From Dyslexia to Dyslexia with ADHD

Some of you may have noticed that I recently added ADHD to my headline—others maybe didn’t. While it might seem like ADHD just popped up for me, it’s actually something that’s been part of my life for a while and that I've been questioning quite a bit. I’ve known about my dyslexia for years and used to think that most of my quirks and struggles were because of that. But, as I learned more, I realized that wasn’t the whole picture.

ADHD and dyslexia often go hand in hand, with stats showing that around 25% to 40% of people with dyslexia also have ADHD. Since it’s ADHD Awareness Month and Dyslexia Awareness Week was last week, I thought I’d share a bit about my own experience and maybe shed some light for those of you who are curious.

I've known for a while that not all my traits were due to dyslexia, but I thought people were just that way. Turns out there was more to the story. ADHD had been the missing piece all along!

Yes, ADHD and dyslexia can overlap, but they’re not the same. Some traits are similar, while others have completely different causes. Let’s break it down a little:

• Mind Wandering: When we think of a wandering mind or racing thoughts (which I like to call my “hamster on a wheel”), ADHD often comes to mind, especially with the attention deficit part. But dyslexia causes similar feelings, particularly when you’re reading or writing, or trying to focus on something challenging. Your brain just starts connecting random dots and jumps from one thought to another.
• Procrastination: Oh, the art of putting things off! This can be due to dyslexia because tasks like reading or writing are just hard to get into, and you dread the effort. I’ll happily avoid filling out a form for as long as possible! But my procrastination habits don’t stop there, which helped me realize ADHD was also at play. If something doesn’t spark my interest, I’ll distract myself with something more fun that gives me that dopamine hit. Sure, everyone procrastinates, but with ADHD, it happens more frequently.
• Working Memory Struggles: Dyslexia can make it hard to remember sequences of letters or words, and I still mix up words I use every day. I constantly confuse names, which is both amusing and frustrating! I'll confuse letters in my own name so apologies if I've mistaken your name previously, it's nothing personal. ADHD, on the other hand, messes with your working memory in a bigger way—it makes it hard to remember instructions or where you put things. I can’t even count how many times I’ve misplaced my wallet, car keys, or phone. My friends have a running joke about it! As a kid, I was constantly losing things, and I still manage to forget where I put the notes to remember things.
• Time Management: Struggling with time is a big one for both. Whether it’s underestimating how long something will take or getting lost in the process of figuring out how to express something just right, I’ve been there. I either overestimate or underestimate how much time I need, and before I know it, hours have passed.

Ultimately, it can be tricky to tell ADHD and dyslexia apart since they share so many traits. But for me, the realization came when I noticed that some of my quirks—like my hyperactivity—just didn’t fit with dyslexia. Another clear sign of ADHD for me was impulsivity, something I’ve always dealt with but never connected to dyslexia. I just thought it was a part of who I was!

At first, figuring out I had ADHD was frustrating. I couldn’t help but think, “I could’ve gotten help perhaps if I’d known.” But it quickly turned into one of those aha moments where everything suddenly made sense. Now, I understand myself so much better. It also allowed me to understand why I felt so different beyond my dyslexia. But I sometimes question what took my so long? And I don't have the answer. I was very cautious too before openly talking about my self-doubts and my thought process. Only a select few knew about my self-exploration to understand myself better, because I was scared. Scared of the reaction, scared I may be wrong... scared of what? I am not totally sure.

I’m still waiting for a formal diagnosis, but for those who question self-diagnosis, I’ll say this: Many of us who self-identify do so after really understanding our traits and how they align with neurodiversity. It allows us to seek support and accommodations that truly make a difference in our lives.