Dyslexia

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Adult Dyslexia

Dyslexia is often associated with children and academic struggles—but it doesn’t go away with age. For many, the challenges of dyslexia continue into adulthood, sometimes undiagnosed or misunderstood.

Whether you’re a working professional, student, or lifelong learner, undiagnosed dyslexia can affect how you manage reading, writing, organisation, and communication in daily life. At DAS, we recognise that adults with dyslexia deserve the same access to support and understanding as children.

Read more about dyslexia in adults in our BLOG

A checklist for dyslexic adults will not provide enough information for a diagnostic assessment, but it can be very useful in promoting a better self-understanding and a pointer towards future assessment needs.

Check out our Adult Dyslexia Checklist or take the Adult Dyslexia Quiz here.

Adult Assessment

If you are experiencing difficulties in learning, studying or organising you may wish to consider the Adult Dyslexia Assessment.  

A comprehensive assessment has many benefits, such as:

  • Gaining insight into the nature of the difficulties you might be experiencing
  • Diagnosing specific learning differences, such as dyslexia
  • Identifying your areas of strength and challenges
  • Maximising your potential an improving the quality of life.

Information updated April 2025

Apply for Assessment
Download the Checklist
Adult Dyslexia BLOG

Adult Dyslexia Checklist

Below are the questions that were found to be more predictive of dyslexia (as measured by prior diagnosis). In order to provide the most informative checklist, scores for each answer indicate the relative importance of that question. Alongside each line, you can keep a tally of your score and at the end find a total. For each question, circle the number in the box which is closest to your response.

DOWNLOAD THE ADULT DYSLEXIA CHECKLIST

Rarely OccasionallyOftenMost of the timeScore

1

Do you confuse visually similar words such as cat and cot?

3

6

9

12

2

Do you lose your place or miss out lines when reading?

2

4

6

8

3

Do you confuse the names of objects, for example, table for chair?

1

2

3

4

4

Do you have trouble telling left from right?

1

2

3

4

5

Is map reading or finding your way to a strange place confusing?

1

2

3

4

6

Do you re-read paragraphs to understand them?

1

2

3

4

7

Do you get confused when given several instructions at once?

1

2

3

4

8

Do you make mistakes when taking down a message from a voice call

1

2

3

4

9

Do you find it difficult to find the right word to say?

1

2

3

4

10

How often do you think of creative solutions to problems?

1

2

3

4
Rarely OccasionallyOftenMost of the timeScore

11

How easy do you find it to sound out words such as e-le-phant?

3

6

9

12

12

When writing, do you find it difficult to organise thoughts on paper?

2

4

6

8

13

Did you learn your multiplication tables easily?

2

4

6

8

14

How easy do you find it to recite the alphabet?

1

2

3

4

15

How hard do you find it to read aloud?

1

2

3

4

TOTAL SCORE

RESULTS FROM THE ADULTS TEST - WHAT IT ALL MEANS

The research and development of the checklist has provided valuable insight into the diversity of difficulties and is a clear reminder that every individual is different and should be treated and assessed as such. However, it is also interesting to note that a number of questions, the answers to which are said to be characteristics of dyslexic adults, are commonly found in the answers of non-dyslexics.

It is important to remember that this test does not constitute an assessment of one’s difficulties.

It is just an indication of some of the areas in which you or the person you are assessing may have difficulties. However, this questionnaire may provide a better awareness of the nature of an individual’s difficulties and may indicate that further professional assessment would be helpful.

Whilst we do stress that this is not a diagnostic tool, research suggests the following: 

SCORERESEARCH RESULTS

Less than 45
Probably non-dyslexic

No individual who was diagnosed as dyslexic through a full assessment was found to have scored less than 45 and therefore it is unlikely that if you score under 45 you will be dyslexic.

45 to 60
Showing signs consistent with mild dyslexia

Most of those who were in this category showed signs of being at least moderately dyslexic. However, a number of persons not previously diagnosed as dyslexic (though they could just be unrecognised and undiagnosed) fell into this category.

Greater than 60
Signs consistent with moderate or severe dyslexia

All those who recorded scores of more than 60 were diagnosed as moderately or severely dyslexic. Therefore we would suggest a score greater than 60 suggests moderate or severe dyslexia. Please note that this should not be regarded as an assessment of one's difficulties. But if you feel that a dyslexia-type problem may exist, further advice should be sought.

Copyright Ian Smythe and John Everatt, 2011

If you would like to download the Adult Dyslexia Screening Test, click here

OTHER DYSLEXIA SCREENING TESTS

British Dyslexia Association — Adults Checklist
International Dyslexia Association — Self-Assessment Tool
Dyslexia Centre — Am I dyslexic

The Dyslexia Association of Singapore (DAS) is currently working towards a programme that will provide support for Adult Dyslexics, if you need further information we recommend the information on adult dyslexia support from our international dyslexia partners:

International Dyslexia Association: www.dyslexiaida.org
British Dyslexia Association: www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

If, after completing this checklist, you would like to talk to us about an assessment,
please contact us at 6444 5700.

Apply for Assessment
Download the Checklist

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.