Coronation Street Debbie star Sue Devaney lifts lid on secret neurodiversity struggle

ok.co.uk:

Sue Devaney's dyslexia posed a challenge during her character Debbie Webster's dementia storyline on Coronation Street.The actress, 57, who first graced the cobbles 41 years ago, is set for turmoil as Debbie Webster navigates a challenging storyline involving vascular dementia.

ITV viewers have been concerned for her fate in the Manchester-based program since the storyline was confirmed. On-screen, Debbie has been exhibiting erratic behaviour, struggling with emotional control and showing signs of increasing forgetfulness.

However, instead of acknowledging these as early symptoms of dementia, Debbie attributes them to menopause. Sue Devaney says she can empathise with this reaction. "Menopause is a scary time for any woman, with hormones all over the place and doing bizarre things.

It changes your brain," she explains. She shares that a support worker from Dementia UK informed her that many women mistake their symptoms for menopause and don't seek testing. "A support worker from Dementia UK told me many women think it's menopause and don't get tested.The symptoms can be similar, like brain fog, but it's on a much bigger scale with dementia." Fear also plays a significant part. "At one point, Debbie wonders if it's cancer, a brain tumour, or epilepsy causing her to fall over," Sue reveals, "The specialist does a clock test, which I found interesting because, being dyslexic, I thought, 'I can't do a clock!' You start to think of all these things.