Can You Develop Dyslexia Later in Life?

About Dyslexia: What You Need to Know 

Dyslexia is a learning difference that makes reading, writing, and language processing difficult. It is thought to affect up to 17% of the population. 

Dyslexia has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence level. Lots of people with dyslexia find it hard to read and write despite showing signs of general intelligence. This can create a mismatch between what a person is capable of and what they actually achieve.

The specific causes of dyslexia are still up for debate, but research suggests genes and brain development have a big part to play. People can also experience dyslexia after a brain injury. 

Can You Develop Dyslexia Later in Life?

The question of whether you can develop dyslexia in adulthood doesn’t have a simple, straightforward answer. For the majority of people with dyslexia, it’s something that’s present from birth. However, it is possible for dyslexia to go unnoticed for a long time, especially if somebody finds ways to hide their difficulties with reading and writing. 

For example, a person might memorise how to pronounce words or develop strategies to prepare for written tasks. This can mean their dyslexia remains hidden until later in life. They may even be misdiagnosed with another condition, like dyspraxia or ADHD.

As we briefly mentioned earlier, dyslexia can also occur following a brain injury. This is known as “acquired dyslexia” and happens when the visual and language processing parts of the brain are altered due to a long-term illness or sudden injury event. A person may suddenly experience dyslexia due to:

• Stroke 
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Brain Tumour
• Dementia 
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Brain Anoxia or Hypoxia 
• Neurosurgical complications

When obvious signs of dyslexia in adulthood aren’t linked to a known medical issue, the cause is usually undiagnosed developmental dyslexia. However, natural ageing can play a part, too. One study suggests that natural deterioration in the front of the brain can contribute to dyslexia traits in older people. This is why the right diagnosis is so important.

Signs Adults Might Notice

Spotting the signs of dyslexia in adulthood can be more difficult, especially if coping mechanisms are being used to mask traits. With that said, adults with dyslexia – even those who hide difficulties – can often relate to the following:

• Difficulty understanding or absorbing written information
• Trouble guessing how words are spelt (particularly new words)
• Needing to read and write at a much slower pace than peers/colleagues
• Noticeable difficulties staying organised 
• Finding it hard to follow word sequences
• Writing letters in the wrong order or confusing letters that appear similar
• General difficulty with writing or reading-based tasks in the workplace 

You may notice that some of these difficulties (like organisation and sequencing issues) are signs of executive dysfunction, which can be seen in other neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD. This is why arranging a formal dyslexia assessment with an experienced professional is essential. 

What To Do If You Think You Could Be Dyslexic

If you think you could be dyslexic, getting help can make a huge difference to your confidence and quality of life. Although formal dyslexia assessments aren’t available for free on the NHS, you may be able to request support or funding from your employer or university.

Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments for neurodivergent staff under The Equality Act 2010, so you may find that your workplace will cover the cost of an assessment or help you by providing assistive technology. It’s best to speak to your manager or HR department for guidance.

If you’re a student, you may be eligible for the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA), which can help cover the costs of specialist equipment or 1:1 support.

Across the UK, there are lots of different assessors offering dyslexia assessments for diagnosis, but it’s vital to do your research before committing to a provider. 

Ideally, you should be looking for:

• an assessor with a current Assessment Practising Certificate (APC) or

• an HCPC-registered Educational Psychologist

That way, you can make sure your diagnosis is legally recognised by workplaces, universities, and government bodies (like the DWP). 

FAQs

Can dyslexia appear after illness or brain injury?

Yes. Although the majority of people with dyslexia are diagnosed in childhood and have dyslexia from birth, some people “acquire” dyslexia after a stroke, traumatic brain injury, or certain neurological illnesses that affect the language-processing centres of the brain.

Why does dyslexia sometimes go unnoticed?

There are lots of possible reasons why dyslexia is missed. It can be due to someone hiding dyslexic behaviours and developing coping mechanisms. Or, it can be down to dyslexic traits being confused for other conditions like dyspraxia, ADHD, or autism.

Are women more likely to hide dyslexia?

Yes. Research shows that women and girls tend to be more successful at “masking” dyslexia or developing social and academic workarounds. This can lead to later diagnoses compared to men, who may be identified earlier if their struggles show up as disruptive classroom behaviour.

Is dyslexia genetic?

Yep. If a parent has dyslexia, a person is more likely to have the condition, as it is linked to specific genes that affect how the brain develops.