We usually associate dyslexia with people who are in the stage of childhood or adolescence, but dyslexia is not only suffered in these two stages, but can also be suffered in adulthood. For this reason, we consider it necessary to write about dyslexia in adults in this Psychology-Online article: Dyslexia in adults: symptoms and treatment. Where we will see the specific characteristics of dyslexia in adults and also specific exercises to treat and improve dyslexia in adults.
Dyslexia in adults: definition
Dyslexia is a neurobiological disorder that affects the acquisition and comprehension of reading. Therefore, people who suffer from dyslexia show difficulties in both reading and writingsince when people write, they are also forced to read.
Dyslexia usually appears when the person is in the process of learning to read, but if it is not treated adequately throughout childhood, its sequelae often occur. persist into adulthood. Furthermore, if the treatment received during childhood was not satisfactory, the problems in adulthood will be more serious. So the severity of the difficulties in adulthood will depend on factors such as the severity of the disorder, the help received during childhood and adolescence, the person’s intelligence, among others. Thus, early detection, together with adequate early care and treatment, can prevent certain difficulties from persisting in adolescence and adulthood.
Here we explain in depth.
Symptoms of dyslexia in adults
Below we present the symptoms of dyslexia in adults:
- Difficulties in understanding texts or low reading comprehension: this difficulty becomes more or less complicated depending on the complexity of the text.
- Reading is an exhausting and unpleasant activity.
- Difficulty reading aloud or with other people listening.
- Get a headache when reading.
- Difficult to read font.
- Spelling mistakes and difficulty recognizing them.
- Poor oral and written expression.
- Insecurity and low self-esteem.
- Lack of attention.
- Incorrect position when picking up the pencil.
- Difficulties with laterality, that is, distinguishing right from left.
- Difficulties in mathematics.
- Lack of techniques or strategies to study.
- Memory difficulties in remembering specific data or names.
- Invent reading unknown words.
- Organizational difficulties.
- Writing difficulties: adding, inverting, substituting and/or deleting letters or words.
Treatment of dyslexia in adulthood
Dyslexia is normally detected when the child is in the process of learning to read, so early treatment is recommended. On the other hand, if it is detected in adulthood, it will probably be because the person was not educated or is illiterate. If dyslexia is detected in adulthood, or if at this same age the difficulties originating in the childhood or adolescent stage still persist, it will be more difficult to carry out the treatment, but even so, it is recommended to treat it with the help of specialists.
Although the disorder is the same, the evolutionary stage causes it to appear differently. Therefore, it will be important to carry out a specific treatment for adults, which will be different from or in children.
Adults who suffer from dyslexia usually show emotional symptoms (anxiety, frustration, low self-esteem, sadness,…) since they constantly, in their daily lives, face obstacles that cause these frustrations and feelings of sadness. In addition, these emotional symptoms are also affected by people’s little knowledge about dyslexia in adults, since in general, people associate dyslexia with ages between childhood and adolescence. Thus, this lack of knowledge causes a lack of support, understanding and understanding on the part of the people around the patient, whether family, friends or co-workers.
For this reason, it is advisable to work, on the one hand, with all those aspects related to writing and reading (spelling, comprehension, expression…) and, on the other hand, the emotional symptoms already mentioned.
Exercises for dyslexia in adults
There is no specific treatment for adult dyslexia, but below we will exemplify some exercises that may be useful to improve your situation. It should be noted that there are exercises that encompass more than one aspect that must be treated.
1. Reading comprehension exercises
For example, working with fragments of popular and traditional stories is a good exercise to improve dyslexia in adults. These are stories about which the patient may already know the story. After reading some fragments, the patient must answer comprehension questions that show that you have understood the text. If we wanted to increase the degree of difficulty, we would try to work with fragments of stories invented or not known to the patient. This exercise can be generalized and not only worked with stories or stories; songs, poems, movies, among others, can also be useful. With this exercise we aim for the patient to become able to improve your fluency when reading, improve the ability to interpret and understand what you have read, improve your oral expression and even be able to express your opinion regarding what you have read.
Another example of exercises for reading comprehension is the identification of differences, that is, finding the differences between two very similar texts. In this exercise to work on dyslexia in adults, the patient must read two texts that represent the same story and be able to find the different details there.
2. Spelling exercises
Exercises to practice spelling and the movements necessary to write each letter. For example, practice with calligraphy notebooks and read a lot. This exercise to work on dyslexia in adults can be done independently. But it can also be used as an activity that the specialist sends to the patient as homework, as if it were homework. So that when the patient returns to the consultation with her homework done, she can have a conversation with the specialist about the book she had to read and write a summary which will then be corrected by the specialist, pointing out to the patient the errors he has made and positively reinforcing the achievements he has achieved.
Another example related to this type of exercises would be make dictations to correct spelling mistakes. In this case it would also be about showing what the patient has done wrong but also what he has done well, with the aim of improving his self-esteem and his tolerance for frustration.
3. Exercises related to the world of work
As these are adults, it could also be interesting to work on the curriculum vitae, the cover letter or tasks in the specific professional field of the adult patient with dyslexia.
4. Exercises related to self-esteem
As we mentioned previously, it is essential to also work on the personal and emotional part of adults with dyslexia. It is important that the patient becomes aware of hers. The patient can write a list where you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Once the list is finished, the patient must propose ideas that he believes may be useful to strengthen his weak points. In this way, the patient can strengthen his self-esteem, acceptance of the disorder and tolerance of it, while improving his writing ability.
5. Group sessions
Create group spaces where patients, for example, can explain their experience, how they act when they feel frustrated, what strategies they use to strengthen their tolerance to frustration, among others. Group sessions can also be used to practice reading in front of other people to lose the fear of reading in public, as well as to do group exercises, such as .
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Andalusian Dyslexia Association (ASANDIS). (2010). General guide to dyslexia.
- Haber, N. (sf). Dyslexia in adulthood. Center d’intervenció behavioral, cabinet of psychology.
- Montalván, M. (2008). Perceptual disorders of dyslexia: proposal for corrective exercises. University of Azuay.
- Portellano, J. A. (2005). Dyslexia, at all ages.