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Dyslexia is a fairly common condition that can impact both adults and children in different ways. It is a learning disorder, but it does not affect the intelligence of the person who has it. There are many ways that adults with dyslexia at all levels can thrive, both personally and in the workplace.In this article, we will go over what dyslexia is, what it looks like in adults, how it impacts those at work, and how you can support employees who may have dyslexia by creating an accommodating and accessible workplace.
What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a genetic condition and a learning disability that is related to language. Dyslexia can cause difficulties with things such as reading, spelling, writing, and even pronouncing words. However, dyslexia most commonly affects reading. Dyslexia can affect someone differently throughout their life. Students in particular may struggle in a typical learning environment. Dyslexia does not just impact someone’s reading. It can also affect language and comprehension through an impairment in someone’s short-term memory, which can cause adults to have trouble with day-to-day activities, such as completing tasks at work. However, with awareness and accommodations, there is no reason that someone should not thrive in an work environment.
Symptoms of dyslexia
The symptoms of dyslexia can impact a person differently depending on their age, even though there are also some similarities. The Mayo Clinic describes the following symptoms in teens and adults:
- Difficulties with spelling
- Trouble reading silently or out loud
- Reading and writing that may be slow or take a lot of extra work compared to peers
- Difficulty with word problems in math
- Avoiding reading activities
- Difficulty with summarizing a story
- Trouble learning foreign languages
Adults who struggle with dyslexia may have been undiagnosed as a child, leading to future struggles with reading-related activities. If you think you or someone you know may be struggling with dyslexia, talk to a healthcare provider to learn more. In the meantime, this article will review what you need to know about adults with dyslexia in the workplace and how to support employees with the condition.
How does dyslexia affect the brain?
Dyslexia affects the brain in several complicated ways. According to Reading Rockets, the left hemisphere of the brain has a failure in the “rear brain systems” to function properly. Reading Rockets also discusses a study that shows that the frontal regions of the brain might overcompensate for the failure in the rear areas, by showing more activation. Basically, dyslexia stems from more activity in other parts of the brain, and less activity in the areas of the brain that are associated with reading (Kimball, 2023). This means that someone with dyslexia might process words and sounds differently than those without dyslexia.
It’s important to remember that dyslexia does not define the intelligence of anyone who has it, nor does it mean that the person is unmotivated. In fact, according to the International Dyslexia Association, people with dyslexia are often bright and capable. They report that people with dyslexia may have talents in a wide variety of areas, including sports, music, math, acting, and more. While it can impact someone’s ability to learn in some ways, it doesn’t mean that someone needs to feel limited in their capabilities and options. Employers may appreciate the creativity that their dyslexic employees can offer.
How does dyslexia affect adults?
While some people might know dyslexia as a disorder that affects children, it can also impact adults. This is especially true if the disorder is not caught when someone is young. Adults with dyslexia may find that it can cause issues in day-to-day life, although the symptoms can change depending on various circumstances.
Adults with dyslexia may develop the habit of avoiding things they have difficulty with. This can lead to not applying for promotions that involve a high amount of administrative work (LoGiudice, 2018). Adult dyslexia can also cause someone to feel frustrated with certain parts of work that include sequential tasks and processes. The British Dyslexia Association mentions that other effects of dyslexia on adults might include difficulty reading and focusing and trouble with time management. They also point out that adults with dyslexia may have low self-esteem.
There are benefits to having dyslexia in some ways, as well as positive ways that people with dyslexia are viewed. For example, many people with dyslexia demonstrate superior work ethic (LoGiudice, 2018). They can also think out of the box. While their learning methods can cause hardships, knowing their strengths such as hands-on tasks and experimentation can mean a creative employee that is beneficial to a workplace.
What the ADA says about dyslexia
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects individuals in the workplace who have disabilities, including dyslexia, which they define as a learning disability. The ADA also states that “as many as 80% of all people with learning disabilities have dyslexia.” The ADA website clarifies that people with dyslexia can comprehend things fine, but may have issues with decoding and identifying what they are looking at first.
How is dyslexia treated?
Dyslexia is treated slightly differently depending on if the person is an adult or a child when it is identified. Rather than being treated with medication, dyslexia interventions surround educational methods that include ways to read and learn (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). Certain professionals, including neurologists or others, may play a part in treating dyslexia in children.
In adults, dyslexia is treated through a variety of methods, including occupational therapy and technology. Tutoring might also be a way to help improve reading skills. The Mayo Clinic (2017) states that there is currently no way to correct the part of the brain that causes dyslexia. The best thing that can be done for dyslexia is to treat it early, but if someone is a recently diagnosed adult, they can still meet with a professional to see what the best next steps are.
Handling Dyslexia at Work
Reasonable workplace adjustments and accommodations for dyslexia
The ADA provides protections to employees looking for “reasonable” accommodations at work. The website Disclo (2016) guides readers through potential accommodations for adults with dyslexia in the workplace. This includes things such as:
- Assistive technology, such as spell-check, certain fonts, and text-to-speech software.
- Workplace adjustments, such as providing an individual with dyslexia extra time for tasks, offering a quiet workspace, or even connecting the employee to a colleague who can help with understanding certain documents.
