Why do individuals with ADHD struggle with reading comprehension? 

People with ADHD often understand individual words but struggle to hold the meaning of longer passages. According to NICE guidance, ADHD affects attention, working memory, and processing speed all essential for following, connecting, and retaining information while reading. These challenges are different from dyslexia, where difficulties arise from decoding words rather than maintaining focus or integrating ideas. 

Why comprehension breaks down in ADHD 

Reading comprehension relies on staying focused and holding information long enough to make sense of it. Studies show that children and adults with ADHD often lose track of sentences because working memory becomes overloaded, making it harder to remember what came before or link ideas together. A 2025 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that slower processing speed can further compound these difficulties by increasing the mental effort needed to keep up with text. 

Eye-tracking research also shows that readers with ADHD exhibit more frequent and shorter fixations, as well as greater gaze variability. This unstable visual attention makes it easier to skip lines, reread sections, or “zone out” all of which interrupt comprehension. Emotional factors such as frustration, task fatigue, or low interest can also make attention drift more quickly during reading. 

For individuals seeking assessment or support, private services such as ADHD Certify provide ADHD assessments for adults and children in the UK, following NICE-aligned standards of care. 

Key takeaway 

Reading comprehension difficulties in ADHD are usually caused by attention lapses, working-memory limits, and slower processing rather than decoding problems. With structured reading strategies, engaging materials, and professional support, people with ADHD can strengthen comprehension and confidence. 

Avery Lombardi, MSc

Author

Avery Lombardi is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Psychology. She has professional experience in psychological assessment, evidence-based therapy, and research, working with both child and adult populations. Avery has provided clinical services in hospital, educational, and community settings, delivering interventions such as CBT, DBT, and tailored treatment plans for conditions including anxiety, depression, and developmental disorders. She has also contributed to research on self-stigma, self-esteem, and medication adherence in psychotic patients, and has created educational content on ADHD, treatment options, and daily coping strategies.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy. 

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.