How can adolescent or adult get dyslexia?

Question

I can understand that it often affects children because that is when everyone starts to read. But how can it affect an adolescent or adult? How do they get away in elementary school not knowing how to read? If a person can't read, it would be obvious to the teacher. The teacher would refer them to special education and they are taught in a special way so they can read. So dyslexia wouldn't affect them when they are older. Dyslexia is caused by an unknown factor or factors. So an adolescent or adult is less likely to get dyslexia.

Answer 1

You don't get dyslexia, it is a genetic brain condition you are born with.

You may get a brain injury and develop it, but I have never heard of that happening.

Answer 2

They're less likely to "get" dyslexia, if you want to put it that way.  But I think you overestimate the education system a little.  It's hard for teachers to spot every problem, and in communities that are poorer, a kid who's underachieving because of dyslexia might be missed in an entire class of kids who are underachieving because of a bad living environment or a lack of school funding.  They get lower grades, but sometimes nobody bothers to find out why.

    I know two adults who still struggle with dyslexia - they weren't diagnosed until they were older, one not until her thirties.  Even with therapy the problem doesn't just go away - although the sooner you start, the better.

   There are also people who _develop_ reading problems in adulthood, due to a stroke or brain damage, but not usually  dyslexia.

Answer 3

There are many levels of dyslexia.

Some people with low-level dyslexia compensate for it and can function normally throughout life.  

Dyslexia can be diagnosed later than the learning-to-read primary grades because of the compensation methods.  For example, a person may be able to function as a B or C student through primary and high schooling and maybe into the first years of college.  However, when the material to be learned gets more difficult, the person may not have the additional capacity to overcome the problems associated with dyslexia.

This person can hit a "roadblock" and can't continue learning additionally complicated or complex concepts.

Research is being done to learn about advancing learning methods for dyslexic student and can help the student with learning strategies that will assist them operating at a higher level.  However, when they reach their plateau, they can't overcome it.  This is why an adult or older student may appear to "get" dyslexia later in life.