They Can Read It… But Can They Explain It? Understanding Reading Comprehension Struggles

You hear them read the paragraph perfectly. Every word. Every sentence. And then you ask, “What was it about?” — blank stare.

If that moment feels familiar, you’re not alone. Many children can decode words accurately but struggle to understand what they’ve read. And that gap? It often points to underlying cognitive and executive function weaknesses—not laziness, not lack of effort, and definitely not a lack of intelligence.

Think of reading like building a house. Decoding is laying the bricks. Comprehension is the wiring, plumbing, and structure holding it all together. Without strong cognitive and executive function skills, the house might look fine on the outside—but inside, nothing connects properly.

In this post, we’ll break down why comprehension breaks down, how executive function plays a critical role, and what you can do to help children not just read—but truly understand.

Developing cognitive and executive function skills are crucial

1. The Working Memory Trap: When Information Slips Away

Ever notice your child forgets the beginning of a sentence before they reach the end? 

That’s working memory at play.

Working memory allows children to hold information in their minds long enough to make meaning from it. During reading, they must remember characters, settings, and events while continuously adding new details.

Research from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development shows working memory is strongly linked to reading comprehension outcomes in elementary-aged children.

Dr. Adele Diamond explains:

“Executive functions are the air traffic control system of the brain.”

If working memory is weak, comprehension collapses—even if decoding is strong.

Practical tip: After each paragraph, pause and ask your child to summarise in one sentence. Keep it short and simple to build memory stamina.

2. The Inference Gap: Reading Between the Lines Isn’t Automatic

Comprehension isn’t just about what’s written—it’s about what’s implied. 

And that’s where many kids struggle.

Making inferences requires cognitive flexibility and reasoning—both executive function skills. Children must connect clues, background knowledge, and context to “fill in the blanks.”

According to the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, executive skills such as cognitive flexibility are foundational for higher-level thinking tasks, including inference-making.

Educational psychologist Peg Dawson notes:

“Executive skills are what enable us to make sense of complex information.”

When these skills are underdeveloped, children may interpret text literally and miss deeper meaning.

Practical tip: Ask “Why do you think that happened?” instead of yes/no questions. Open-ended prompts strengthen reasoning pathways.

3. Attention Drifts: When Focus Sabotages Understanding

You can’t understand what you didn’t fully attend to.

Sustained attention is essential for comprehension. If a child’s focus drifts mid-page, they miss critical details that connect the story.

The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that attention challenges significantly impact academic achievement, especially in reading comprehension.

Dr. Edward Hallowell puts it simply:

“Attention is the gateway to learning.”

When attention fluctuates, comprehension becomes fragmented.

Practical tip: Use shorter reading sessions with built-in movement breaks. Ten focused minutes beats thirty distracted ones every time.

4. Processing Speed: When Understanding Can’t Keep Up

Some children understand—but their brain just moves more slowly.

Processing speed affects how efficiently a child can absorb, interpret, and respond to information. If reading feels like running through mud, mental energy drains quickly.

A 2018 study published in Child Neuropsychology found that slower processing speed is closely associated with comprehension difficulties in children with executive function weaknesses.

Motivational psychologist Carol Dweck reminds us:

“Becoming is better than being.”

Children need time—not pressure—to develop these skills.

Practical tip: Remove time limits during reading tasks. Focus on quality of understanding, not speed of completion.

5. Weak Organiwsation Skills: When Stories Feel Jumbled

Ask your child to retell the story… and it comes out scrambled. 

That’s not confusion—it’s an organisational skill issue.

Executive function helps children sequence information logically: beginning, middle, end; cause and effect; problem and solution.

The National Center for Learning Disabilities reports that approximately 1 in 5 children experience learning and attention issues that affect skills like organization and comprehension.

Temple Grandin once said:

“The world needs all kinds of minds.” — Temple Grandin

Different minds process information differently—but organisation can be taught.

Practical tip: Use graphic organisers or story maps to visually structure information. Visual frameworks strengthen mental organisation.

6. Emotional Interference: When Frustration Blocks Understanding

If reading has been hard for years, emotions show up fast.

Stress and anxiety directly interfere with executive function. When a child anticipates failure, the brain shifts into defense mode instead of learning mode.

Research in the Journal of Learning Disabilities shows that children with persistent reading challenges are at higher risk for anxiety and reduced academic confidence.

Here’s the key: comprehension isn’t just cognitive—it’s emotional.

Practical tip: Celebrate effort and strategy use rather than correctness alone. Confidence fuels cognitive growth.

The Bigger Picture: Comprehension Is Built, Not Born

If your child can read the words but can’t explain the story, the issue likely isn’t intelligence. It’s underlying cognitive and executive function skills that need strengthening.

Working memory, attention, processing speed, organisation, reasoning, and emotional regulation all work together to create comprehension. When one piece is weak, understanding suffers.

The good news? These skills can be identified. They can be developed. And with the right targeted support, children don’t just become better readers—they become stronger thinkers.

Progress may not happen overnight. But step by step, skill by skill, understanding grows.

And when it does? That blank stare turns into confident explanation.

That’s when reading finally clicks.