- Collaboration, which can include encouraging open communication and problem-solving among teams so that communication is clear for all on the team.
By providing these options and facilitating these strategies, employers are demonstrating the value of every employee, including those who may need unique support or options through which to engage in their work.
How to accommodate and help employees with dyslexia?
Employers can help accommodate an employee with dyslexia in several ways. For one, employers can become familiar with what dyslexia is and how it impacts someone. This can help prevent judgement, stereotypes, and stigma. It may benefit the employer to look out for signs of discrimination at the workplace and prevent bullying. If an employee approaches their employer asking for accommodations, then the employer can help by listening to their employee’s needs and giving them a thorough and honest consideration. It’s also important for an employer to not allow any views they may have about dyslexia affect their view of the employee’s capabilities.
Other ways an employer can help accommodate dyslexia includes:
- Sharing content in a variety of ways. Written content is not the only way that information can or should be shared. Videos, presentations, and hands-on activities are also valuable ways for employees to learn.
- Offering flexibility. Allowing flexibility with deadlines can help someone feel more comfortable working the way that is best for them and their needs.
What if an employer refuses a reasonable accommodation for dyslexia?
If an accommodation request is denied, this can cause a lot of anger or embarrassment for an employee. The next steps for employers and employees may depend on where they live in the United States. However, an employee might hire a lawyer to help guide them through appealing an accommodation denial, or even filing for a lawsuit against you as the employer. The process you are most likely to go through is called litigation, which is a process that is specifically focused on resolving rights-based disputes (Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution). This is different from a lawsuit, which is a formal case brought to court. Regardless, this process may be at worst inconvenient, with the potential for more expensive proceedings. On the other hand,, providing accommodations is more likely to aid in a positive experience for both employees and employers.
Encouraging employee success (dyslexic or not)
Having dyslexia can cause difficulties, but it does not define a person or their capabilities. It is certainly possible to succeed while having dyslexia. Below are a few tips that can help an employee or someone else you may know, whether diagnosed with a condition like dyslexia, or not.
- Doing things to improve or maintain self esteem. Someone with dyslexia may struggle with feeling poorly about themselves due to the struggles they have gone through. Actively choosing to engage in activities that one enjoys and makes them feel good can play a big role in improving self esteem.
- Identify strengths. Although there are some things that someone with dyslexia may have trouble with, they certainly also have amazing strengths. Identifying these things can be a boost when one might need it the most. Knowing one’s strengths can also help someone figure out how to navigate through things like asking for workplace accommodations, help them determine what they want out of their career, or what hobbies they enjoy.
- Attend mental health therapy. Seeing a therapist can be helpful regardless of if one has a mental health condition. A therapist can help one work through daily troubles, problem solve, discuss any traumas they might have out of life, and more. Having someone who is trained to listen to you is a benefit that anyone can appreciate.
- Hire a tutor or professional. If dyslexia causes one to struggle with reading and writing, there is no shame in that, and they aren’t alone. Hiring someone like a tutor or other professional such as a neurologist can help someone improve in ways that make their life better. Occupational therapists are another type of professional that can help with things like work management and task completion.
- Creating a work strategy. Employees can and should ask for reasonable accommodations for the workplace (see section called Reasonable workplace adjustments and accommodations for dyslexia). However, employees can also create their own strategies to accommodate themselves, such as using their preferred tools to stay organized, creating an organized and quiet workplace, learning to break down lists into reasonable parts, and more.
- Connecting with the community. Finding others who have dyslexia can make one feel less alone. Knowing others who may go through the same challenges may reverse internal stigma and give ideas for how to accommodate oneself.
References
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, April 11). Dyslexia: Finding a way to overcome reading difficulties. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6005-dyslexia
Creating a Dyslexia-Friendly Work Environment: A Guide to Reasonable Accommodations | Disclo Resource. (n.d.). Www.disclo.com. https://www.disclo.com/resources/creating-a-dyslexia-friendly-work-environment-a-guide-to-reasonable-accommodations
Hudson, R., High, L., & Otaiba, S. (2024). Dyslexia and the Brain: What Does Current Research Tell Us? | Reading Rockets. Www.readingrockets.org. https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/dyslexia/articles/dyslexia-and-brain-what-does-current-research-tell-us
Kimball, M. (2023, February 21). How Dyslexia Affects The Brain – Dyslexia Reading Connection. Dyslexia Reading Connection -. https://dyslexiareadingconnection.com/resource/how-dyslexia-affects-the-brain/
Learning Disability Fact Sheet. (n.d.). Archive.ada.gov. https://archive.ada.gov/learnfac.htm
Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. (n.d.). University of Cincinnati College of Law. https://law.uc.edu/education/areasofstudy/litigation-alternative-dispute-resolution.html
LoGiudice, K. (2018, December 23). Common Characteristics of Adult Dyslexia. Dyslexia the Gift. https://www.dyslexia.com/about-dyslexia/signs-of-dyslexia/common-characteristics-of-adult-dyslexia
Mayo Clinic . (2022, August 6). Dyslexia – Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dyslexia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353552