Types of Dyslexics, Ep. 2: Combined Learning Differences (Test, Symptoms)

Are you sure you're just dyslexic? Studies show that over 62% of dyslexics have a combination of different learning differences. ADHD, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Anxiety Disorders are among the most common differences combined with dyslexia. This video provides an overview and an unofficial test, in which you might get a better idea of your own mix of learning differences. I go over signs and symptoms, as well as relevant questions specific to each condition.

⏰ Timetable:
00:00 - Intro
01:07 - Dyslexia & ADHD
02:30 - Dyslexia & Dyscalculia
03:38 - Dyslexia & Dysgraphia
04:42 - Dyslexia & Anxiety Disorders

🙋🏼‍♂️ My name is Arije, and I am a dyslexic with an MA in Education Studies. I aim to share all my tips for learning, coping, teaching, and more on my channel. My aim is to help you understand what dyslexia is and how to work with those that have it. Because I believe that, as the most common hidden learning disability, dyslexia needs to be seen to be understood.

COACHING & CONSULTATION

✅ Even though English is not my native language, I wrote my entire MA thesis and worked at full professional capacity in the English language. Because of my premium Grammarly account, I felt confident enough to do that without worrying too much about my spelling. I think it is a must-have for dyslexics!

Here's some of the literature I consulted to create this video:
Hendren, R. L., et al. (2018). "Recognizing psychiatric comorbidity with reading disorders." Frontiers in Psychiatry 9: 101.
Moll, K., et al. (2020). Introduction to the special issue “comorbidities between reading disorders and other developmental disorders”, Taylor & Francis.

[ArijeAikedeHaas]

At a young age, I was diagnosed with dyslexia. And even though it hasn't been officially diagnosed, I'm pretty sure I have dyscalculia as well. What about you?
Another common combination is dyslexia and dyspraxia. This combination probably should have been included in the video as well. For those of you who to want some more information on that combination, see here:

[danisonice.]

when my anxiety gets bad, my dyslexia geta worse

[kroseun]

Ha, I have all of the above: ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and a general anxiety disorder (likely induced by the combined learning disabilities). 🙃 Fun stuff.

[adorebecka]

i have dyslexia, dyscalculia and social anxiety. these definitely feed off of each other and are affecting my whole life greatly.

I'm not ashamed tho, I'm actually quite happy to talk about it cause I find it so important to spread awareness of all these 3 disorders.

we get a lot of misunderstandings, assumptions and sometimes kinda rude misconceptions thrown at us by people who just don't know because of lack of awareness.

[abdullahhabahbeh]

I struggle when I express my thoughts verbally, and I tend to speak fast. However, I am extremely good with the expression of my thoughts by writing. Moreover, I am an Introvert with social anxiety. Sometimes, I have to read a paragraph twice to understand the idea. It is hard for me to concentrate, and I do get bored quickly. Am I dyslexic?

[snooking]

I have both ADHD and Dyslexia, diagnosed at 40
Total mind 🤯.
I've spent the last 4 years shedding the bad perceptions I had of myself.
I'm just now starting to understand my gifts and learn how to use them to my advantage.
Keep spreading the word, dyslexia awareness is still a problem.
Thank you

[Sirfy]

Wow, today I learned that Dyscalculia is a thing and that there's a word that described what I've struggled with my whole life (I'll be 35 next month) Which..makes me feel alot better about myself

[sugareehoughtaling]

I have some or all of all of those disorders with dyslexia. I grew up in the 1980s, and doctors weren't sure what was wrong with me. Dyslexia is in my family, but I also had a traumatic brain injury when I was two. Then add to it that I was born at 29 weeks with other disorders and defects. My doctors told my parents to put me in a home and not educate me. I went to school year round to catch up with my peers. I graduated from high school and college. I have now worked in health care for over 20 years.

[katycouplescounseling]

This was very helpful. My daughter was recently diagnosed with dyslexia. My husband and I are also curious if that explains the trouble we had in school too. I was unaware of the overlap of dyslexia and anxiety disorder. So helpful to learn. Thanks for the informative video in a bite sized length.

[angelDanJonathan]

I was diagnosed with Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, and Dysgraphia in elementary school. It's hard having patience with yourself so I wouldn't be surprised if anxiety or some form of ADHD is developed. Having 3 learning disabilities has caused me to have severe depression and motivational issues.

[bookishkeekee]

When you said Dyslexia is usually a package deal, a little light bulb went on in my head. I was never planning on getting diagnosed, especially since I already finished college. There was no point. However, this video inspired me. Thank you! It's because of this video that I got diagnosed to find out that I not only have Dyslexia and Dysgraphia but also Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Dermatillomania, and the dreaded OCD. It turns out I've been suffering from OCD since I was 5 and just had no idea what I was doing was actually compulsions. Now I'm finally getting the treatment I need. Again, thanks so much for such a life changing video.

