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Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty marked by challenges with reading, writing and spelling. Whilst it doesn't impact someone's intelligence, it can influence other aspects of their life unrelated to literacy, with roughly one in 10 people thought to have some form of dyslexia.

Specialists at Evolve Psychology have highlighted three indicators of dyslexia that manifest beyond the classroom, and how a diagnosis can provide struggling children and adults with the necessary support.

Alicia Johnson, Specific Learning Difficulty Assessor at Evolve, commented: "Struggling with literacy is such a fundamental challenge; it impacts a person's experience of education, work and often, their self-esteem. "Dyslexia is not linked to intelligence, and occurs across a range of abilities, but early recognition leads to swifter intervention and more positive outcomes."

Signs of dyslexia that don't involve reading or writing:

• Difficulty remembering sequences or following multi-step instructions
• Challenges with phonological awareness (identifying or manipulating sounds)
• Difficulties with working memory, organisation, and time management

The NHS also points out that individuals with dyslexia may grasp spoken information but find written material difficult to process. They may also encounter problems with planning in addition to the typical challenges of the condition such as reading or writing at a slow pace, being perplexed by letters, avoiding written tasks and poor spelling.

If this issue remains undiagnosed, parents might observe a pattern in the feedback they receive from their child's school.This could involve taking more time with reading or written work, struggling to follow a sequence of instructions and a noticeable disparity in ability between written and verbal tasks.

Children with undiagnosed dyslexia may also be more distracted and frustrated at school than they are at home. The experts advised: "This behaviour may be communicating difficulty. Aim to establish whether the 'meltdowns' are linked to reading and writing tasks."

Obtaining the correct dyslexia diagnosis can have a significant impact on children and adults. Specifically, it can boost their self-esteem as it confirms that their learning difficulties aren't related to their intelligence, effort or confidence.

Certain support tools, like assistive technologies and exam accommodations, can also enhance academic results. Dyslexia often coexists with other key conditions like ADHD, so diagnosing one can expedite the process for the other.

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