What Happens When Your Brain Has a Plus-One?Understanding the ADHD and Dyslexia Connection.

Discover why ADHD and dyslexia often occur together. Learn about symptoms, challenges, strengths, and practical strategies for managing both conditions in children and adults.

The Plus-One Brain: Mei’s Story

Mei stared at her worksheet. The letters did their usual thing, glitching like a TikTok video buffering on bad WiFi, freezing mid-word, then jumping to random spots on the page.

She’d been looking at the same math problem for a while. A cough behind her. Tapping on the desk. An alarm bell in the distance. Voices. Then her pencil rolled off the table. Outside, a bird landed on the windowsill. “Is that a sparrow?” she wondered. “Does it sing?”

“Mei? Question three?” Ms Tan called out.

This is the shared reality of many learners, where words lag, numbers dance, and attention feels like a whisper instead of a command. Mei’s story mirrors the experiences of countless individuals living with both ADHD and Dyslexia.

Together, these two conditions can make learning an uphill climb, but they can also spark the opportunity and potential needed to light up new possibilities.

ADHD and Dyslexia Often Travel Together

Here’s what many parents and educators overlook: dyslexia rarely occurs alone. Research shows that 30–50% of people with dyslexia also have ADHD. This isn’t a coincidence; it’s a scientifically recognised overlap known as comorbidity. Think of it as managing two complex systems in one brain, each influencing the other, creating both challenges and unexpected synergies.

Understanding ADHD and Dyslexia Comorbidity

When both conditions coexist, the learning profile becomes uniquely complex:

• Dyslexia affects reading, spelling, and processing written language.

• ADHD impacts attention, impulse control, and executive function.

Together, they form what educators call a dual-exceptional profile, requiring a combination of structured literacy and executive function support. For instance, a student might struggle with reading comprehension due to dyslexia but excel in creative writing due to their ADHD-fueled imagination.

Why Do ADHD and Dyslexia Co-Occur?

1. Shared Neurological Factors

Both conditions involve differences in:

• Executive function: planning, organising, and completing tasks

• Working memory: holding and manipulating information

• Processing speed: how fast the brain interprets and responds

• Phonological processing: recognising and managing speech sounds

  
  

2. Genetic Overlap

Studies show that ADHD and dyslexia often run in families. If one parent has dyslexia or ADHD, their child is statistically more likely to develop both.

When ADHD and Dyslexia Combine: Real-Life Challenges

Reading and Learning

• Difficulty decoding words and sustaining attention

• Re-reading the same line multiple times without the strength of working memory

• Letter reversals mixed (b/d, p/q ) with other errors due to poor impulse control.

• Slow reading speed due to challenges with decoding, paired with frequent distractions and task avoidance.

• Poor spelling and disorganised written work often result from being overwhelmed by writing tasks that require multiple skills.

  
  

In Daily Life, Mei’s homework might look like this:

3:30 PM – Sits down to read Chapter 4  

3:32 PM – Reads first paragraph three times  

3:35 PM – Finally understands it  

3:36 PM – Thinks about a snack

3:37 PM – Reads again  

3:38 PM – Wonders if fish have dreams. Starts to doodle in her book.

3:42 PM – Mum checks in. She helps to redirect Mei's attention back to her homework.

3:43 PM – Mei cannot remember where she stopped reading

The Hidden Strengths of ADHD and Dyslexia

Despite the struggles, this “plus-one brain” often comes with extraordinary gifts. Individuals with dyslexia usually possess big-picture thinking and creative problem-solving skills, while those with ADHD may exhibit hyperfocus on areas of passion and out-of-the-box thinking. These are not just coping mechanisms, but unique strengths that can be harnessed into creative and entrepreneurial opportunities.

Dyslexia Strengths

• Big-picture thinking and seeing patterns others miss

• Creative problem-solving and innovation

• Strong visual-spatial reasoning

• Natural storytelling and design sense

ADHD Strengths

• Hyperfocus on areas of passion

• High energy and curiosity

• Out-of-the-box thinking

• Fast, adaptive responses to change

Many successful individuals, including Richard Branson (Virgin) and Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA), have both ADHD and dyslexia—proof that these traits can be harnessed into creative and entrepreneurial strengths.

