Many parents are relieved when their child finally receives a diagnosis of dyslexia. At last, there is an explanation for the reading struggles. Yet some soon discover that reading is not the only challenge. Their child may also struggle with mathematics, handwriting, attention, coordination, or retrieving words during conversation.
This is not unusual. Dyslexia rarely occurs in isolation. The term comorbidity refers to the presence of one or more additional conditions alongside a primary condition. Research suggests that approximately 60 percent of people with dyslexia meet the criteria for at least one co-occurring disorder.
Understanding these overlapping conditions is important because they can influence how dyslexia presents and affect academic performance, daily functioning, and response to intervention. Below are five of the most common conditions that occur alongside dyslexia.
Dyslexia and dyscalculia
A child with dyslexia will almost always experience difficulty reading mathematical text. Word problems, instructions, and explanations all depend on reading. However, some children struggle not only with reading mathematics but with mathematics itself.
The term dyscalculia describes a severe difficulty with numbers and mathematics. Symptoms may include:
- difficulty learning and remembering arithmetic facts;
- difficulty carrying out calculation procedures;
- poor number sense; and
- an inability to subitize (recognize small quantities without counting).
Research suggests that 40 to 50 percent of people with dyslexia show no signs of dyscalculia and perform as well in mathematics as their peers. About 10 percent even perform above average. The remaining 50 to 60 percent, however, experience significant difficulties with mathematics.
Dyslexia and dysgraphia
Many people think of dysgraphia as a handwriting disorder, but the condition can affect handwriting, written expression, or both.
Some children struggle primarily with the physical act of writing. Their handwriting may be slow, effortful, poorly formed, or difficult to read. Others can form letters adequately but struggle to organize their thoughts, put ideas into words, construct sentences, or express themselves effectively in writing. Some experience difficulties in both areas.
A handwriting problem exists when a child writes illegibly or extremely slowly. While all children write slowly when first learning to write, handwriting becomes a concern when poor legibility or slow writing interferes with schoolwork.
Symptoms of dysgraphia may include:
- an awkward pencil grip;
- avoiding writing or drawing tasks;
- difficulty forming letter shapes;
- inconsistent spacing between letters and words;
- poor understanding of uppercase and lowercase letters;
- tiring quickly while writing;
- illegible handwriting;
- a mixture of cursive and print writing;
- difficulty organizing thoughts in writing; and
- written work that is significantly weaker than oral expression.
Because writing depends on many skills—including language, spelling, memory, motor coordination, and planning—dysgraphia can affect students in different ways.
Dyslexia and dysnomia
Have you ever had a word “on the tip of your tongue” but been unable to retrieve it? Most people experience this occasionally. For some individuals with dyslexia, however, word-retrieval difficulties occur far more frequently.
People with dyslexia tend to perform more poorly on rapid automatized naming (RAN) tasks than typical readers (Elliott & Grigorenko, 2014). A meta-analysis involving 137 studies and 28,826 participants found a moderate-to-strong relationship between RAN and reading performance. RAN contributes to word reading, text reading, non-word reading, and reading comprehension.
As a result, a child may know exactly what he or she wants to say and even describe the object or concept in detail, but still be unable to recall the correct word. When these word-finding difficulties are severe enough to interfere with learning or daily life, the condition is known as dysnomia.
Dyslexia and dyspraxia
While not all children with dyslexia show difficulties with balance and coordination, some do.
The term dyspraxia describes a severe difficulty with planning and coordinating body movements. Sometimes referred to as “clumsy child syndrome,” dyspraxia can affect both gross and fine motor skills.
A child with dyspraxia may struggle with tasks such as writing, buttoning clothes, tying shoelaces, catching a ball, or maintaining balance. These difficulties can make everyday activities more challenging and may contribute to frustration and low self-confidence.
Dyslexia and ADHD
Many children are occasionally inattentive, impulsive, or overly active. For children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), however, these behaviors are persistent enough to interfere with daily functioning.
Children with ADHD often struggle to concentrate, sustain attention, organize tasks, and regulate their behavior. As a result, schoolwork can become difficult even when they understand the material.
Dyslexia and ADHD frequently occur together. Approximately three in ten people with dyslexia also have ADHD. Likewise, individuals with ADHD are significantly more likely than the general population to have a learning disorder such as dyslexia.
Although dyslexia and ADHD are separate conditions, the combination can create substantial challenges for learning. A child may struggle not only with reading and spelling but also with maintaining the attention needed to benefit fully from instruction.
Final thoughts
Dyslexia rarely travels alone. When a child struggles with reading, it is important to consider whether other difficulties may also be present. Identifying co-occurring conditions can help parents, teachers, and therapists develop a more complete understanding of the child’s strengths and challenges and ensure that support addresses the whole learner rather than reading difficulties alone.
Edublox provides support for students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other learning difficulties. We help students worldwide overcome academic challenges and reach their full potential. Book a free consultation today to discuss your child’s needs and explore how we can help them succeed.
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