Why Some Kids Struggle with Reading Comprehension — And How to Help

Reading comprehension is one of the most misunderstood areas of education, especially for students with learning disabilities like ADHD, dyslexia, and processing challenges. Parents often wonder why their child can “read the words” but still doesn’t understand the story. The truth is, comprehension is far more complex than decoding words on a page.

This post will break down:

• Common misconceptions about reading comprehension

• Why gaps develop for students with learning differences

• Proven strategies to build comprehension skills effectively

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Common Misconceptions About Reading Comprehension

1. “If they can read the words, they understand the text.”

This is one of the biggest myths. Decoding (sounding out words) and comprehension (making meaning) are separate skills. Many students with ADHD or dyslexia can pronounce the words fluently but miss the deeper meaning, main ideas, and connections.

Difficulty with reading can also affect a student’s confidence and their ability to start tasks at school.

2. “Struggling readers are lazy or not trying hard enough.”

Students with learning disabilities often work harder than their peers. However, if cognitive load is high — juggling decoding, memory, and focus — they have fewer mental resources left for comprehension.

3. “Reading comprehension is just about answering questions.”

True comprehension involves active thinking:

• Predicting what might happen next

• Visualizing scenes

• Making inferences

• Connecting new information to prior knowledge

  
  

Teaching students to think like readers is more important than drilling them on multiple-choice answers.

4. “All comprehension problems are the same.”

Some students struggle with vocabulary; others have trouble holding information in working memory; and some lack background knowledge. Without identifying the root cause, instruction can miss the mark.

Why Comprehension Gaps Develop in Students with Learning Disabilities

• Weak decoding or fluency skills → Students spend so much energy sounding out words that comprehension suffers.

  
  

• Limited vocabulary exposure → Without explicit vocabulary instruction, students struggle to grasp meaning.

  
  

• Attention challenges → ADHD can impact a student’s ability to sustain focus long enough to connect ideas.

  
  

• Working memory limitations → Some students can’t hold enough information in mind to make sense of longer passages.

  
  

• Lack of prior knowledge → Students unfamiliar with a topic have fewer “hooks” to hang new information on.

  
  

Understanding why a student struggles is the first step toward creating an effective plan.

Proven Strategies to Address Reading Gaps

Here are research-backed strategies you can highlight as an expert tutor and educational leader:

1. Explicit Vocabulary Instruction

• Pre-teach Tier Two academic vocabulary before reading.

• Use visuals, examples, and student-friendly definitions.

• Encourage students to make personal connections to words.

2. Chunking Texts Into Manageable Sections

For students with ADHD, dyslexia, or processing difficulties, large blocks of text are overwhelming. Instead:

• Break passages into short, digestible “chunks.”

• Include guiding questions after each chunk to check understanding.

• Teach students to summarize each section before moving on.

Students need to be activate all parts of their brain while improving their comprehension.

3. Teach Active Reading Strategies

Help students engage with the text rather than passively reading:

• Predict what comes next.

  
  

• Highlight or annotate key details.

• Visualize scenes to strengthen mental imagery.

  
  

• Use tools like KWL charts (Know, Want to know, Learned).

4. Scaffold Inferencing Skills

Students with comprehension challenges often struggle with making inferences. Support them by:

• Asking “Why do you think…?” and “What clues tell you…?” questions.

• Modeling your own thinking process aloud.

• Using comics, short videos, or picture books to practice inference-making before applying it to harder texts.

5. Build Executive Functioning Alongside Reading

For students with ADHD or processing delays, comprehension struggles often connect to organization, focus, and working memory. Strategies include:

• Graphic organizers for sequencing and summarizing

• Backward planning for long reading assignments

• Time-bound “reading sprints” to maintain focus

Final Thoughts

Reading comprehension is not a one-size-fits-all skill. For students with learning disabilities, the key is personalized instruction that:

• Identifies the root cause of comprehension gaps

• Builds vocabulary and background knowledge

• Equips students with active reading strategies

• Supports attention and working memory needs

When students are taught how to think while reading, their confidence — and comprehension — skyrockets.

Call to Action 

At Determined Student Success, we specialize in helping students with ADHD, dyslexia, and processing challenges build strong comprehension skills. If your child is struggling to “make sense of what they read,” reach out today for a free consultation. Together, we can unlock their potential.