Unfortunately, many children with dyslexia are mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD
It’s easy to confuse dyslexia and ADHD, as both conditions can lead to difficulties in the classroom.
However, while they may share some overlapping symptoms, dyslexia and ADHD are distinct conditions that require different approaches to treatment.
Unfortunately, many children with dyslexia are mistakenly diagnosed with ADHD, which can lead to inappropriate interventions and missed opportunities for improvement.
What is ADHD?
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurological condition that affects a child’s ability to focus, control impulses, and manage hyperactive behaviors. It’s characterized by inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness that interfere with daily functioning.
Children with ADHD may struggle to focus on tasks, follow through on instructions, or remain seated for long periods. They may act impulsively and are often seen as restless or fidgety in the classroom.
Dyslexia and Its Symptoms
In contrast, dyslexia is a language-based learning disorder. It specifically affects how individuals process written language, leading to difficulties in reading, writing, and spelling.
Dyslexic individuals may struggle with phonemic awareness—the ability to break down words into their component sounds. This makes it hard to sound out words, recognize sight words, and remember how words are spelled.
Overlapping Symptoms
So where does the confusion arise?
Both conditions can lead to inattentiveness and frustration in the classroom. Children with dyslexia may appear distracted or disengaged during reading activities because they find it extremely difficult to decode the text. Similarly, they may fidget, avoid eye contact with the page, or seem lost in thought, which mirrors symptoms of ADHD.
Manny’s Story: Take Manny, for example. He was frequently labeled as the "class clown" because he would entertain his peers instead of focusing on his reading assignments. His teachers assumed he had ADHD due to his constant distraction. However, the real issue was dyslexia. Manny couldn’t read well, and rather than let anyone know, he chose to be funny to deflect attention from his academic struggles.
Why Misdiagnoses Happen
Children like Manny are often diagnosed with ADHD because their inability to stay focused (during reading and writing tasks) mimics the signs of attention deficits. Teachers and parents might assume that medication or attention training is the solution when, in fact, the core issue is a learning difficulty like dyslexia
Two Steps to Take
First, Get the Right Diagnosis:
The very first key to helping children with dyslexia or ADHD is to ensure they are correctly diagnosed.
A comprehensive evaluation that looks at both attention and learning challenges is crucial.
Children with dyslexia need reading interventions that address phonemic awareness and decoding skills, whereas children with ADHD might benefit more from behavioral strategies and, in some cases, medication.
Step Two:
Begin an appropriate protocol for building the skills that will allow a Dyslexic reader to read comfortably just as his peers do.
Accommodations are appropriate ONLY until the weak or missing skills are developed. Accommodations do not permanently change Dyslexia. Only through skill building can Dyslexia be overcome.
While ADHD and dyslexia can co-occur, they are distinct conditions that require different types of support. If your child struggles to focus, particularly during reading and writing tasks, it’s important to explore ALL possibilities, including the presence of dyslexia.
With the right diagnosis, both conditions can be effectively managed, allowing your child to thrive in school.
Do you want to explore your child's struggles with a learning specialist?
Ready to take the next step?
Speak to a Learning Specialist to learn more about the results from students and parents at Stowell Learning Centers.