The ARHQ (Adult Reading History Questionnaire) is a self-report screener for the likelihood of a reading difference such as dyslexia in adults. Its 23 items ask about your reading and spelling history — how learning to read went, how you compare with peers, and how much reading, writing and spelling still take effort today.
This is a self-check you can complete online in about six minutes, with an instant score and a plain-language interpretation. It is a first orientation, not a diagnosis — a formal assessment of dyslexia is always made by a qualified professional, and the official scoring uses sex-specific cut-offs.
Written from a neurodivergence-affirming stance: dyslexia is a common neurodevelopmental difference in how the brain processes written language, not a lack of intelligence or effort. It frequently co-occurs with ADHD, and recognising it can open the door to the right tools and accommodations.
23 items, about 6 minutes, instant score and interpretation
Based on the ARHQ (Lefly & Pennington, 2000)
Anonymous — nothing to sign up for
Screening for orientation only, not a clinical diagnosis
Lefly & Pennington (2000), Journal of Learning Disabilities 33(3), 286-296 — Adult Reading History Questionnaire; hosted by the International Dyslexia Association
ARHQ
A 23-item questionnaire assessing reading history and current reading habits to evaluate the likelihood of a dyslexic profile in adults.
"What does this mean?" if a question is not clear, tap this under the question for a plain explanation.
"Not sure about my answer" if your answer is only an approximation, mark it. It does not change the score — it just shows me where we can come back together.
23 items -- ~6 min
Local-first - your data stays on device
0 / 230%
Keys 1-5 for quick answer
Answer each question thinking about your own reading history and your current reading habits. There are no right or wrong answers.
1.How would you compare your current reading speed to that of others of the same age and education?
2.How much reading do you do in conjunction with your work (if retired or not working, how much did you read when you were working)?
3.How much difficulty did you have learning to spell in elementary school?
4.How would you compare your current spelling to that of others of the same age and education?
5.Did your parents ever consider having you repeat any grades in school due to academic failure (not illness)?
6.Do you ever have difficulty remembering people's names or names of places?
7.Do you have difficulty remembering addresses, phone numbers, or dates?
8.Do you have difficulty remembering complex verbal instructions?
9.Do you currently reverse the order of letters or numbers when you read or write?
10.How many books do you read for pleasure each year?
11.How many magazines do you read for pleasure each month?
12.Do you read daily (Monday-Friday) newspapers?
13.Do you read a newspaper on Sunday?
14.Which of the following most nearly describes your attitude toward school when you were a child?
15.How much difficulty did you have learning to read in elementary school?
16.How much extra help did you need when learning to read in elementary school?
17.Did you ever reverse the order of letters or numbers when you were a child?
18.Did you have difficulty learning letter and/or color names when you were a child?
19.How would you compare your reading skill to that of others in your elementary classes?
20.All students struggle from time to time in school. Compared to others in your classes, how much did you struggle to complete your work?
21.Did you experience difficulty in high school or college English classes?