Understanding Reading Difficulties: Why Is My Child Struggling To Read?
When parents see that their child is not progressing in reading, the first question asked is often "Well, why is my child struggling to read?" This is actually a super smart question to ask, because we can't find a solution until we get to the root of the problem. If you're asking this question about your own child, I hope you'll find the next four pieces of information helpful in diagnosing the cause of your child's reading difficulties.
Here are four simple starting points to use when trying to figure out what’s got your child stuck.
Reading Difficulties Caused By Physical Barriers
First, check for vision and hearing issues. Are they actually hearing the sounds and the speech needed to foster reading abilities? Can they see the words and letters clearly?
Get their hearing checked with an audiologist and head to the eye doctor for a visual checkup to either discover an issue or rule these issues out. It might seem too simple or obvious, but often children appear to have reading difficulties when the obstacle is actually their vision or hearing.
Developmental Delays
Second, there could be an underlying developmental delay or learning difference. Remember that kids do develop at different paces, and not every delay is an indication of an underlying disability. Sometimes, though, this is actually the case.
If your gut is telling you that there’s a speech and language delay, or a cognitive delay, talk with the pediatrician, your child’s teacher, or reach out to others in the pediatric therapy realm to gain some insights about whether testing for underlying developmental disabilities seems like a good next step. Remember, nobody knows your child better than you.
Lack of Language Exposure Can Lead To Reading Difficulties
Third, think about how much language your child is exposed to, and whether their environment is rich in language and vocabulary. This often varies based on cultural norms, personalities, and family circumstances, and there is no singular "right" way to communicate within your family.
However, both vocabulary and language development are essential pieces needed to develop strong reading skills. If you discover this is an area that can be improved upon within your own family context, try narrating your actions out loud to your child during the day, or commit to introducing your child to a few new words intentionally every day until you see improvement. Label items you use together, and describe clothing, food, or other familiar objects that hold relevance to your child. Play word games together and read lots of books. This should lead to gradual but tangible improvement.
Reading Difficulties Due To Focus and Attention Struggles
Fourth is a big one: focus and attention difficulties. I’ve taught so many kids who had every skill ability to read proficiently, but their struggles with focus and extended concentration were making it so hard for them to apply those skills that it caused them to present as a struggling reader.
This doesn't automatically mean your child needs medication or a diagnosis. There are ways to work on attention issues that don’t involve medicine if that’s not your desired solution, like working on challenging puzzles or playing games that exercise the working memory.
In some cases though, there is a true physiological difference that can be mitigated by a dose of some kind of medication that helps a person focus and concentrate. If that’s what you think is happening for your child, definitely chat with their pediatrician and see where that takes you! Information is power, and remember, you know your own child best.
Remember, no matter what the cause of your child’s struggle is, you can get to the bottom of it, and your child can meet with success when the right interventions are in place! Your child is lucky to have you working toward solutions for their struggles, and with intention and dedication, they will get back on the right track before you know it!
Want to dive deeper into the root causes of your struggling reader's difficulty with literacy?
and trade uncertainty and overwhelm for clarity, confidence, and connection,
as you begin to see your child finally learn to read, and read well.
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