--- title: Do kids with dyslexia have trouble following directions? description: Does dyslexia cause difficulty following directions? Learn about why kids with dyslexia may not do what you ask them to do. slug: do-kids-with-dyslexia-have-trouble-following-directions author: Ellen Braaten, PhD published: '2022-08-22T18:53:11.395Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/4H7gvbwkp4ks6JurxnJOYQ/9c1aa0fb185bfcb55f1c5b6ffd486e52/G685010205.png source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/do-kids-with-dyslexia-have-trouble-following-directions lang: en --- # Do kids with dyslexia have trouble following directions? **Q. My 10-year-old grandson has dyslexia and often doesn’t follow directions. Is that a common symptom of dyslexia, or is it unrelated?** **A.** This is an interesting question — with a complex answer. All learning disorders are defined by their main challenge. The challenge is universal, meaning that everyone with the disorder has it. The challenge also lasts longer than a few weeks or months. The main challenge of [dyslexia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/dyslexia-in-children) is trouble learning phonics. People [struggle to match letters to sounds](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/decoding-what-it-is-and-how-it-works). That affects learning to read and spell words, which can lead to problems understanding what we read. That *alone *wouldn’t cause someone to not follow directions unless they are written directions. However, learning disorders like dyslexia are more complicated than their main symptom. Some people also have what are called associated symptoms. These symptoms don’t affect everyone with the disorder. But they happen in more than just a few people. Many kids with dyslexia have problems with general language processing. Some also struggle with long- and short-term memory. Experts think there are two reasons for this.  The first reason has to do with how the brain functions. With dyslexia, the system in the brain that connects what we see and what we say when we sound out words is disrupted. That can disrupt other brain systems, like memory or language. The second reason has to do with problems with verbal language. Remembering a direction means remembering a series of sounds. Sounds in general are hard for kids with dyslexia to process. And anything that is hard to process is hard to understand and remember. Then, there are disorders that can co-occur with dyslexia. Dyslexia and ADHD are two disorders that often go together. If you have one, you’re at an increased risk of having the other.  A child who also has ADHD will have trouble with [executive function](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-is-executive-function). This is a set of skills that includes [working memory](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/attention-how-its-different-from-working-memory). But trouble with working memory isn’t always about *memory.* It’s often about *attention*. If you have trouble paying attention to what someone is saying, you can’t remember it. We can’t follow directions if we never really heard them in the first place (even if we nodded “yes” the whole time someone was giving instructions). So, to answer your question, there are a few reasons why kids with dyslexia might struggle with directions. But they’re not usually related to the main challenge of dyslexia — matching letters to sounds.  --- Learn more about [why kids don’t follow directions](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/why-trouble-following-directions). And watch an expert explain the [connection between dyslexia and ADHD](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/adhd-and-dyslexia-comorbidity). --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [Learning and thinking differences that cause trouble with reading](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/learning-and-thinking-differences-that-cause-trouble-with-reading) - - A number of learning and thinking differences can make reading hard. - They can cause trouble with different types of reading skills. - Different challenges require different strategies to help kids get better at reading. Kids can have trouble with reading for lots of reasons. Not all kids de - [Can dyslexia make it hard for kids to start and finish their work?](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/could-my-childs-dyslexia-be-causing-her-difficulty-with-starting-and-completing-her-work) - Q. My daughter has dyslexia and often has trouble starting and finishing her work. Her teacher says those are executive functioning issues. But couldnt they be due to her difficulties with reading and writing? A. This is a great question, and a tough one to answer. Starting and finishing work certai - [Learning and thinking differences that cause trouble with spelling](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/learning-and-thinking-differences-that-cause-trouble-with-spelling) - - Many kids and adults struggle with spelling. - Its a complex activity that involves many skills. - Trouble with spelling can be a sign of learning and thinking differences, like dyslexia. Many kids and adults have trouble with spelling. And they may struggle for different reasons. 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