaching methods. Diagnosis can be difficult, especially for dyslexia, and may not occur until adulthood.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyslexia are linked in two main ways. Both conditions often occur together and are usually noticed in infancy when children have trouble doing homework. ADHD and dyslexia also have many of the same symptoms, and one condition can easily be mistaken for the other, necessitating a thorough evaluation.
Both of these conditions are considered learning disabilities. Both cause problems with concentration, attention, and information processing. Dyslexia, however, primarily affects reading comprehension and math skills, while ADHD can impact nearly every part of one’s life. Patients with both disorders can have severe problems with information processing, especially when reading.
There is some evidence to suggest that both ADHD and dyslexia are caused by similar problems within the brain. Those who are dyslexic may have problems processing written information, so they must be instructed using multisensory tools in order for them to learn properly. People with ADHD also have difficulty processing information, though more often it’s due to lack of concentration, rapid thinking, and an inability to sit still. The conditions can occur together, exacerbating a person’s learning disabilities.
Medications can be used in the treatment of ADHD and both conditions are treated using certain teaching methods that combine reading with audio and visual learning techniques. Interventions of this type should be started as early as possible, as ADHD and dyslexia are normally diagnosed in early childhood. Patients with one or both conditions are usually of average or above average intelligence.
Sometimes ADHD and dyslexia can be confused with each other. This happens more often in a diagnosis of dyslexia as it is more difficult to diagnose. Many doctors assume that the symptoms involving a lack of concentration and problems processing information are ADHD, but these things can also be caused by dyslexia. The main difference between the two is that dyslexia does not cause hyperactivity and generally only affects the processing of verbal and written information. Other methods, such as visual displays, are usually more clearly understood.
Occasionally ADHD and dyslexia will not be diagnosed until the patient is an adult. While it may be more difficult to teach older people new ways to learn, it is not impossible. Many adult sufferers are relieved to have a name for their symptoms after many years of not understanding the problem. Special courses are sometimes available for adults with learning disabilities.
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