Why Can't I Understand What I Read
Many children and adults face challenges with reading comprehension. They may often ask themselves "why can't I understand what I read" making it an important issue that requires attention. Difficulty understanding what is read can stem from various factors, including learning disabilities, attention problems, vision issues, cognitive challenges, lack of background knowledge, poor decoding skills, emotional factors, or environmental influences.
Identifying the Cause
Understanding the cause of poor reading comprehension is essential for finding the right solutions. Struggles with reading can lead to frustration, reduced motivation, and a loss of interest in reading.
Learning Disabilities
Learning disabilities are difficulties in learning that are not typical given a person's other abilities and developmental level. Common types include:
Language-Learning Disabilities: These affect a person’s ability to understand and use language. People with receptive language disorders may have trouble understanding spoken words or written text, while those with expressive language disorders may have difficulty with proper expression. Mixed disorders involve challenges with both understanding and expressing language.
Dyslexia: Dyslexia is a condition where individuals have trouble with reading and writing despite normal intelligence and effective teaching. It often involves difficulty connecting letters to sounds or remembering how to spell words.
Characteristics of Dyslexia
Reading Difficulties: Hesitation or pausing, mixing up similar letters or words, skipping or adding words, and struggling with comprehension.
Writing Problems: Difficulty writing neatly, copying text, or reluctance to write.
Spelling Issues: Inconsistent or incorrect spelling and confusing similar sounds.
Attention Challenges
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) can cause difficulty maintaining focus while reading, leading to poor comprehension. Some studies suggest that those with ADHD scored lower on sustained attention and reading comprehension compared to those without ADHD highlighting the importance of sustained attention while reading for comprehension (source).
Vision Problems
Undiagnosed visual impairments can significantly affect one's ability to read and understand text.
Lack of Background Knowledge
Without prior knowledge of a topic, understanding a text, connecting ideas, and making inferences can be challenging.
Poor Decoding Skills, Poor Oral Reading Fluency, or Poor Reading Speed
Struggles with decoding words can impact reading fluency and comprehension.
Emotional Factors
Anxiety, stress, or other emotional challenges can interfere with reading and comprehension. There was a study that showed students with lower reading fluency were more likely to show separation anxiety by the end of the year. However, the study also found that a type of anxiety linked to perfectionism, was connected to better reading achievement. This suggests that some types of anxiety might actually help improve performance.
Processing Speed
Slow processing speeds can affect the ability to decode words, infer meaning, and integrate new information, leading to incomplete comprehension and difficulty following the flow of the text.
Memory
Working memory is crucial for holding, manipulating, and retrieving information. It helps in retaining information, integrating new ideas, and formulating thoughts. Without adequate working memory, reading comprehension is compromised.
Environmental Factors
A lack of exposure to reading materials or a non-supportive reading environment can hinder decoding skills, comprehension, and general interest in reading.
Identifying and addressing the underlying causes of reading difficulties are key to improving comprehension and fostering a positive reading experience.
Overcoming Challenges
Learning Disabilities
A speech therapist can help improve your decoding skills, reading fluency, and comprehension. For someone with dyslexia, a reading specialist may also be needed. Both professionals can develop strategies to help you improve your reading skills. Intensive early reading interventions had a positive effect on struggling readers (source).
Poor Vision
Scheduling an eye exam with an ophthalmologist or optometrist is the first step in identifying any vision problems. Consider getting a prescription for contacts or glasses, vision therapy, or assistive devices like magnifying lenses or large-print books. This can improve reading comfort, ability, and comprehension.
Attention Challenges
Managing distractions and staying focused can help with attention-related challenges. For specific issues like ADHD, consulting with a primary care doctor, neurologist, or psychologist can provide guidance on strategies for improving focus and reading skills.
Lack of Background Knowledge
Teachers or tutors can offer focused lessons to build foundational knowledge. Pre-teaching key concepts and vocabulary before introducing new material is essential. Discussing topics with knowledgeable people, like teachers or family members, and participating in cultural activities, like visiting museums, can expand your background knowledge.
Poor Decoding Skills
A speech-language pathologist or reading specialist can assess and treat decoding difficulties by improving phonological awareness, phonics, and word recognition skills. Programs like the Wilson Reading System and Orton-Gillingham are examples of structured support for decoding skills. Assistive technology like text-to-speech software can also help while you work on improving your decoding skills.
Emotional Factors
When anxiety, depression, or other emotional challenges are present, seeking support from a psychologist can be helpful. Therapy can address underlying issues affecting reading progress and offer strategies for managing emotions.
Processing Speed
If processing speed is slower, breaking the reading material into smaller pieces can reduce overload and allow for better focus and comprehension. Personalized support from a speech therapist or reading specialist can target specific challenges and provide strategies for improvement.
