For many people, learning to drive can feel like a daunting and overwhelming experience. This can be especially true for someone with dyslexia, a learning difficulty affecting the skills involved in reading, writing and spelling. Dyslexia can affect visual and auditory processing, meaning that people with it often find it harder to process and remember information. On top of this, dyslexia can co-occur with related conditions such as dyspraxia and ADD, which can create other challenges when it comes to learning to drive.
Practical and driving theory test dyslexia help
All in all, for someone with dyslexia, considering learning to drive can cause a lot of worries. But, it needn’t feel that way. At driveJohnson’s, we have helped many people with dyslexia pass their driving test on their first time, and we have put together our best tips and advice here to help.
We also understand that reading this article may be difficult if you are dyslexic. This is why we have recorded a video version of this article that you can access below. We have also added timestamps to the chapter headings below to enable you to easily navigate to these sections in the video.
- Problems learning to drive with dyslexia – 00:52
- Can you drive with dyslexia? – 01:46
- Is there a driving test for dyslexia? – 02:09
- Tips for taking your driving theory test with dyslexia – 02:49
- Reasonable adjustments to the theory test – 03:56
- Learning to drive with dyslexia: tips for your driving lessons – 04:36
- Reasonable adjustments to the practical driving test – 06:36
Problems learning to drive with dyslexia
While driving, a driver tackles many tasks simultaneously, including controlling the car, considering potential hazards, thinking about the route ahead, and perhaps even talking to passengers. However, for someone with dyslexia, this can feel harder because it can cause difficulties such as:
- Problems multitasking, such as talking and driving at the same time
- Problems following multiple instructions at once
- Poor short-term and working memory
- Auditory processing problems, slowing the ability to take on board directions and instructions
- Difficulties focusing, becoming easily distracted
- Sequencing issues: finding it hard to do things in the correct order
- Poor sense of direction
- Problems reading as well as writing and spelling
- Slower processing speed
Being under stress can heighten the above and lead to someone with dyslexia feeling anxious and completely overwhelmed, particularly in already stressful driving situations, such as heavy traffic.
Can you drive with dyslexia?
It may not be common knowledge but dyslexia is a common learning difficulty. The NHS estimates that around 1 in 10 people in the UK are affected by dyslexia to some degree – that is a lot of people – and many of these people will learn to drive successfully.
Though it can impact how long it takes to learn to drive, it does not have to be a barrier. At driveJohnson’s, we have successfully taught many people to drive with dyslexia.
Is there a driving test for dyslexia?
Due to how it can affect reading, many people with dyslexia worry about how they will pass their theory test. There is no specific driving theory test for dyslexic learners, but don’t let that concern you. There are many things you can do to boost your confidence and increase your chances of passing it and the practical test.
Furthermore, under the Equality Act 2010, dyslexia is classed as a disability and, as such, the DVSA must make reasonable adjustments to the practical and theory tests for people with dyslexia when requested. If you are dyslexic, you are thus entitled to ask them to make specific arrangements to help you on test day.
Tips for taking your driving theory test with dyslexia
The driving theory test involves learning information from The Highway Code, which has many pages of text and diagrams. With this in mind, tackling the driving theory test with dyslexia may feel daunting, but there are techniques to make revision easier. These include:
- Making use of theory test apps. There are many available for both Android and Apple to help people learn their theory easily. There are also CDs and DVDs for PCs, websites that allow you to practice taking the test, and flashcards to help you memorise the road signs. Know that there is a wide range of resources available out there, so don’t be afraid to try different options to see what works for you.
- Giving yourself around two months to revise. Less time may put you under pressure and make it harder to retain the information; too much time could lead to forgetting what you’ve learned.
- Revising little and often every day. Spend between 20 minutes to an hour learning the theory. This will help you to absorb and memorise the information.
- Once you feel you are ready, start doing practice theory tests. These are available on the gov.uk website here.
Reasonable adjustments to the theory test
When you book your theory test online, you can request extra support to account for the impact of dyslexia on the test. You will need to provide evidence that you are dyslexic from a professional. The DVSA states that the evidence can be provided by:
- A doctor or medical professional;
- A teacher or other educational professional;
- An occupational therapist; or
- An online dyslexia screening product.
Following this, you will be able to request reasonable adjustments to your theory test such as:
- A headset to listen to the questions and possible answers in English or Welsh.
- A reader to read what is on the computer screen and record your answers.
- Someone to reword the questions for you.
- More time to complete the test.
Learning to drive with dyslexia: tips for your driving lessons
Depending on the severity of your dyslexia, you may wish to consider learning to drive an automatic car instead of a manual. Learning to drive without changing gears can make things significantly easier as it requires less multitasking and less to think about on your driving test.
When you start your practical driving lessons, remember to inform your driving instructor that you are dyslexic and let them know how this affects you. People with dyslexia have differing symptoms and your driving instructor should tailor their teaching style to help you learn effectively.
At driveJohnson’s, our driving instructors will consider your needs and requirements and adjust their teaching style to help you. They may make changes to the way they deliver their lessons including:
- Giving hand signals
- Slowing their instructions to give extra time to process them
- Showing diagrams to explain concepts
- Summarising what the plan is for the lesson at the beginning, and what you have covered at the end
- Explaining one driving concept at a time
- Saying ‘your side’ and ‘my side’, instead of right and left, to help with understanding directions
- Having rest breaks of a few minutes during the lesson
Furthermore, our driving instructors always build up learners’ confidence in quiet residential areas, free from distractions. You will especially find this with our driving instructors in London and other cities where the traffic is heavy and there are many hazards. They will do this to help learners master the basics before moving on. If you are learning to drive with another driving school do ensure that they know you want this.
Small adjustments like this can significantly help dyslexic learner drivers. It is important to have an open dialogue with your instructor about what works best for you to help you feel more comfortable and learn more effectively.
Finally, ensure that you let our driveJohnson’s booking team know when you book your lessons that you are dyslexic. We have driving instructors who are highly experienced in teaching learners with dyslexia and other learning difficulties. Our booking team can ensure you are allocated to one of these instructors, who will tailor their lessons to your needs and help you pass quickly and safely.
Tips for taking the driving test with dyslexia
Though the pass requirements of the practical driving test cannot be changed, you can request for the examiner to make reasonable adjustments to the way they carry out the test to help you.
Reasonable adjustments to the practical driving test
Similar to the theory test, if you have dyslexia, you can request reasonable adjustments to your practical driving test. For example, you can do the following:
- If you find it hard to read number plates, you can ask the examiner to give you a number plate in yellow as this may be easier to process. If you find it difficult to read aloud, you can request to write it down for the examiner. You can also show a letter from an optician that states you have good eyesight but that dyslexic difficulties can cause reading errors. We suggest practising reading number plates before your test with your driving instructor to help minimise nerves on the day.
- Specify whether you would prefer to be given directions verbally, with hand signals, or both.
- Request a simple diagram of where the examiner wishes you to go, should this be helpful. You can request it on cream paper to reduce distraction.
- Inform the examiner if you would like them not to give more than two directions simultaneously.
- You can take your driving instructor, or the person who has come with you to your test, on your driving test if this would be helpful.
Relax – you’ve got this!
We hope the above has reassured you that it is perfectly possible to pass both the driving theory test with dyslexia, as well as the practical test, without any issues. If you would like to talk through any concerns you have about learning to drive, do give our friendly Enquiries and Bookings Team a call to find out more and see what our driving instructors can do to help you in your area.
