{"h1":"What other conditions often occur alongside dyslexia?","faq":[{"a":"No. ADHD is one of the more common companions to dyslexia, but many children have dyslexia alone. Because the two can look similar and mask each other, a structured assessment helps tell them apart.","q":"Does every child with dyslexia also have ADHD?"},{"a":"Dyslexia does not directly cause anxiety, but years of effortful reading without success can understandably knock a child's confidence and create worry around school. Early, well-matched support helps protect emotional wellbeing.","q":"Can dyslexia cause anxiety in my child?"},{"a":"A single comprehensive developmental assessment at a Pinnacle centre maps reading alongside attention, language, writing, maths and motor skills — so overlaps are caught together rather than chased one at a time.","q":"Should I get one assessment or many?"}],"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What other conditions often occur alongside dyslexia?","entity":{"key":"dyslexia","kind":"condition","name":"Dyslexia (Reading Impairment)","slug":"dyslexia"},"lenses":[{"kind":"stakeholder","label":"Parent","value":"parent"},{"kind":"domain","label":"Cognitive","value":"cognitive"},{"kind":"intent","label":"Definition","value":"definition"},{"kind":"lifecycle","label":"Screen","value":"screen"},{"kind":"route","label":"Book-Assessment","value":"book-assessment"},{"kind":"empowerment","label":"Early Clarity","value":"early_clarity"}],"parent":{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"},"related":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-developmental-language-disorder","title":"What other conditions often occur alongside DLD?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-dyslexia-reading-impairment-affect-a-child-s-adaptive-development","title":"How Dyslexia Affects a Child's Adaptive Development"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-dysgraphia-written-expression-impairment","title":"What Other Conditions Occur Alongside Dysgraphia?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-specific-learning-disability","title":"What Other Conditions Often Occur Alongside Specific Learning Disability?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-conditions-can-dyslexia-reading-impairment-be-mistaken-for","title":"What conditions can dyslexia be mistaken for?"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-dyslexia-managed-when-it-occurs-together-with-dysgraphia","title":"How is Dyslexia managed when it occurs together with Dysgraphia?"}],"summary":"Dyslexia often co-occurs with ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, developmental language disorder and dyspraxia, and frequently brings anxiety or low confidence around reading. These are overlaps, not certainties — a structured, clinician-led assessment maps the whole child so support fits every area, not just reading.","answer_md":"*When reading feels like an uphill climb, it rarely travels alone — and knowing the company dyslexia keeps helps you support the whole child, not just the reading.*\n\n## In short\nDyslexia often occurs alongside other learning and developmental differences. The most common companions are **ADHD** (attention differences), **dyscalculia** (difficulty with numbers), **dysgraphia** (difficulty with writing), **developmental language disorder**, and **dyspraxia/DCD** (coordination differences). Many children with dyslexia also experience anxiety or low confidence around reading — not as a cause, but as a very understandable response to years of effort going unrewarded. Recognising these overlaps means support can be shaped around your whole child.\n\n## The conditions that often travel together\n- **ADHD** — attention, focus and self-organisation differences frequently co-occur with dyslexia, and each can make the other harder to spot.\n- **Dyscalculia** — difficulty grasping number sense, sequencing and maths facts; it shares some of the same underlying processing pathways as reading.\n- **Dysgraphia** — handwriting, spelling and getting thoughts onto paper can lag, even when ideas are rich.\n- **Developmental language disorder (DLD)** — difficulty understanding or using spoken language often sits beneath reading struggles.\n- **Dyspraxia / Developmental Coordination Disorder** — fine and gross motor coordination differences.\n- **Emotional wellbeing** — anxiety, frustration and reduced self-esteem are common knock-on effects when reading has felt like a daily battle.\n\nThese are overlaps, not certainties — every child's profile is unique. The point of naming them is simple: a child seen as a whole gets support that actually fits.\n\n## When to seek a developmental check\nIf reading difficulty comes packaged with trouble focusing, struggles with maths or writing, late or unclear speech, clumsiness, or growing reluctance to go to school — it is worth a structured developmental look. A clear profile prevents one difficulty being mistaken for another, and ensures the right support reaches the right area.\n\n## The Pinnacle way\nAbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an online form or article. Our clinicians map the whole picture across reading, language, attention, motor and emotional wellbeing, so support is built around your child rather than a single label. Explore more about [dyslexia](/dyslexia), see how [structured assessment works](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), and learn how [special education and learning support](/special-education) brings reading within reach.\n\n## Trusted sources\nWorld Health Organization ICD-11 framework on developmental learning disorders; American Academy of Pediatrics guidance on co-occurring learning and attention differences; ASHA resources on language and literacy.\n\n**Next step —** If reading struggles are travelling with other challenges, [book a developmental screen](/special-education) and let a Pinnacle clinician map the whole picture.