Memory
For someone with memory challenges, starting to take notes can reinforce memory and comprehension. Visualizing what you’re reading can also strengthen retention. Breaking down reading materials into smaller sections can give your memory a better chance to retain information.
Environmental Factors
Increasing exposure to a variety of reading materials can build familiarity and interest. Encouraging regular reading habits and creating a supportive environment—where reading together and discussing books is common—can foster a love of reading and improve comprehension.
Overall Strategies for Improving Reading Comprehension
Building a Strong Foundation
To build a strong reading foundation, it's important to develop good reading habits. These habits can include reading regularly, whether daily or weekly. Improving oral fluency is another way to strengthen reading skills, as it helps with both reading speed and comprehension. Also, focusing on proper phrasing—such as pausing at commas and periods when reading aloud—can improve understanding of the text. Finally, creating a distraction-free reading environment can boost focus, reduce interruptions, and improve concentration and comprehension.
Strategies for Improvement
To improve reading, break the material into smaller, manageable chunks to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Taking breaks and summarizing what you’ve read can help with information retention and boost comprehension. Using active reading strategies, like making connections and asking questions, can enhance understanding and overall reading skills.
Expanding Vocabulary and Knowledge
Expanding your vocabulary by reading and learning new words can improve comprehension and help you absorb information more effectively. Reading a variety of materials, both fiction and non-fiction, not only builds knowledge but also strengthens your reading skills. Discussing what you've read can enhance critical thinking and understanding. Having background knowledge on different topics can make it easier to grasp new information, reduce difficulties, and keep reading more interesting.
Improving Reading Efficiency
Improving reading speed and efficiency can boost comprehension and reduce frustration. Practicing skimming and scanning techniques helps you quickly identify main ideas and key information. Using technology, like e-readers and reading apps, provides helpful tools and features that can enhance reading efficiency. Developing a pre-reading routine, such as drinking coffee or exercising, can also increase focus and alertness, making it easier to engage with the material.
Seeking Help and Additional Resources
Getting help from a reading specialist, tutor, or speech therapist can offer personalized support to improve your reading skills. You can also use online resources like reading apps and websites for extra practice. Joining a book club or reading group is a great way to connect with others, engage in reading, and discuss books together.
Frequently Asked Questions
At what age do children learn to read?
Children focus on learning to read from preschool through second grade. By third grade, the focus shifts, and they begin reading to learn. If a language learning disability goes undiagnosed or untreated past second grade, the child may struggle with both reading and understanding the academic material they need to learn.
What is the link between learning disabilities and reading comprehension challenges?
Learning disabilities can make it hard to understand what you read. These disabilities might affect how you recognize words, remember information, or process what you're reading quickly. As a result, it becomes more difficult to grasp and remember the content of the text, leading to problems with reading comprehension.
Speech Therapy for Reading Comprehension Problems in Skokie, Illinois
At Speak with Stephanie, we offer personalized speech therapy services in Skokie and nearby areas to help both children and adults who are struggling with reading and reading comprehension.
Here’s how we can assist with improving reading comprehension:
Individualized Assessment: We start with a thorough assessment to identify specific reading difficulties and comprehension issues. This helps us tailor our therapy to address individual needs and target areas such as understanding text, vocabulary, and retention.
Customized Treatment: We create personalized therapy plans based on each person’s age, abilities, and learning style. This may include activities like summarizing texts, discussing story elements, and using context clues to understand new words. We keep the sessions engaging and enjoyable to support better learning.
Multisensory Approach: We use various tools to make learning interactive, such as visual aids, games, and technology. This approach helps make reading and comprehension more engaging and memorable.
Home Practice and Support: We work closely with families and caregivers to ensure that the strategies and skills learned in therapy are applied at home, supporting ongoing improvement and success.
By focusing on these areas, we aim to make reading and comprehension easier and more enjoyable for everyone we work with.
Online Speech Therapy for Stuttering Across Illinois, New Jersey, and New York
We also offer online speech therapy services for children and adults who have challenges in reading throughout Illinois, New Jersey, and New York.
Additional Speech Therapy Services at Speak with Stephanie
At Speak with Stephanie, we provide speech therapy for both kids and adults. For kids, we focus on helping with stuttering, language and speech issues. For adults, we assist with various communication challenges like language disorders, articulation problems, stuttering, and aphasia.
About the author:
Stephanie Jeret is a Speech-Language Pathologist and the owner of Speak with Stephanie LLC. She obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degree from the City University of New York. She has practiced speech therapy in a number of settings including outpatient rehabilitation, telepractice, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and a private practice. She specializes in the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of communication disorders including articulation disorders, receptive/expressive language disorders, and fluency disorders. Information is available by emailing her at stephanie@speakwithstephanie.com or by visiting www.speakwithstephanie.com.