Dyslexia in adults: why and how I got diagnosed.
- Rachel
- Jul 25, 2020
- 5 min read
For such a common learning difficulty, information about how to get diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult is decidedly murky. Not only is the process expensive since you cannot be diagnosed on the NHS, but it can also seem overly complex prior to having been through it. Although I was 17 and therefore still in Sixth Form when I was diagnosed, I was still required to go through the process independently. It was tough and without the motivation of more exam support, I can imagine that I wouldn't have gone through with it simply due to the confusion the process caused along the way. Nevertheless, my diagnosis has allowed me to access practical support along the way as well as giving me peace of mind. I hope that after reading this, you will feel more confident to start the process if you feel you need it for yourself!
When I was first learning to read and write, I struggled to separate words from sentences even though I could read them in their isolated forms. I was known to write right to left on occaision, had to have my teacher write out what I meant beneath my written work so that my parents could decipher my spelling, and had such bad academic confidence that I always assumed that moving reading groups meant being put down a set, even if I was being moved up. These symptoms, amongst others, are normal for dyslexic children. Yet just as my school was deciding whether or not to get me formally tested, I suddenly seemed to improve, and it was decided that any dyslexic traits I may have had were not sufficient to go forward with testing. But the real improvement came when I realised that I could guess words from the first and last letters and from context (I always thought that Kipper from Biff and Chip was called 'Kitter'...). Like many people, I learnt to get by despite my dyslexic traits, even getting 8 As and A*s in my GCSE exams when I was 16. But whether it was my difficulty learning essay structure, spelling or something else, I still felt academically different from others.
Once I'd started Sixth Form, my difficulties began to become more and more impactful on my studies. I didn't know that I had suspected dyslexia, and I'd done well at GCSE level, so I couldn't understand why it took me so much longer than my peers to finish set texts, reading tasks and essays. Getting home in the evening from an 10 hour day (including travelling), I was too tired to concentrate on my work, and found that prep tasks would easily take the whole evening because I just couldn't read well enough to complete them quickly. I felt as if I must have been completely stupid, and that I couldn't possibly even pass my A levels! It wasn't until my family reminded me of the suspicions my Infant school teachers had had about dyslexia, that I thought that there might have been something I could do to help myself. After all, knowing the cause of the problem makes finding coping strategies so much easier, even if I didn't want one to one support.
From the initial thought of there being a root to my problems in dyslexia to getting the diagnosis, however, wasn't entirely straightforward. Had there been a tick list or an explanation of what would be happening, it may well have felt like a very simplistic process. But as it was, my Sixth Form had said that they couldn't provide any support, and visiting the GP only served to tell me that I would have to work everything out independently. I didn't know what information or documents might have been needed. I didn't know how long the assessment process would be, and what (if anything) I'd need to do afterwards to get support. In the end, I only needed to book an appointment with a dyslexia centre and fill in a few forms... and sometimes pay a moderate fee for the pleasure (for me, it was £300). But the fact of having to work out what constituted a diagnosis, who could do this and then save up, meant that it all felt like a lot more.
Once I got to the centre, the assessment started with a discussion about my early years development and academic achievement at GCSE level. From there, we moved into a separate room where I completed a series of tasks including maths, spelling, sequencing and organising shapes, amongst other activities. I was also given the opportunity to have a break and something to drink, although I chose not to. Naturally, the tests are meant to play on the difficulties that dyslexic learners have, and so it's normal to feel that sense of frustration that comes whenever you realise that you're going to need to spell a word that you hate trying to spell - in life, these difficulties are played on fairly frequently. In the test, you're dedicating a solid block of time to exploring them. But it's also normal to find some of the tests much easier than others - not all dyslexic minds are the same, so you may well find a spelling test easy but a sequencing test impossible. It all depends on you, so please don't worry about that!
I was told immeditately after the test that I have quite significant dyslexia - unlike with exam results, there was no long wait to hear! On the other hand, the report that is needed in order to communicate your needs officially with learning support did take a couple of weeks to come through - as every dyslexic mind is different, each report must be written for the individual in question, even if a similar basic format is used for all reports. It details the specifics of my difficulties, recommendations for the future, and how I did on each of the assessments. Whenever I need to let a university or an employer know about my difficulties, I can easily send a photocopy through in order that everyone knows what to expect.
The whole process that went between contacting my school/ GP for the first time until I got my report was probably 8 months. From there, I had to do a couple of extra tests with my Sixth Form before i got extra time in exams. I felt everything from relief about the diagnosis to anger that I had to cope with these difficulties, from frustration at how difficult it was to find out how to get the ball rolling, to pride that I'd succeeded and would no longer have to get by just coping rather than thriving academically. Despite all the difficulties that had to be overcome, diagnosis allowed my to forgive myself for finding things difficult and then find new ways to work.
Whatever your situation, I hope that this has shed some light on the developmental, emotional and practical sides of dyslexia diagnosis. It is not nearly as daunting as it seems before you begin, but it still starts with acknowledging to yourself that there might be something to look for, and that you're willing and excited to get the support you deserve. There is not shame in having dyslexia, whatever the stereotypes might be. You can still achieve academically and professionally, you can still be intelligent, and who you are doesn't get changed by diagnosis. But knowledge is power, and diagnosis can help you on your way to wherever you want to go.
Happy reading!
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