In an ideal world, people with dyslexia would have it identified and diagnosed well before they ever sit an exam. Early intervention and access to support on the first steps of a reading journey is largely agreed by experts to be the most successful, and it can create lifelong relationships with tech and solutions that can carry people through to the top flights of their chosen careers.
Unfortunately, many people with dyslexia don’t have it identified until they’re well into their teens. And these still are what we might consider the ‘lucky’ ones, even if sometimes they don't feel particularly lucky – some people go their entire educational career without ever having their dyslexia diagnosed at all, and go out into the world without a diagnosis or access to the support solutions that can have a life-changing impact.
Recently, more and more people the world over are becoming more aware of dyslexia, its symptoms, and the support available to them. Some of this is as a result of social media sites like TikTok and Instagram, where many content creators have been focusing on neurodiversity and explaining lesser-known symptoms and adult symptoms. Neurodiversity has been in the press, too, and more companies are focusing on sourcing and supporting neurodiverse talent – and this greater awareness and acceptance has led to more people realising that they could have dyslexia.
The first thing we should state is that even if you’ve found a series of social media posts that seem to describe the symptoms you experience with pinpoint accuracy, it’s still worth pursing an official diagnosis via a traditional channel. Not only does this mean that you’re absolutely certain that you have dyslexia, it also ensures a better chance of spotting any co-occurring conditions, and means that it’s much easier to access support in the workplace if you want and need it.
But what about the emotional effects of adult diagnosis? We speak a lot about how a diagnosis can impact emotionally on children and young people, but when it comes to adults and their mental health, the conversation is a little lacking. This may be because we focus less on mental health as part of the dyslexia narrative once people move out of education, but it remains no less important for adults and older people: being diagnosed with dyslexia can prompt some intense emotions, and they can have an impact on our mental health.
How we see ourselves. Some people feel afraid when they first receive a diagnosis – it may seem like your life is changed in an instant, and all of a sudden you have to re-assess your self-concept as somebody different and new. Neurodiversities are lifelong conditions and it’s actually fairly stressful re-situating your sense of self around something you might not have even considered six months ago; so as always, take time to reflect and do things at your own pace – and reach out for support if you feel you need to.
Missed Opportunities. By far one of the most common reactions to an adult dyslexia diagnosis from older people is to look back on childhood and adolescence and realise that things didn’t need to be the way that they were. Perhaps you were constantly experiencing school sanctions because your reading skills weren’t on par with your classmates, maybe you were denied educational or career opportunities due to weaker reading skills, maybe you chose a future based on how much reading was necessary as opposed to what you actually wanted. Seeing the role that diagnosis, accommodations and support could have played in your life is difficult for some people, and it can make people feel robbed of opportunities that may have led them down different paths.
Work Worries. Getting a diagnosis as an adult might also mean that you’re looking at having some conversations with your managers at work about accommodations or support you might need, and you’re afraid of rocking the boat or limiting your career potential. It’s important to remember that whilst these feelings of trepidation are valid, they’re also easy to allay on the practical side: in most places, workplace support is a right, and it can be supported via governmental and charity funding. Get in touch with your local dyslexia association for more information on where to look where you live.
Relief. This one may sound a little strange, especially in light of the previous three emotions we’ve covered, but many people who are diagnosed with dyslexia as adults do report feeling an overwhelming sense of relief when they get their official diagnosis through. It’s not a case of being pleased per se, it’s more a case of finally realising why some things in your life are the way that they are – why reading always seemed difficult, why your memory always seemed to struggle with lists. For many years, people might have thought that they simply ‘weren’t smart’, and couldn’t handle the academic side of things anywhere near as easily as their peers did, so some find it comforting to be able to put a name to why some things felt difficult.
If you’re struggling with your mental health relevant to your own dyslexia diagnosis, it’s a good idea to reach out for help and support. You might want to start by contacting your assessor body and finding out if they have any recommended sources or people that you could contact to talk things through. Many people also reach out to a therapist or councillor- there are people in these professions specialise in neurodiversity, and can offer you targeted support where you need it most. Some prefer group therapy or even just community events where people who have the same neurodiversities come together to talk both in person and online; and you can always talk to your GP about where they feel it’s best for you to reach out for support too.
