Dyslexia and many other learning difficulties, or differences, do not always occur in isolation. It is quite common for an individual to have co-occurring conditions. This can create challenges for an accurate diagnosis. However, appropriate identification of all the educational needs of an individual is important as this enables the implementation of a range of suitable interventions. Dyslexia is also part of the broader neurodiversity spectrum of differences, or disabilities, which includes ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia and other neurodivergent profiles.
Conditions which can sometimes co-occur with dyslexia are as follows:
Dyscalculia is a specific learning difficulty in learning and comprehending mathematics. For more information see our Dyscalculia and Maths Difficulties page.
Dysgraphia is a specific learning difficulty affecting a person’s ability to write. For more information see our Dysgraphia and Writing Difficulties page.
Dyspraxia or Developmental Co-ordinator Disorder (DCD) is a specific difficulty with movement and aspects of learning such as thinking out, planning and carrying out sensory / motor tasks.
ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder, with or without Hyperactivity) is a condition causing persistent difficulties with one or more of the following behaviours: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Autism is a lifelong, developmental condition which relates to how a person communicates and interacts with others, and how they experience the world around them.
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is diagnosed when children fail to acquire their own language for no obvious reason. This results in children who have difficulty understanding what people say to them, and struggle to articulate their ideas and feelings. Often there are difficulties in language comprehension, expressive language, using language in everyday situations and speech-sound difficulties.
Dyslexia Ireland is a member of the Spectrum Alliance, a network of disability groups which was established to raise awareness of related developmental disorders (hidden disabilities) such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADHD and Asperger Syndrome. It is quite common for an individual to have more than one of these life-long conditions. Through the Spectrum Alliance we work towards increasing awareness of the co-occurrence of these neurodivergent profiles.
To find our more info on co-occurring condition you could contact some of the following organisations:
AsIAm www.asiam.ie
Aspire www.aspireireland.ie
ADHD Ireland www.adhdireland.ie
Dyspraxia DCD Ireland www.dyspraxia.ie
Centre for Talented Youth www.dcu.ie/ctyi
Disability Federation of Ireland www.disability-federation.ie
Irish Society for Autism www.autism.ie
Inclusion Ireland www.inclusionireland.ie