\n\nThis is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.","canonical":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-dyslexia-reading-impairment","editorial":{"reviewed_at":"2026-06-11T20:12:18.613642+00:00","reviewed_by":null,"developed_by":"SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network"},"alternates":[{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-dyslexia-reading-impairment","lang":"en","indexable":true},{"href":"https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-dyslexia-reading-impairment-te","lang":"te","indexable":true}],"dimensions":[{"key":"conditions","label":"Conditions"}],"meta_title":"Conditions That Often Occur With Dyslexia","meta_robots":"index, follow, max-image-preview:large","everyday_tip":"Celebrate effort, not just accuracy — read together aloud, take turns, and let your child enjoy stories through audiobooks so a love of language grows even while reading skills build.","published_at":"2026-06-10T10:30:00.061634+00:00","reading_paths":[{"key":"understand","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-specific-learning-disability","title":"What Other Conditions Often Occur Alongside Specific Learning Disability?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-dysgraphia-written-expression-impairment","title":"What Other Conditions Occur Alongside Dysgraphia?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-other-conditions-often-occur-alongside-developmental-language-disorder","title":"What other conditions often occur alongside DLD?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-dyslexia-reading-impairment-affect-a-child-s-daily-life","title":"How Dyslexia Affects a Child's Daily Life","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-dyslexia-reading-impairment-considered-a-disability","title":"Is Dyslexia Considered a Disability?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"is-dyslexia-reading-impairment-genetic-or-hereditary","title":"Is Dyslexia Genetic or Hereditary?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-common-myths-about-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What are common myths about Dyslexia (Reading Impairment)?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-types-or-levels-of-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What are the types or levels of Dyslexia?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-children","title":"What causes dyslexia in children?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What is Dyslexia (Reading Impairment)?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-dyslexia-reading-impairment-and-what-does-it-look-like-in-early-childhood","title":"What is Dyslexia (Reading Impairment) and what does it look like in early childhood?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-current-research-show-about-early-intervention-outcomes-for-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-children-under-7","title":"Early intervention outcomes for dyslexia under 7","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand the subject","total":16},{"key":"signs","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"can-dyslexia-reading-impairment-be-cured","title":"Can Dyslexia Be Cured?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-dyslexia-reading-impairment-be-prevented","title":"Can Dyslexia Be Prevented?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"do-boys-show-dyslexia-reading-impairment-differently","title":"Do boys show dyslexia differently?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"do-girls-show-dyslexia-reading-impairment-differently","title":"Do girls show dyslexia differently?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"should-i-be-worried-my-child-might-have-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"Should I be worried my child might have dyslexia?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"Early Signs of Dyslexia (Reading Impairment)","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-a-1-year-old-boy","title":"Early signs of dyslexia in a 1-year-old boy","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-a-1-year-old-girl","title":"Early Signs of Dyslexia in a 1-Year-Old Girl","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-a-12-to-18-month-old","title":"Early Signs of Dyslexia in a 12-to-18-Month-Old","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-a-18-to-24-month-old","title":"Early signs of dyslexia in an 18-to-24-month-old","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-a-2-year-old","title":"Early Signs of Dyslexia in a 2-Year-Old","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-early-signs-of-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-a-2-year-old-boy","title":"Early Signs of Dyslexia in a 2-Year-Old Boy","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Recognise signs & concerns","total":47},{"key":"causes","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-dyslexia-reading-impairment-affect-a-child-s-adaptive-development","title":"How Dyslexia Affects a Child's Adaptive Development","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"are-boys-more-likely-to-have-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"Are boys more likely to have dyslexia?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"are-girls-more-likely-to-have-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"Are girls more likely to have dyslexia?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-causes-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-young-children","title":"What Causes Dyslexia in Young Children?