Comprehension vs. Decoding: Where Is My Child Getting Stuck with Reading Comprehension?
- smartstarttutorsin
- Jun 18
- 3 min read
Is your child struggling with reading comprehension—or something else?
If you’ve ever thought, “My child reads well but doesn’t seem to understand anything they just read,” you’re not alone. Many parents come to us unsure where their child is getting stuck. Is it a reading comprehension problem, or is the real challenge decoding?
As online reading specialists who support K–5 students with Dyslexia, ADHD, processing issues, or just general reading delays, we help families figure out exactly where the breakdown is happening, then build a plan to close that gap.
Let’s start by breaking down the difference between decoding and comprehension.
Decoding vs. Comprehension: What’s the Difference?
Decoding is the ability to read the words on the page. It’s about phonics, sound-letter recognition, and fluency.
Comprehension is the ability to understand and make meaning from what was read. This includes remembering key ideas, making connections, and drawing conclusions.
Your child may struggle in one area but not the other—and that distinction is key to helping them.
How to Tell Where Your Child Is Getting Stuck
Here’s a quick way to get insight:
If your child struggles to read aloud, skipping or guessing at words, this is likely a decoding issue.
It is likely a reading comprehension issue if your child reads smoothly but can’t explain what they read.
Sometimes, a child appears to have a comprehension issue—but it’s really that decoding is taking so much mental energy, there’s nothing left to focus on meaning.
Supporting a Child With Decoding Difficulties
If decoding is the challenge, focus on:
Phonics instruction: Systematic phonics helps children understand how sounds map to letters and letter patterns.
High-frequency word practice: Many struggling readers benefit from repeated exposure to common words they’ll see often.
Fluency work: Reading aloud together, echo reading, and repeated readings of short passages build confidence and accuracy.
Patience and encouragement. These kids are working hard just to get the words out. Praise their persistence, not perfection.
Supporting a Child With Reading Comprehension Challenges
If decoding isn’t the issue and your child is struggling with reading comprehension, try these comprehension-boosting strategies:
Ask questions during and after reading.“What do you think will happen next?” or “Why did that character do that?”
Encourage retelling. After reading a short passage, ask your child to summarize it in their own words.
Use visualization techniques. Prompt your child to create mental “movies” of the story as they read. You can say, “What do you picture happening here?”
Build vocabulary. Preview tricky words before reading and discuss new ones afterward. This helps with meaning and retention.
Model thinking out loud. Let them hear your thought process as you read. “Hmm, I wonder why the dog ran away. Maybe he was scared?”
When a Child Struggles With Reading Comprehension, Early Support Matters
No matter where the struggle is—decoding, comprehension, or both—the most important thing is early, targeted support. These challenges don’t just “go away with time.” But with the right help, they do improve.
Our team of reading tutors specializes in working with children in grades K–5 who are struggling to learn to read or who aren’t quite at grade level yet. Whether your child has a diagnosed learning difference or not, we create customized plans to help them succeed.
Not sure where your child is getting stuck? We offer virtual reading assessments and one-on-one support to help you find the root of the problem—and create a plan that works. Schedule a call to learn more about how we can help your child struggling with reading comprehension or decoding!
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