Adult Dyslexia Online

There are many theories regarding adult dyslexia or dyslexia in general. Some of these are: evolutionary hypothesis, phonological deficit theory, visual theory, cerebellar theory and rapid auditory processing theory.

Evolutionary hypothesis is actually quite interesting. The theory suggests that the reason some people are dyslexic is because reading is an “unnatural act” because it is only in the last 100 years that reading has become so important. The idea is that it does not come naturally to people and individuals are forced to learn to read even though the body truly does not have a physical use for it.

The Phonological deficit theory is one that relies upon the fact that there may be impairment when it comes to listening. The storage area of the brain does not process sounds quite the same way that others perceive and retrieve it. In contrast is the visual theory which means that a visual distortion or impairment makes it hard for the individual to process letters or words when it is written.

 The cerebellar theory is an actual biological theory that the cerebellum is dysfunctional. The rapid auditory processing theory is similar to the phonological deficit theory except that this theory deals with short sounds that may occur rapidly.

Dyslexia research has come a long way. There have been many great early researchers, doctors and scientists that have studied dyslexia. Oswald Berkhan identified the condition back in 1881 but the disorder was not officially labeled as dyslexia until Rudolf Berlin did so in 1887. For many years dyslexia was labeled as congenital word blindness because there was such a fixation on individuals who were unable to comprehend written material. It was thought that the brain simply processed the information wrong and so when writing or reciting the information back, many words were omitted or simply switched around. In some instances of adult dyslexia that is the case.

Since those early pioneers many other researchers have studied this disorder and discovered that it is more than just phonetics or alphabets that can have dyslexics stumped. Some, such as Galaburda and Kemper in 1979, discovered that the brains of dyslexics actually have anatomical differences. This helped show the world that it was not simply poor learning skills. It showed that there are actual physical differences that lead a person to being dyslexic.

Adult dyslexia can be managed in numerous ways. But first the underlying conditions must be diagnosed and addressed. Researchers have found success with dyslexics by using phonological educational methods. But if there is a phonological problem then another method must be used. It often helps to use a combination of visual, auditory and written training to help the dyslexic. For those living with dyslexia there are ways to cope with everyday tasks. One way is to invest in speech to typing software. The person speaks into the microphone while the software is running and the program writes down what is being said. If an adult dyslexic is taking classes it may be useful to use a recording device in class and then later carefully use the device to review and write out the notes.

Unfortunately there is no cure for adult dyslexia or dyslexia period. All a person can do is to understand how to manage their dyslexia and learn coping mechanisms to help them learn and function in society. There are numerous support groups that can help. Once the condition has been diagnosed and any underlying conditions addressed then treatment can begin.

While there is no cure, there are often many tools and skills that will help an adult with dyslexia to achieve thier personal goals much more easily.

How is adult dyslexia diagnosed?

Unfortunately many adults that are living with dyslexia were not properly diagnosed as a child. In children there are several developmental signs that point to whether or not he or she has dyslexia. Diagnosing adult dyslexia can be difficult because adults usually have some functioning reading, writing and mathematics abilities but learning comes as a great challenge. But there are some tests that can be performed to determine whether an adult does have dyslexia or if it is another problem causing them poor performance.

Diagnosing of dyslexia is quite a complex series of tests that range from an IQ test to a short term memory test. It can also include a reading test where the subject is tested to determine the level at which he or she can read and understand the written material. Most of these tests are performed by professionals such as neurologists, educational psychologists, neuropsychologists and even medical doctors.

What are the symptoms of adult dyslexia?

Diagnosing adult dyslexia is often far harder than it is to diagnose dyslexia in children. With children, especially while they are learning, there are often key signs that will be noticed and then testing can be done. But with adults it is a bit harder because they have often learned compensating techniques to overcome some of the difficulties. Some of the dyslexics I know have extraordinary abilities to hide their dyslexia!

Some common dyslexia symptoms may be a difficulty in comprehending what is being read, or even taking a long time to read a simple paragraph. Poor spelling is sometimes another symptom of dyslexia, as is reversing addresses or having difficulty in writing down what another person is saying.

If the person is continuously switching numbers or letters when writing or typing is another sign. The adult dyslexic may also have hand-eye coordination problems making it difficult to do repetitive tasks.

Are there any underlying causes to adult dyslexia?

There are sometimes underlying causes to adult dyslexia but it is hard to determine, sometimes, whether the cause is truly underlying or if it is simply overlapping or contributory. Auditory processing disorder is one such case where people hear things in reverse which in turn can lead to them writing it down or processing it wrong. Another condition might be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, where it is hard for the person to concentrate on one thing long enough for the information to be processed. There are even conditions, such as scotopic sensitivity syndrome, or Irlen syndrome, where a person is sensitive to certain light wavelengths. This sensitivity makes visual processing difficult for the person.

What are some related conditions to adult dyslexia?

Not every adult that is diagnosed with dyslexia will have the same co-conditions. But some of the conditions that often do occur with dyslexia are: dysgraphia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Specific Language Impairment or cluttering. Each of these conditions involves some sort of ability that the adult dyslexic is having problems with. Dyspraxia is a condition in which there is an actual neurological condition that makes balance difficult when dealing with routine tasks. The others listed are different problems that may involve a person seeing a process or word combination clearly in their mind but not having the ability to record or write it down properly. Dysgraphia generally occurs with writing and typing whereas dyscalculia is a problem that involves mathematics. In all of the related conditions the end effect is still the same: the person is not able to express, through writing or speech, the correct order of the words or numbers.

Is adult dyslexia a genetic condition?

Adult dyslexia does have some genetic markers that can be identified. But in 2007 a review was published that stated that there were no processes that were influenced by these genes. Unfortunately there is simply not enough data to accurately say whether or not dyslexia, in adults or children, is actually a genetic condition that can be inherited. It may turn out to be that there is just something that goes wrong during conception when the genetic material is formed that makes dyslexia possible. It is common, however, for a child with dyslexia to have a parent with dyslexia. In one family I know, the mother has dyslexia. Three of her children also have dyslexia. Clearly, in their family, there is a genetic link. The benefit for the children is that since their mother has had dyslexia for decades, she is able to help them learn how to deal with it and also help them understand that it is not a matter of intelligence.

If reading is something you have always avoided because it is a struggle to concentrate on the words, you might have hidden dyslexia. Many adults with hidden dyslexia struggle with everyday tasks from reading instructions on a job application to making a grocery list. A common symptom is a strong dislike of reading. When reading is hard, it is natural to avoid it. Yet, many adults with dyslexia were never diagnosed as children. So, even while they struggle with dyslexia, they have no name for the reason reading and writing are harder for them.

Why is dyslexia missed so often undiagnosed? Far too often children with dyslexia are simply passed through school until they graduate. Teachers often find the children difficult and would simply put them in a remedial class. Those children grew up and still had the same learning disability.

Dyslexia is a very common learning disability and one that is not solely reserved just for children. Adults all across the world suffer from this condition and many do not get the help that they need. This article will cover many of the questions that adult dyslexia diagnosis brings up. If you know of someone that is suffering from this disability, maybe you can help them get the help they need.

Getting tested for dyslexia is often life-changing. With a diagnosis comes many answers about how to best handle the difficulties that come with dyslexia. Having dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence. In fact, many very intelligent people have dyslexia. Learning how your brain works can make everyday reading and writing tasks easier. recent research into dyslexia has resulted in many new tools for working with dyslexia.