People who don't have dyslexia often picture letters jumping around on the page. For most people who live with it, the reality is quieter and harder to explain: reading takes more effort, spelling slips under pressure and there's often a gap between what you know and what you can get onto paper. If you've wondered what it is like to have dyslexia, or you're an adult who has always quietly struggled with reading, this post describes the experience from the inside, clears up common myths and explains what an assessment can clarify.
The voices in this post are composites, written to reflect common experiences. They're not real clients or quotes from real people.
Dyslexia in one paragraph
A 2020 review by Snowling, Hulme and Nation in the Oxford Review of Education describes dyslexia as a difficulty in learning to decode (read aloud) and to spell. It's a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition, and it can occur at any level of intelligence. The International Dyslexia Association (IDA) adds that people with dyslexia often have trouble connecting the sounds in words with the letters that represent them, and that dyslexia is not caused by a lack of intelligence or a lack of desire to learn.
What is it like to read with dyslexia?
Composite voice: "I can read. It's just slow, and it takes everything I've got. By the end of a page, I've lost the start of it. So I read it again. And again. When I'm tired, it gets so much worse."
Many people describe reading as effortful rather than impossible. Common experiences include:
reading slowly and needing to reread to understand
losing your place, especially in long blocks of text
feeling mentally exhausted after reading
stumbling over unfamiliar words, especially when reading aloud
understanding much more when someone explains it out loud
Spelling, writing and the blank page
Composite voice: "I know exactly what I want to say. Then I go to write it and the words come out wrong, or not at all. I spell something three different ways in one email."
The IDA notes that spelling can look jumbled because people with dyslexia have trouble remembering letter symbols for sounds and forming memories for words. That gap between a sharp mind and what ends up on paper can be one of the most frustrating parts. Timed tasks, like filling in a form while someone waits, can make it much harder.
School memories that follow you
Many adults with dyslexia carry painful memories from childhood: being called lazy, being told to "try harder," dreading being asked to read aloud or feeling like everyone else got something they didn't.
Composite voice: "I spent years thinking I was stupid. I got really good at hiding it. Making jokes. Volunteering for anything that didn't involve reading."
These memories can shape how you see yourself long after school is over. Feeling ashamed or anxious about reading is a very understandable response to years of struggling without an explanation.
What is it like to have dyslexia as an adult?
Dyslexia as an adult can look different from dyslexia in childhood. Many adults have built clever workarounds over the years. They might draft important messages long before they're due, ask a colleague to talk something through instead of reading a long document or rely on memory more than notes.
Composite voice: "At work, emails are the worst. I reread everything five times before I hit send. Meetings are fine. I'm actually good at those."
Workarounds can be a sign of real resourcefulness. They can also be tiring to keep up, and they may hide how much effort everyday tasks take.
What is it like to live with dyslexia day to day?
Living with dyslexia isn't only about reading. It can affect:
forms, menus, signs and instructions
reading aloud to your kids or in a meeting
learning new systems at work
confidence in social situations where reading comes up
energy at the end of a long day of text-heavy tasks
Some people describe what it is like to have mild dyslexia as a constant background effort, something nobody else notices but that still drains them. Whether it feels mild or more significant, the experience is valid.
What is it like to have dyslexia and ADHD?
Dyslexia and ADHD can occur together. The IDA estimates that about 30% of people with dyslexia also have ADHD, and notes that the two can happen together without one causing the other.
Composite voice: "I never knew which part was which. Was I losing focus because reading was hard, or was reading hard because I couldn't focus?"
That overlap can make it hard to understand what's going on, which is one reason an assessment can be so helpful.
Myths that make it harder
A few common myths can add to the shame:
Myth: dyslexia means reading backwards. The IDA calls this a myth. Spelling can look jumbled, but people with dyslexia don't simply see words backwards.
Myth: it means you're not smart. Dyslexia isn't caused by a lack of intelligence, and it can occur at any IQ level.
Myth: you just need to try harder. Dyslexia isn't about effort or desire to learn.
Myth: kids grow out of it. Dyslexia is lifelong, though many people learn to read and write well.
Strengths, without the hype
You may have heard dyslexia called a "superpower." That can feel good, but it can also feel like pressure. A more honest picture is that dyslexia is one part of how your brain works, and you have strengths like anyone else. Some people with dyslexia say they're good at talking things through, seeing the big picture or solving problems in creative ways. Others find their strengths lie elsewhere entirely, and that's fine too. Those strengths are yours, not a consolation prize.
If someone you love has dyslexia
Patience goes a long way. Avoid finishing their sentences, correcting spelling in front of others or joking about reading. Ask what helps instead of assuming. Simply saying "Take your time, there's no rush" can make a real difference.
Getting clarity as an adult
If you recognize yourself here, an assessment can help you finally understand how you learn. Psychologists on our team assess learning disabilities for children, teens and adults. Our post on learning disability assessments for adults explains what's involved.
Many adults say an explanation, even later in life, brings relief. It can also help you explain your needs to the people around you.
Support for the emotional side
Years of struggling with reading can affect anxiety, confidence and self-worth. Counselling can help you work through old shame, quiet the "I'm stupid" voice and build a kinder view of yourself. Our self-esteem counselling and anxiety counselling can help, at our Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Ottawa offices, and online anywhere in Ontario.
Sessions with our therapists range from $130 to $200, depending on the clinician.
Depending on your plan, insurance may cover up to 100% of the cost. Coverage varies, so check your plan.
We accept Health Spending Accounts (HSAs).
We can direct bill many insurers, including for sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). Desjardins is the exception: through TELUS eClaims, we can direct bill Desjardins for sessions with an RSW, RP or psychologist, but not for an RP (Qualifying).
Book a free 15-minute consultation with our admin team. "I think I might have dyslexia and I'd like to understand it better" is enough.
If you're in crisis: if you or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911. If you're having thoughts of suicide, call or text 9-8-8 any time, day or night. Our crisis lines page lists both.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
Snowling MJ, Hulme C, Nation K., Oxford Review of Education (2020), Defining and understanding dyslexia: past, present and future
International Dyslexia Association (IDA), Dyslexia basics
International Dyslexia Association (IDA), Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) and dyslexia