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Adult Diagnosis ADHD and Dyslexia

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Created on May 1, 2024

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What do ADHD and Dyslexia mean for me?

1 in 7 people are neurodivergent, and many don’t know yet. People can also have more than one neurodivergence. For example, 45% of people with ADHD may also have a specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia.

learn about adult diagnosis here

Getting a diagnosis later in life

Click into each box to get more information

Tips

Do I need a diagnosis?

How can I be assessed?

Where can I get support?

Listen to Jo's personal experiences

Getting a diagnosis later in life

Click into each box to get more information

Do I need a diagnosis?

How can I be assessed?

Where can I get support?

Tips on daily life with neurodivergence

Do I need a diagnosis?

ADHD and dyslexia are lifelong developmental conditions. This means that they are part of you and that some things in life will be harder for you. Regardless of your diagnostic status, they shape who you are and how you experience the world. For some people Self-diagnosis can be enough, but formal diagnosis may help.

Click into the boxes to read more about each condition

Dyslexia

ADHD

How can I be assessed?

Click into the boxes to check how to get assessment for each condition

Dyslexia

ADHD

Seek trained assessors

Seek healthcare professionals

Where can I get support?

Getting a diagnosis can be freeing and help you to make sense of things you may have struggled with in the past. It can also have negative impacts such as impact upon your sense of self or make you feel stigma. You may find in addition to support from specialist charities that therapy and/or coaching can help you.

ADHD

Dyslexia

ADHD UK

British Dyslexia Association

What is an ADHD coach

ADHD Foundation

Jo on Getting an ADHD Diagnosis Later in Life

Tips on daily life with neurodivergence

Daily life with neurodivergence

Click into each box to check the tips

There is no one way to be dyslexic or ADHD

Being neurodivergent can be a gift

Find coping strategies

Seek help if you need it

Labels aren’t everything

Education courses at the OU

ADHD

Diagnosis can help you understand yourself better. It can also provide access to support both clinical, in terms of medication and other forms of support in the workplace or in education.

There is no one way to be dyslexic or ADHD

Both ADHD and dyslexia are complex. Diagnosis is based on meeting certain criteria from a much longer list and often different neurodivergent conditions can overlap. For example, 45% of dyslexics may have ADHD. This means everyone's experience of both conditions will differ, as you may have seen in the TV series. This also means some advice might not always represent your experience or help you. Even with a diagnosis, it might take some time to make sense of your own experience.

Labels aren’t everything

Having a diagnosis can help you make sense of yourself. Likewise, it can be a way to help you to communicate with others, which can be empowering. Your neurodivergence is just one aspect of you. Labels and formal diagnosis can feel stigmatising to some people and aren’t for everyone.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is not considered a medical condition; therefore, you cannot get support through your GP. Diagnosis is conducted by a trained assessor or a psychologist.

The British dyslexia association offers up-to-date information on how to find an assessor and the associated costs.

Find coping strategies

You will develop a range of coping strategies over time, and probably have many already! There are always new strategies to learn and some great digital tools that are evolving all the time that can help. Experiment and find what works for you. Be mindful of your coping energy, and remember that not all coping strategies are fool proof. If they fail, be kind to yourself.

Being neurodivergent can be a gift

It is true that ADHD and dyslexia both make life challenging in many ways. However, having a brain that works differently can offer some real benefits. For example, both dyslexics and people with ADHD often think in creative and innovative ways. This can be a real benefit in the workplace and in everyday life.

DyslexicU - University of Dyslexic Thinking Thinking skills that AI cannot replace
Seek help if you need it

There may be some days where everything is great and others where you struggle. Do not be afraid to seek help when you need it. Help can be practical, in terms of the workplace or everyday life. It can also be about help with coming to terms with and making the most of your new identity. For some people, coaching and counselling can be very helpful here.

ADHD and Work

Access to work

British association of counselling and psychotherapists

Dyslexia

Diagnosis can help you get support in the workplace or if you are studying. It also might help you make sense of why you struggle with some things that other people seem to do with ease.

ADHD

ADHD must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist, specialist ADHD nurse or another healthcare professional.

Online screening tools ADHD foundationADHD UK

Guidance on how to get a full assessment through the NHS

or privately