Most Adults Don’t Struggle With Reading—They Struggle With Comprehension

Most adults think they’re good readers.

They can get through emails, articles, contracts, and books without much trouble.

But if you ask them to explain what they just read, summarize it, or apply it, things start to fall apart.

This isn’t a reading problem.

It’s a comprehension problem.

And more than that—it’s an executive function problem.

The Difference No One Talks About

Reading is recognizing words.

Comprehension is:

understanding meaning
connecting ideas
identifying what actually matters
knowing what to do with the information

You can read quickly and still miss the point entirely.

And many adults do this all day long.

The Executive Function Piece (That Gets Overlooked)

Executive function is one of those terms people hear and assume they understand.

It’s almost become a given.

Like:

“Of course I have that.”

But very few adults stop and ask:

Am I actually strong in this area?

Executive function isn’t just about:

organization
time management

It also includes:

attention
working memory
processing
self-monitoring

Reading comprehension sits right in the middle of that.

What This Looks Like in Real Life

You’ve probably seen it—or experienced it:

rereading the same paragraph multiple times
finishing something but not being able to explain it
skimming and missing key details
misunderstanding instructions
reading a lot but not applying anything

This isn’t a lack of intelligence.

It’s a breakdown in processing.

Why It Happens

Most of us were taught to:

move forward
finish quickly
check the box

Not to:

pause
question
process

Over time, reading becomes passive.

You’re taking in words without actually engaging with them.

And since you can read, no one questions it.

The Cost of Poor Comprehension

This shows up everywhere:

missed details in contracts or emails
poor decision-making
wasted time rereading
information overload without clarity
consuming content that never turns into action

You’re busy, but not effective.

How to Fix It (Without Overcomplicating It)

You don’t need a new system.

You need to engage your executive function on purpose.

1. Slow Down Where It Matters

Not everything deserves equal speed.

When something is important:

pause
reread
think

Speed is not the goal.

Clarity is.

2. Ask One Simple Question

After reading anything important:

What is the main point here?

If you can’t answer that clearly, go back.

That’s your signal your brain didn’t fully process it.

3. Translate It Into Your Own Words

If you can’t explain it simply, you didn’t understand it.

This activates working memory and processing immediately.

4. Look for Action

Ask:

What should I do with this?
Does this change anything?

If the answer is “nothing,” you’re likely just consuming, not processing.

5. Pay Attention to Your Patterns

Start noticing:

where you lose focus
what you skim
what you have to reread

That awareness alone will improve your comprehension.

Where You’ll Start to Notice It

People start to notice this in their relationships.

They notice it at work.

I see it clearly when working with teams—one of the most common breakdowns is not effort, not intelligence, but reading comprehension.

Instructions are missed. Details are overlooked. Things have to be repeated.

It slows everything down.

Clear communication also depends on learning when to pause, think, and ask for support in a useful way. If you want to explore this idea from a practical learning perspective, you may also like How to Ask for Help the Right Way.

Where the Gap Starts

Reading comprehension is a learned skill.

It should be practiced in childhood.

But often, it’s not:

not worked on
not reinforced
not prioritized at home
not consistently taught in school

Unless a parent or standout teacher intentionally focuses on it, it’s easy to move into adulthood with a gap.

Most adults don’t even realize it’s there.

The Good News

You can work on it now.

Improving your ability to:

process what you read
catch details
think through information

will directly improve:

your communication
your decision-making
your effectiveness at work
your relationships at home

This is a skill that raises your overall level of functioning.

If You’re Thinking Long-Term

You already know I’m passionate about helping people function at a higher level before they enter the workforce.

And that starts at home.

If this resonates with you, take a few minutes to explore the kids section on Efficiency Plan.

It’s designed to build executive function in young learners—and it’s simple enough to share directly with the kids in your life.

For another related skill, read You Don’t Have to Share Everything at School, which connects self-awareness, focus, and thoughtful decision-making for kids.

You can also explore practical printable resources in the Efficiency Plan Etsy shop.