‘I am a person before my label’: dyslexic adults prefer ‘dyslexic’ to deficit terms, UK study finds

Language debates in neurodiversity often centre on autism. A new UK study turns to dyslexic adults and asks which words they want used about them.

What the researchers did

A UK research team, led from Durham University, ran a mixed-methods survey of 166 UK adults who identify as dyslexic, some with other neurodivergences too. Participants rated different dyslexia-related terms and terms from the neurodiversity movement, and explained their views in their own words.

What they found

• There was a clear order of preference. Participants strongly favoured dyslexia-specific, identity-based terms such as “dyslexic”.
• They rejected broader, deficit-centred labels, including “learning difficulty”, “specific learning disability” and “specific learning disorder”.
• Their written answers suggest these preferences are shaped by experiences of stigma and being misunderstood.
• Views on “neurodivergent” differed. People who were dyslexic only were more ambivalent about the term, while dyslexic people who were also Autistic or ADHD were more likely to use it.

What to keep in mind

This is one survey of people who chose to take part, so it may not reflect every dyslexic adult. We’ve based this summary on the published abstract.

Why it matters

The authors make the case for listening to dyslexic people in debates about terminology, and warn that deficit-based or overly broad language can reproduce stigma rather than challenge it. Schools, employers and assessment services still often use “specific learning difficulty” in letters and reports. This study suggests many dyslexic adults would rather they didn’t.