Dyslexia and Co-Occurring Neurodivergence: Understanding the Full Picture
- Amanda Van Emburgh
- Oct 6
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 6
Dyslexia is one of the most common learning differences, yet it’s often misunderstood. Many children and teens who experience dyslexia also show overlapping patterns of attention, emotional regulation, or executive functioning differences. Understanding the full picture helps families and teachers offer support that builds confidence, not pressure.
What Dyslexia Really Means
Dyslexia reflects how the brain processes written and spoken language. It can affect reading accuracy, spelling, and fluency - but it’s not about effort, intelligence, or motivation. Many dyslexic learners show strong reasoning, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. These strengths thrive when the learning environment matches how their brain processes information.
When reading feels hard despite consistent effort, frustration and self-doubt can grow. Without the right context, a child may start to believe they’re “bad at school” rather than recognizing that their brain learns differently.
When Dyslexia Overlaps with Other Neurodivergence
It’s common for dyslexia to occur alongside ADHD, anxiety, or other attention-based differences. A child might lose focus during reading, have trouble organizing materials, or need extra breaks to recharge. These patterns reflect how their brain engages—not a lack of interest or motivation.
Dyslexia and ADHD can amplify each other: one impacts how words are decoded, the other influences focus, time management, and task completion. Anxiety can emerge from the ongoing effort to keep up. Seeing how these areas connect allows parents, teachers, and therapists to design supports that truly fit the learner.
Signs Families and Teachers Might Notice
A child who once enjoyed stories may start to avoid reading. Homework might take longer than expected, or they may come home exhausted after school. Teachers could see frequent spelling errors, difficulty following multi-step directions, or emotional shutdowns during literacy tasks.
At home, perfectionism, frustration, or self-criticism often appear. These reactions are stress responses to unmet support needs, not misbehavior.
Why Comprehensive Testing Matters
When reading, focus, or regulation challenges appear together, a comprehensive evaluation can clarify what’s happening beneath the surface. A neuropsychological or psychological assessment looks at how the brain processes language, attention, and memory—helping identify where support is most needed.
Testing can determine whether interventions should target reading, executive functioning, or both. It also provides documentation schools can use to guide accommodations and instruction. Families in Northern Virginia often search for ADHD testing in Vienna VA or psychological testing for children in Vienna VA as a first step toward clarity.
How Support Builds Confidence and Connection
Once a child’s learning profile is clear, support can focus on strengths instead of deficits. Therapy and parent coaching help families move from performance pressure to self-advocacy and connection.
At Family & Child Therapy, clinicians use approaches such as child-centered play therapy, executive functioning scaffolds, and emotional regulation work to help children thrive. The goal isn’t to change how a brain learns—it’s to help each child understand and use their strengths in meaningful ways.
Where to Start
If you’re wondering whether dyslexia or ADHD may be part of your child’s story, you’re not alone. Finding affirming support can change how your child experiences learning and self-worth.
Explore our team bios to find neurodivergent-affirming clinicians who provide therapy, parent coaching, and assessment services in Vienna, VA. Our team understands the intersection of dyslexia and neurodivergence; of learning, attention, and emotional wellbeing—and works with families and schools to build lasting, supportive systems.
