ADHD vs. Dyslexia: The Surprising Overlap You Didn’t See Coming

ADHD and dyslexia are two of the most common learning and behavior challenges in children. While they may seem completely different, many children actually experience both at the same time. ADHD mainly affects attention, self-control, and activity levels. Dyslexia, on the other hand, makes reading and writing difficult. But what happens when these two conditions overlap?

You might think it’s rare for a child to have both, but studies show otherwise. According to research, more than one-third of children diagnosed with ADHD also have signs of dyslexia. That’s not just a coincidence. In fact, children with ADHD are up to six times more likely to struggle with reading compared to their peers.

Learning how these two conditions interact can help parents, teachers, and doctors give the right support. In this article, we’ll explore their overlap, how they differ, and why it matters.

How Common Is the Overlap?

You might be surprised by how often ADHD and dyslexia appear together. Each condition on its own is already common. ADHD affects about 5% of children worldwide, while dyslexia is found in 6 to 9% of school-aged kids according to reports.

But here’s the shocking part, over one-third of children diagnosed with ADHD also have dyslexia. That means many kids struggle not only with focus and behavior but also with reading and writing. According to experts, this overlap is not just a random event. It happens more often than chance would allow, especially since children with ADHD are up to six times more likely to have dyslexia compared to those without ADHD.

Understanding how often these conditions co-exist helps schools and families watch for both sets of challenges. When a child shows symptoms of one, it’s smart to check for the other.

Shared Cognitive Deficits

ADHD and dyslexia may seem like two separate conditions, but they often involve similar brain difficulties. These shared struggles affect how children think, focus, and react. According to experts, both disorders stem from problems in how the brain controls attention and behavior.

Here are the common cognitive challenges found in both:

• Poor inhibitory control – trouble stopping actions or thoughts that are not helpful
• Weak attention shifting – difficulty moving focus from one task or idea to another
• Inconsistent brain responses – focus and reaction times can vary greatly during tasks
• Increased impulsivity – making quick decisions without thinking them through
• Lower response consistency – trouble staying steady and accurate during repetitive tasks

These overlaps help explain why some children are diagnosed with both ADHD and dyslexia. Recognizing these patterns early allows teachers and families to support self-regulation and thinking skills more effectively.

Key Differences in Symptoms

Even though ADHD and dyslexia can overlap, they each show their own clear set of symptoms. Spotting these differences helps teachers, parents, and doctors provide the right kind of support.

According to research, children with ADHD often show problems with focus and self-control in everyday situations, while dyslexia mainly affects reading and language .

Here are the main symptoms seen in each:

ADHD symptoms:

• Gets distracted easily
• Has trouble following instructions
• Talks too much or moves around constantly
• Interrupts or acts without thinking
• Struggles to stay seated or wait their turn

Dyslexia symptoms:

• Has difficulty matching letters with sounds
• Reads slowly or avoids reading altogether
• Spells simple words incorrectly
• Gets confused when reading aloud
• Writes letters or numbers the wrong way

Even if a child has both conditions, these signs usually show up in different ways and places. Understanding their differences can lead to better care and fewer missed diagnoses.

What Testing Shows

Tests can reveal what’s really going on inside the brain. One common tool is the Conners’ Continuous Performance Test (CPT). This test checks how well a child pays attention and reacts over time. Researchers used this test to compare children with ADHD, dyslexia, and no learning difficulties.

Here’s what they found:

• Children with ADHD made more omission errors, meaning they missed things they were supposed to respond to.
• They also had more commission errors, meaning they responded when they shouldn’t have.
• Their reaction times were inconsistent, and they showed signs of poor focus and high impulsivity.
• Children with dyslexia also made many commission errors and had less consistent reactions as the test went on.
• Both groups struggled with inhibitory control, which means stopping themselves from acting too fast or without thinking.

These testing patterns help explain why ADHD and dyslexia can feel similar but are still different. They also highlight the need for full evaluations, not just one quick checklist to understand a child’s real challenges.

Why the Overlap Matters

When a child has both ADHD and dyslexia, their challenges can be harder to spot and treat. Sometimes, one condition hides the other. A child who can’t sit still might get labeled with ADHD, while their reading struggles go unnoticed. Or a child with reading issues might be misdiagnosed with a learning problem, while their attention difficulties are missed.

This overlap matters because it affects how support is given. According to experts, treating only one issue may leave the other untreated—and the child continues to struggle . That’s why it's important for teachers and doctors to check for both conditions when one is present.

When we understand the full picture, we can give better help—like combining reading support with focus training. Early action makes a big difference. It can improve not just school performance but also confidence and daily life.

Wrap Up

Understanding the overlap between ADHD and dyslexia is crucial for providing the right support to children facing both challenges. Recognizing both conditions early can help ensure that children receive the appropriate interventions, from focus training to reading support. If your child struggles with either of these issues, it's important to consider both possibilities.

Early and comprehensive testing can help identify both conditions, leading to more effective strategies that boost both learning and self-regulation. Are you noticing signs of either ADHD or dyslexia in your child? Getting the right help early can make all the difference.