Diagnosed with dyslexia – Alex’s story

Alex shares his journey to getting diagnosed with dyslexia

My thirties have been all about new challenges and exciting opportunities. Living in the heart of the UK and working as a self-employed marketing consultant, I have crafted strategies to enhance brands, increase their sales and connect with their customers. It all felt like it came naturally.

But there was a shadow over everything, a cloud in my mind: when it came to reading and articulating my ideas in writing, and understanding the writing of others, I felt uneasy.

Experiencing symptoms of dyslexia

Reading always felt like a real effort. Words danced around on the page and seemed to rearrange themselves. I had to read slowly and meticulously, which often left me frustrated and exhausted, dreading the next time. When it came to writing, the thoughts flowed seamlessly in my head, but putting words on a page transformed them into a mist I found impossible to grasp. I produced reports packed with valuable insights, but they often fell short of what I intended to deliver, lacking depth and clarity. Doubt gnawed at me: was this struggle my fault? Was there something I was missing?

It was only after reading a Reddit thread that a friend had recommended to me that I found myself relating to experiences of dyslexia. The slow reading, the difficulty concentrating and the constant feeling of swimming against the current. I finally felt seen and surrounded by people who understood my hidden battles. I remembered my mum’s concerns when I was at school, concerns that were brushed aside by staff because I excelled in art and IT, subjects that concealed my difficulties with reading and writing.

Getting diagnosed with dyslexia with Aim Forward

The Reddit thread mentioned that you could get diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult, and it took me no more than a couple of clicks to find Aim Forward. I felt they understood me from the very first conversation I had with them. The team took the time to listen to my story and my struggles. They validated my experiences and assured me that many people make it to adulthood without awareness that the challenges they experience may be a specific learning difficulty like dyslexia.

My needs assessment with Aim Forward

I had a needs assessment with Aim Forward, which gave me a deeper understanding of my unique cognitive profile. The results confirmed what I had suspected – dyslexia is a part of my story. But instead of feeling defeated, I felt empowered.

With my Aim Forward needs assessor, we explored strategies to enhance my reading and writing experiences that took into account what I had already tried, what worked and what did not. They recommended assistive tools that have now transformed my relationship with text: text-to-speech software allows me to read more efficiently; coloured backgrounds stop digital text dancing about the page; and spell-checkers and grammar-enhancement tools are the allies I needed to craft coherent, polished reports for my clients.

With the guidance of Aim Forward, not only have my reading and writing skills improved, but I have been able to seize my strengths as a creative thinker and problem solver because I have more time and energy to refine my ideas and strategies. They not only unlocked the mysteries of dyslexia for me based on years of experience working with thousands of neurodivergent people, but they also unlocked my potential. Struggles have now become stepping stones for a brighter future. I have found my voice and discovered a path to success that is uniquely mine because they put me at the centre of all their strategies and recommendations.

Now I can stand tall, knowing that dyslexia is an integral part of who I am, and tackle everything with newfound clarity, confidence and purpose.

Explore how we can support your dsylexia journey at Aim Forward.