Dyslexia and depression

Kids with dyslexia are more likely than other kids to have depression, especially as they reach their teen years. (Depression is also common in kids with ADHD.)

Why do dyslexia and depression often co-occur in young people, as well as in adults? Researchers point to a few reasons:

• Stress: Dyslexia makes going to school stressful because nearly every class involves at least some reading. And chronic stress makes people more likely to develop depression. 

• Low self-esteem: Trouble keeping up with schoolwork can wear down kids’ self-esteem. They may start to think they aren’t smart or that they need to hide who they are.

• Social isolation: Some struggling students would rather skip school or get sent to the principal than be embarrassed in front of their peers. This can lead to feeling isolated.

• Co-occurring conditions: Many people with dyslexia have co-occurring conditions, like anxiety or ADHD. These other conditions can raise the risk for depression. 

With the right support, young people with dyslexia and depression can manage these conditions and thrive. Keep reading to learn what depression looks like in kids — and find out how to help.

Depression looks pretty much the same in kids with dyslexia as it looks in any kid. Depression symptoms include:

• Feeling very “down” (or what doctors call a “low mood”)

• Trouble focusing and complaining about being bored

• Changes in sleeping or eating patterns

• Getting very irritated or angry over minor things

• Withdrawing from friends and losing interest in favorite activities 

• Not doing homework or going to school

• Talking about feeling hopeless or helpless

Depression can also worsen some behaviors related to dyslexia. For example, kids with dyslexia may have even more trouble focusing on what they’re reading if they’re depressed. Or they may try to avoid classes where they have to read out loud. They may do things like ask to stay home from school or spend a lot of class time in the bathroom.

Researchers are looking into whether teens with dyslexia are more likely to attempt suicide than teens who don’t have dyslexia. It’s important to take seriously any talk of hopelessness, despair, or suicide. Take immediate steps to find help. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Want to talk in Spanish? Call 888-628-9454.

Learn more about signs of depression. 

Some kids get diagnosed with dyslexia and depression at the same time. When this happens, families may mistakenly think they just need to focus on reading. They may think that improving their child’s reading skills will improve their child’s mood. 

But families need to focus on both challenges at the same time. One reason for this is that people with depression often have low energy. And kids need energy to power through an instructional intervention.

For support for dyslexia, see an instructional intervention for struggling readers.

For help with depression, learn about cognitive behavioral therapy.

Professional help is very important. But families can help kids with dyslexia feel less alone in their struggles. Knowing why they have trouble with reading — and how common dyslexia is — may lower their risk of depression. 

Making friends is another way to help keep kids with dyslexia from becoming depressed. One 2020 study found that kids who had strong peer networks were less likely to be depressed in high school. 

Learn more about dyslexia and how extracurricular activities can help strengthen social connections.