Getting the Right Diagnosis

Assessment Matters

A thorough evaluation should include:

• Adhd and Dyslexia formal testing with a medical psychologist/psychiatrist

• Executive function profile

• Developmental and academic history review

Why Dual Diagnosis Is Important

Recognising both conditions ensures:

• Accurate support planning

• Tailored accommodations

• Prevention of frustration or mislabelling

Practical Strategies for Managing ADHD and Dyslexia

In School or at Home

For Dyslexia:

• Structured literacy (Orton-Gillingham, Wilson)

• Multisensory learning and repetition

• Audiobooks, text-to-speech, and coloured overlays

• Extra time and alternative assessment formats

For ADHD:

• Movement breaks and flexible seating

• Visual schedules, timers, and checklists

• Positive reinforcement and chunked tasks

• Active, hands-on learning

For Both Together:

• Short reading sessions with frequent pauses

• Combining auditory + visual input

• Organisational coaching and executive function support

• Technology aids that reduce cognitive load

Support

A holistic approach may include:

• ADHD medication (if recommended by a physician)

• Educational therapy for dyslexia

• Executive function coaching

• Occupational therapy for sensory needs

• Speech Therapy

• Emotional or family counselling

Supporting Children at School and at Home

At School

• Request an IEP or equivalent learning plan

• Ensure access to assistive tech

• Educate teachers on ADHD–dyslexia profiles

• Advocate for modified assignments or pacing

  
  

At Home

• Build routines and structure with flexibility

• Use visuals and gentle reminders

• Celebrate effort, not perfection

• Replace “lazy” or “careless” with “learning differently”

• Focus on strengths, interests, and resilience

  
  

Adults with ADHD and Dyslexia

In adulthood, these conditions don’t disappear, they evolve. Many adults find success by leaning into their strengths. By using speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools, requesting reasonable accommodations, and implementing time-blocking and digital planners, they can navigate the workplace with confidence. Seeking therapy or ADHD coaching for support can also be beneficial.

Workplace Strategies:

• Use speech-to-text and text-to-speech tools

• Request reasonable accommodations

• Leverage creativity and big-picture vision

• Implement time-blocking and digital planners

• Seek therapy or Executive Function coaching for support

  
  

Thriving with a Plus-One Brain

Mei still reads slowly. She still fidgets. She still uses audiobooks.

 But she also won the science competition, with coloured paper, moving parts, and a dynamic presentation that mesmerised her audience. Because sitting still has never been her strength. But standing out? That comes naturally.

How ThinkVisual™ Helps Learners Like Mei

At ThinkVisual™, we understand the intersection between literacy intervention, executive function coaching, and neurodiversity.

Many children with ADHD and dyslexia don’t just need more drills or structure; they need someone to help them see how their brain works, feel understood, and learn in ways that match their wiring.

Our approach integrates:

• Visual coaching tools that make executive function concepts tangible

• Structured literacy informed by evidence-based dyslexia practice

• Coaching for parents to build connection, confidence, and consistency at home

  
  

At ThinkVisual, we don’t “fix” how children learn; we reframe it.

Because once a child understands their brain, their confidence shifts.

Once parents understand the why behind their child’s behaviour, everything changes.

The goal isn’t to make them typical. The goal is to help them thrive, with the brain they already have.

The Bottom Line: You’re Wired Differently, Not Defectively

If you or your child has both ADHD and dyslexia, remember:

• You’re not alone. Millions share this journey.

• You’re not broken. Your brain is beautifully complex.

• You’re capable. Creativity, pattern recognition, and innovation are your allies.

• You’re supported. With the right help, your potential unfolds.

Your brain isn’t malfunctioning; it’s simply using a different operating system. Once you learn the language, the possibilities are endless.

FAQs About ADHD and Dyslexia

Q: Can you have ADHD and dyslexia at the same time?

 Yes. Research shows up to 50% of individuals with dyslexia also have ADHD, and about 40% of those with ADHD show dyslexic traits.

Q: How do I know if I or my child have both?

 A comprehensive evaluation by a psychologist or educational specialist is key. Look for a mix of reading struggles and attention regulation issues.

Q: What’s the best treatment approach?

 A multimodal plan—structured literacy for dyslexia, behavioural and executive strategies for ADHD, and medication if needed.

Q: Are ADHD and dyslexia learning disabilities?

 Dyslexia is classified as a specific learning disability; ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. Both affect learning, but in distinct ways.

Q: Can adults develop ADHD or dyslexia later in life?

 No, both begin in childhood, but adults are often diagnosed later, when lifelong challenges finally become apparent.