Hidden Disabilities

There is a lot of debate about the terms used to discuss learning difficulties/disabilities/disorders/conditions, such as dyslexia. They can often be known as hidden or invisible difficulties/disabilities, which means that individuals do not show any physical signs, but they do impact the individual’s day-to-day life. I completely understand that everyone has their own opinion on what they should be called, but for the purpose of this article, I will be using the terms learning difficulties and hidden disabilities.

Hidden disabilities include learning difficulties and mental health as well as mobility, speech, visual or hearing impairments. Often people are unaware of the impact of these difficulties if they have no personal experience of them.

Research has found that children with learning difficulties often experience behaviour problems related to reduced self-confidence, increased anxiety, stress and social isolation due to their symptoms. For adults, having an undiagnosed learning disability can affect career choice, limit job advancement and lead to a number of psychological and emotional issues, including depression and feelings of low self-worth. The impact of something that cannot be seen can be difficult for those who are neurotypical (those without learning difficulties) to comprehend.

Humans demonstrate two types of pain in thought, emotions and behaviours: social and physical pain. The concept of social pain was first suggested by Panksepp (2003) who found that the areas of the brain activated during physical pain are also activated during the distress caused by social exclusion. He found the rejection from a social group, loss of a loved one or distress caused by separation also created feelings of physical pain. In regards to the working environment, exclusion from being accepted socially by your team (your social group) could potentially cause challenges in your working environment and the ability to ‘survive’ within the team. If an individual is excluded due to a disability, just as 20 – 25% of children with special needs are excluded by their peers, this could cause challenges in their ability to ‘survive’ in their work environment.

In most countries’ unemployment, poverty and dependence are common for a large number of people with disabilities and impairments (Barnes, 2012). Exclusion in the workplace often happens when there is little or no social integration and cohesion. The exclusion of disabled people from paid work has been an issue and concern throughout the last century (Barnes, 2012). However, with the change in the Equality Act, employers are employing more individuals with disabilities, for example, in July-September 2019 it was found that 120,000 more people with disabilities were employed than in 2017 (Powell, 2018).

Personal Account of Yvette Gibson an Assistant Psychologist at Lexxic:
I am very open about my dyslexia as it something that has always been there and will never go away. Like many other dyslexics, I also have some traits associated with ADHD and Autism which my family are still getting used to.

As a child, my parents were always told that I was too bright to be dyslexic and it was clear that I just was not trying hard enough. What they didn’t know was that my parents spent extra time at home helping me to get my head around concepts, reading with me, and asking me to explain what I had read to make sure I understood what I was learning. My parents also made sure to check my work and went through every error with me. When I was given homework, my parents always encouraged me to go above and beyond rather than doing the bare minimum to improve my knowledge and understanding. My reading age was much higher than my actual age at school because I had been reading from the moment I could hold a book, but it took a lot of practise and effort. I often felt exhausted, dumb and wanted to give up more than I care to admit because I hated being different. So yes, I might have appeared bright at school, but this was down to all the extra support at home.

I was finally diagnosed with dyslexia at university following a discussion with my tutor. I was in a psychology seminar and was discussing my ideas, theories and opinions about a study we had been researching. We were asked to write a report about this. After writing my report, I was called in to speak with my tutor who said, “who wrote this report”. I had to prove that I wrote this report as it did not showcase what I really knew and included poor explanations of things I could communicate very well verbally. My tutor asked why I never told him I was dyslexic, and my response was “I’m not, I was told I was too bright to be dyslexic”. He laughed and booked me in for an assessment straight away and said that intelligence has nothing to do with dyslexia. Without this tutor, I have no idea whether I would have even completed my degree.

Often, I hear people say things like you don’t appear dyslexic (replace with any other hidden difficulty). What a lot of people do not know is the work that goes on in the background, behind closed doors. When siblings are watching TV and we are still trying to learn, how parents have supported us, the breakdowns, the tears, the wishing to be like everyone else and the determination we have to meet the expectations. I am one of the lucky ones and was diagnosed quite early on, so I received extra support at university. For those getting diagnosed as an adult, this is more difficult but also more impressive. They have made it through their lives without all the support from school, university or work that those with diagnoses have received.

Clients are often shocked when I say I am dyslexic but also allows them to relate to someone. Not everyone is open about hidden disabilities due to the stigma that still comes with them. Throughout my education and work life, I have learnt mechanisms to support my dyslexia but also ways in which I can use my dyslexia positively. All my experiences have led me to truly embrace my difficulties and strengths.

Everyone with a hidden disability is just an individual whose brain works differently and actually that’s okay. We are all supposed to be different, learning difficulty or not. Embrace your difference.

Yvette Gibson, Psychologist at Lexxic