[frynn]

This is probably the first time I have heard of dyscalculia. After researching it, I was shocked to see how much I have in common with it. All this time I thought I was just careless and didn’t pay enough attention…

[Mitford]

Thank you for posting this video. Not only was I diagnosed with dyslexia at age 6, but I have also struggled with being hyperactive, low attention span, and a most embarrassing problem...not being able to do math. I was put in remedial classes in school. I cannot memorize the multiplication table, I can't do math in my head. I can't add, subtract, multiply or divide without using a calculator. I can't make change at the market checkout and I can't figure out a tip for a waiter. It makes me feel so stupid and it's embarrassing! People who don't have this problem don't understand and they just think I'm stupid, low I.Q., and uneducated. I had no idea that my inability to do math was somehow related to my dyslexia. I also didn't know it was called Dyscalculia. I don't have dysgraphia, thank goodness! I do have anxiety disorders, but they are different from what you described. I think I am on the autism spectrum but have never had an official diagnosis. I have terrible people skills and social skills. I am clueless about showing and expressing emotions so I have watched what other people do and have copied them. I have social phobia and panic attacks being around people, especially in large groups or where there is lots of noise. I can't stand parties, nightclubs, shopping malls or anywhere there is a lot of people and noise and lots of things going on. My heart pounds, I break out in a cold sweat, I tremble and go into a complete panic and breakdown. I am in therapy for my panic attacks and other social anxiety issues.

[Kristen]

I was diagnosed with Primarily Inattentive ADHD (formerly known as ADD). My dad was diagnosed with ADD and Dyslexia when he was a kid. I was never tested for any of it as a kid, so I'm just discovering, at 37, that there is a reason why I am different from "normal people." I just watched your "Dyslexia Test" video, and I answered yes to 9 of the questions. There was a couple that I said no to, but use to have issues with when I was younger. My husband is diagnosed dyslexic, and I think both of my kids are, though I have no idea how to go about getting them tested (I asked the pediatrician. She said that she had no idea, and told me to ask the school. So I asked the school, and they said "I don't know, ask their doctor." Very frustrating.) Now I'm thinking that I might need to seek a diagnosis God I wish I knew about this when I was younger! I might've finished high school if I had known!

[fernotap]

Thank you for your interest and knowledge; I have been a mature person with dyslexia; in my childhood was not very easy to find someone with the understanding of it, in my afford to help myself, I have studied different things all my life various topics, , and this has produced in me a lot of pain, but also have to give me an understanding of human tragedy and suffering. (I’m grateful for Grammarly too )

[nuclearscarab]

To me, someone with moderate, but probably not severe dyslexia, it's hard to imagine having at least moderate dyslexia without having some amount of dyscalculia. However, perhaps that just means I have both.

[peachsncream]

. I’m 50+ now. For me it’s been a soul crushing experience living with the ADD non hyperactive- withe the dislexia topped with this ridiculously frustrating memory problem on-top of the learning problems 💔 it hurts me to know I’m intelligent - and have such potential and no way so far to use it consistently. In rare moments of clarity and when the planet’s are in alignment - it’s great …sometimes for an hour at most everything seems clear -I feel inspired and I can actually think …… in those rare moments I think to myself this must be what it feels like to have a normal brain …..then the moment passes and I’m me again . Inconsistency is the only consistent aspect of ME . My wife once asked me …after I tied a wheelbarrow down on her UTE ……how many different knots DO YOU KNOW ? Me …. I don’t know why is that ? She said just about every time I tied her Wheelbarrow onto her Ute I used a different knot than the previous one. I have no idea why that happens . It happens with many many random things . I struggle to learn things then finally something seems to stick in my brain for a few days weeks or year’s ….then without warning it’s simply gone from my brain . I tought myself to do the rubix cube . I Did it every day for years as it calmed my mind, For some reason I stopped doing it for a few weeks . When I picked up the rubix cube weeks later ….I could not do it . It’s just gone from my brain. That was about 5 years ago. This crap drives me crazy. Please keep an eye out for childhood depression . I hope you find the answers you need . PLEASE guide me towards a suitable place to look for actual help .

[thestrikingtruth]

I said yes to almost everything you said. Now I know why school was so difficult for me.

[Junie-io]

My son went in for professional evaluation, it was a long two months of intense testing. They were testing him for ADD in 10th grade. He wanted to be evaluated he was issues with staying on task for his school work. When we were told the results I was shocked. ADHD with two forms of mild dyslexia in math and with letters and writing.

[EveryDayALittleDeath]

I'm not dyslexic, but I am dyscalculic, dysgraphic (shout out to my homies who spent years in OT to make their handwriting legible), and I have a couple anxiety disorders. I may or may not have ADHD (I definitely have ASD, and there's a lot of overlap so I'm not sure, but it's definitely a possibility) It's really nice to hear dyscalculia and dysgraphia talked about as I had teachers who didn't believe dyscalculia was a thing, and my teachers actively hid my dysgraphia diagnosis from me, they just told me I had dexterity issues.