Can a child have both dyslexia and ADHD?

If reading feels like a battle and focus is just as hard, you may be wondering whether two things are going on at once — and yes, they often are.

In short

Yes — a child can absolutely have both dyslexia and ADHD, and this is one of the most common pairings in childhood development. Research suggests that a large share of children with one condition also show signs of the other; they frequently travel together. Having both does not mean your child is less capable — it simply means support needs to address reading and attention together, not one at a time. With the right plan, children with both thrive.

Why they so often go together

Dyslexia is a specific difficulty with reading and spelling, despite good effort and teaching. ADHD affects attention, impulse control and activity levels. They are different conditions, but they share overlapping pathways in how the brain manages attention, working memory and processing — which is why they so commonly occur side by side.

When both are present, one can mask or amplify the other. A child may seem inattentive because reading is exhausting, or may struggle to read partly because focus keeps slipping. That is exactly why a careful look at the whole picture matters — so each piece gets the right kind of help.

When to seek a developmental check

Consider an assessment if your child:

• Struggles to read or spell well below what you'd expect for their age, despite trying
• Finds it hard to sustain attention, sits restlessly, or acts before thinking — across home and school
• Avoids reading or homework, or tires very quickly during it
• Has been flagged by teachers for either reading difficulty or focus, or both

These are reasons to look closer, not reasons to worry. The earlier the support, the smoother the path.

The Pinnacle way

A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are established only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, by qualified clinicians — never from an online form or a checklist. A structured, clinician-led assessment looks at reading, attention and learning together, so your child's plan fits the whole child. Learn more about dyslexia and ADHD together, how special education support builds reading skills, and what the AbilityScore is and how it's formed.

Trusted sources

WHO ICD-11 describes developmental learning disorder and ADHD as distinct but frequently co-occurring conditions. Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and NICE recognises that attention and learning difficulties often overlap and should be assessed together.

Next step — Wondering if both are at play for your child? Book a developmental assessment with a Pinnacle clinician for one clear picture.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.