Understanding the Connection Between Dyslexia and ADHD

Did you know that dyslexia and ADHD often go hand in hand? Research indicates that nearly 30-50% of individuals with dyslexia also experience symptoms of ADHD. While these are two separate conditions, they frequently overlap, creating additional challenges for students.

Engaging in a hands-on learning experience is a great way to support ADHD and dyslexia in learners.

Why This Matters

Recognizing the link between dyslexia and ADHD is crucial. By understanding how these conditions interact, parents, educators, and tutors/ reading specialists can offer the best possible support for children who face difficulties with both. This knowledge empowers us to tailor our approaches, making learning more accessible and more effective.

Key Takeaways

• Dyslexia and ADHD often co-occur.

• Understanding their relationship leads to better support strategies.

• Targeted interventions can greatly improve learning outcomes.

By fostering awareness and using research-backed methods, we can create a supportive environment that helps students with dyslexia and ADHD thrive.

How Are Dyslexia and ADHD Connected?

Dyslexia affects reading, spelling, and language processing, while ADHD impacts attention, focus, and impulse control. Though they are different, both conditions are linked to the way the brain processes information, and they can make learning even more difficult when they occur together.

• Attention Difficulties in ADHD can make it harder for a dyslexic student to focus on decoding words or following structured literacy lessons like Orton-Gillingham or Barton Reading and Spelling.

• Working Memory Struggles affect both dyslexia and ADHD and make it difficult to retain phonetic rules, spelling patterns, or comprehension strategies.

• Processing Speed Delays mean students may take longer to read, write, and process information—leading to frustration and academic struggles.

  
  

By recognizing these challenges and using multisensory, structured approaches backed by The Science of Reading, we can help students with both dyslexia and ADHD develop the skills they need to succeed.

A focused student applies Orton-Gillingham techniques while working in his notebook.

Signs That a Child Might Have Both Dyslexia and ADHD

If your child is experiencing the following, they may have both dyslexia and ADHD:

• Difficulty with reading and spelling despite strong thinking skills.

• Inconsistent focus—they may be highly engaged one day and easily distracted the next.

• Trouble following multi-step instructions or remembering sequences.

• Struggles with writing, including organizing thoughts and completing assignments.

• Frequent frustration and avoidance of reading and schoolwork.

Students who have dyslexia and ADHD often have overlapping difficulties that make learning more challenging.

How Multisensory Learning Helps

Children with both dyslexia and ADHD benefit from structured, engaging, and multisensory instruction that keeps their brains actively involved in learning. Programs like Orton-Gillingham and Barton Reading and Spelling follow The Science of Reading, using explicit, step-by-step teaching methods that work for these students. Check out this blog post about multisensory learning.

Here’s how you can support your child:

• Use movement-based activities like air-writing letters, tapping syllables, or tracing words on surfaces with different textures.

• Building words with colored tiles to help differentiate between consonants, vowels, digraphs, vowel teams, etc. This supports both reading and spelling.

• Break lessons into short, manageable parts to accommodate attention challenges.

• Incorporate technology like Whizzimo, text-to-speech tools, and audiobooks to reinforce learning.

• Provide structure and routine with visual schedules and consistent learning strategies.

Contact us to schedule a complementary demo lesson to see how our programs work!

The Power of Personalized Online Tutoring

Many specialists, such as Hammond Bell Educational Services, specialize in helping remediating reading and spelling for students with dyslexia and ADHD through one-on-one online tutoring. Our goal is the same as yours: to grow confident, successful learners and to close learning gaps as quickly as possible.

Our expert tutors use Orton-Gillingham, multisensory methods, and research-backed strategies to create fun, engaging lessons that meet each child’s unique needs.

If your child struggles with both dyslexia and ADHD, or either of the two, the right support can make all the difference. Contact us today to learn how our online programs can help your child gain confidence and thrive!

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