Plenty of dyslexic people only find out they’re dyslexic as adults, in their twenties, thirties or much later. Some realise while their own child is being assessed. Others start to wonder when a new job brings more reading, writing or admin than before, or when they hear someone describe experiences that sound very familiar.
A late diagnosis can bring relief and a new way of understanding the past. It can also bring frustration that nobody noticed sooner. Here are some of the reasons so many people are identified in adulthood, and what to do if you think you might be dyslexic.
Dyslexia was poorly understood in schools
Many adults went through school when dyslexia was rarely discussed and screening was far from routine. Teachers often had little training in recognising it. Children who found reading and spelling hard, while clearly being bright, were too often labelled lazy, careless or unmotivated.
Those labels can stick for decades. Many dyslexic adults developed clever workarounds to get by, which also kept their dyslexia hidden from others and sometimes from themselves.
Far more people are talking about it
Dyslexia is discussed much more openly than it was a generation ago. The British Dyslexia Association describes it as lifelong, affecting people at work and in everyday life as well as at school. Public figures speaking about their own dyslexia have helped many adults recognise themselves for the first time.
Workplaces are paying more attention
More employers now train managers to understand dyslexia and to offer adjustments such as assistive technology, accessible written material and flexible deadlines. When someone sees a colleague use speech-to-text software without any fuss, it becomes easier to ask whether they might benefit too.
Our guide to dyslexia in the workplace covers common barriers and adjustments, and our dyslexia style guide shows how to make written material easier for everyone to read.
Screening is easier to access
Online screening tools make it simpler to get an early sense of whether dyslexia might be part of your story. They aren’t a diagnosis, but they can be a useful prompt to look further. You can try Enna’s anonymous dyslexia quiz in a few minutes. A formal diagnosis comes from a full assessment with a qualified specialist.
What a late diagnosis can mean
For many people, a diagnosis changes the story they tell about themselves. Difficulties they put down to a lack of effort start to make sense. So do their strengths, which for many dyslexic people include big-picture thinking, creativity and spoken problem solving.
It can also open the door to practical support. You don’t need a diagnosis to ask for adjustments at work, though having one can make the conversation easier. Dyslexia will often count as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, which means your employer has a duty to make reasonable adjustments, and the government’s Access to Work scheme can fund practical support.
If you’re deciding whether to tell your employer, our disclosure templates can help you put it into words.
How Enna can help
If you’re dyslexic and thinking about your next move, the Enna jobs board lists roles with employers who take neuroinclusion seriously. You can sign up for job alerts so new roles come straight to you, and our CV advice will help you present your experience on your own terms.
Employers supporting a newly diagnosed colleague can book a workplace needs assessment to get practical, personalised recommendations.