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-early-intervention-for-dyslexia-reading-impairment-advance-un-child-rights-uncrpd-and-the-sdgs","title":"Early Dyslexia Intervention, UNCRPD and the SDGs","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-are-the-known-contributing-factors-for-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-early-childhood","title":"Contributing Factors for Dyslexia in Early Childhood","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-cost-effectiveness-of-early-therapy-for-dyslexia-reading-impairment-in-young-children","title":"Cost-effectiveness of early dyslexia therapy","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-is-the-prevalence-and-public-health-burden-of-dyslexia-reading-impairment-among-young-children-in-india","title":"Dyslexia in India: prevalence and public-health burden","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore causes & influences","total":8},{"key":"assess","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-does-abilityscore-track-progress-in-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"How AbilityScore tracks progress in a child with dyslexia","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-dyslexia-reading-impairment-assessed-in-a-young-child","title":"How Dyslexia Is Assessed in a Young Child","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-dyslexia-reading-impairment-assessed-in-children-under-7","title":"How is Dyslexia Assessed in Children Under 7?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-mean-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"AbilityScore 0–100 for a child with dyslexia","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-mean-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What an AbilityScore of 100–200 Means for a Child with Dyslexia","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-mean-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What does an AbilityScore of 200–300 mean for a child with Dyslexia?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-mean-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What does an AbilityScore of 300–400 mean for a child with Dyslexia?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-400-500-mean-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What an AbilityScore of 400–500 Means for a Child with Dyslexia","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-500-600-mean-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What does an AbilityScore of 500–600 mean for a child with Dyslexia?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-600-700-mean-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What does an AbilityScore of 600–700 mean in dyslexia?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-700-800-mean-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What an AbilityScore of 700–800 Means for a Child with Dyslexia","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"what-does-an-abilityscore-of-800-900-mean-for-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"What does an AbilityScore of 800–900 mean for a child with Dyslexia?","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Understand assessment","total":16},{"key":"therapy","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"what-conditions-can-dyslexia-reading-impairment-be-mistaken-for","title":"What conditions can dyslexia be mistaken for?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-dyslexia-managed-when-it-occurs-together-with-dysgraphia","title":"How is Dyslexia managed when it occurs together with Dysgraphia?","reason":"Linked from this answer"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment-attend-a-mainstream-school","title":"Can a child with dyslexia attend a mainstream school?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment-attend-a-regular-school","title":"Can a Child with Dyslexia Attend a Regular School?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"can-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment-grow-up-to-live-independently","title":"Can a Child with Dyslexia Grow Up to Live Independently?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-we-support-cognitive-development-in-a-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment","title":"Supporting Cognitive Development in a Child with Dyslexia","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-dyslexia-reading-impairment-diagnosed-in-a-child","title":"How Is Dyslexia Diagnosed in a Child?","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"how-is-dyslexia-reading-impairment-supported-through-therapy","title":"How Dyslexia Is Supported Through Therapy","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-0-100-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Dyslexia AbilityScore 0–100 — Your Next Steps","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-100-200-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Dyslexia & an AbilityScore of 100–200: what to do next","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-200-300-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Dyslexia and an AbilityScore of 200–300: What to Do Next","reason":"Same topic"},{"lang":"en","slug":"my-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment-has-an-abilityscore-of-300-400-what-should-we-do-next","title":"Dyslexia AbilityScore 300–400 — Next Steps for Parents","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"Explore therapy & support","total":62},{"key":"home","items":[{"lang":"en","slug":"how-can-i-support-my-child-with-dyslexia-reading-impairment-at-home","title":"How to Support Your Child with Dyslexia at Home","reason":"Same topic"}],"label":"At home & in everyday life","total":1}],"what_to_watch":"Reading difficulty paired with trouble focusing, struggles with maths or writing, late or unclear speech, clumsiness, or growing reluctance to attend school.","authority_links":[{"url":"https://icd.who.int","label":"WHO ICD-11: developmental learning disorders"},{"url":"https://www.healthychildren.org","label":"AAP HealthyChildren: learning and attention differences"},{"url":"https://www.asha.org","label":"ASHA: language and literacy"}],"last_reviewed_at":"2026-06-10T10:30:00.061634+00:00","meta_description":"Dyslexia often co-occurs with ADHD, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, language disorder and dyspraxia. Learn the common overlaps and when to seek a developmental ch","related_materials":[],"related_techniques":[]}