Millions of adults struggle with reading! Yes, even in our society today, there are people who struggle to read or who are illiterate. This can hinder their ability to succeed at work, education, and everyday life. Whether due to learning disabilities, interrupted education, or other life circumstances, adult reading struggles are more common than people realize. Fortunately, it’s never too late to improve reading skills. With the right strategies and support, struggling adult readers can gain the confidence and tools they need to thrive. Whether you’re an educator, tutor, family member, or adult learner yourself, we will explore some of the best strategies to use to help struggling adult readers.
Why Adult Literacy Matters
Before we look at the best strategies for helping struggling adult readers, let’s look at some of reasons that adult literacy matters. Reading is a foundational skill for nearly every aspect of life: applying for jobs, reading medication labels, managing finances, voting, helping children with homework, and more. Adults who struggle with reading often face obstacles in employment, education, healthcare, and social inclusion.
What are Common Causes of Reading Difficulties in Adults?
Before we go any further into the strategies for helping struggling adult readers, let’s take a look at some common causes of reading difficulties in adults. Many adults didn’t receive the support they needed as children, and their reading difficulties followed them into adulthood.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a common neurological condition that affects how the brain processes written language. Adults with undiagnosed dyslexia may read slowly, have trouble with spelling, and struggle with decoding unfamiliar words. I often think about Will Trent from the television show “Will Trent”. He is an absolutely brilliant detective, but he struggles with reading due to his dyslexia.
Interrupted or Inadequate Education
Many adults missed out on consistent education due to poverty, family instability, immigration, or trauma 🥺. Others may have attended under-resourced schools or dropped out before mastering basic literacy skills.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Adults who speak a different language at home may find it difficult to read in English. Challenges include limited vocabulary, unfamiliar phonics patterns, and differences in grammar and sentence structure.
And, as I watch my ELL middle and high school students, I can see the difficulties that they face. Many of their parents only speak Spanish, and so, they receive no help at home with their English. Plus, whenever we make parental contact, we have to do so through the use of a translator.
Vision and Hearing Problems
When I worked as an Interventionist for an elementary school in Mississippi, I had one student who was on my list simply because she had failed the 1st grade. The girl was one of the top students in her class. And, I was really confused at first as to why she would have failed any grade. Then, I realized that she wore hearing aids. I later discovered that she only received the hearing aids AFTER she had failed the 1st grade 🤷🏾♀️. There is no doubt in my mind that she failed 1st grade because she couldn’t hear.
Undiagnosed or untreated vision and hearing issues can make it hard for adults to learn to read or improve their skills. Difficulty seeing text clearly or hearing sounds accurately can impede phonics development and comprehension.
Lack of Confidence or Motivation
Do you know an adult that is ashamed to read out loud or who skillfully avoids reading. Chances are good that he/she is a struggling reader, and the behavior is just to avoid admitting a lack of reading skills.
Adults who struggle with reading can suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, and the belief that “it’s too late to learn.” These adults may avoid asking for help due to past embarrassment or shame.
Cognitive Decline or Brain Injury
Aging, illness, or injury can impair memory, processing speed, or language ability, affecting reading comprehension and retention.
What are the Signs of Reading Difficulty in Adults?
Struggling adult readers may:
- Avoid reading in public or at work
- Read slowly or with difficulty
- Guess words based on context or pictures
- Skip unfamiliar words
- Struggle to pronounce multisyllabic words
- Have trouble following written instructions
- Experience fatigue or frustration when reading
Recognizing these signs can help educators, employers, or loved ones know when to offer support.
What are the Best Strategies for Helping Struggling Adult Readers?
Now that we’ve explored the causes of adult reading difficulties, let’s look at the best strategies that you can use to help struggling adult readers. These research-based strategies will help adults build skills, confidence, and reading fluency at their own pace.
1. Build a Safe, Non-Judgmental Learning Environment
For many adult learners, fear of embarrassment is the biggest barrier. Create a space that is respectful, private, and encouraging for your struggling adult readers.
Tips:
- Offer one-on-one tutoring when possible.
- Celebrate progress, no matter how small.
- Be patient and positive—avoid criticism or rushing.
2. Use Assessment to Identify Specific Needs
Before developing a reading plan, assess the learner’s current reading level and pinpoint their challenges. Use informal reading inventories, phonics screeners, and vocabulary checklists.
Areas to Assess:
- Phonemic awareness
- Phonics and decoding skills
- Vocabulary knowledge
- Fluency (speed and accuracy)
- Comprehension (understanding what’s read)
3. Focus on Phonics and Decoding
Many adults never mastered phonics—the connection between letters and sounds. Systematic phonics instruction can help them break down words and read with greater accuracy. And, I know this may seem hard to believe. But, it’s is true! Many of your struggling readers are missing the basics…phonics.
Strategies:
- Use multisensory phonics programs
- Practice sound blending, segmenting, and rhyming.
- Use letter tiles or apps to build word families
Since these skills are so “basic”, you many want to do this one on one to help prevent embarrassment.
4. Develop Sight Word Recognition
Sight words (also called high-frequency words) should be recognized instantly, without sounding out. These include words like “the,” “said,” and “was.”
How to Help:
- Use flashcards with pictures and repetition.
- Practice sight words in context, like short sentences or stories.
- Use games and word bingo for engagement.
5. Increase Vocabulary Through Real-World Reading
Many adult readers struggle with limited vocabulary, which affects their comprehension. Integrate reading with everyday contexts that matter to the learner.
Examples:
- Read recipes, menus, grocery lists
- Use job applications, pay stubs, or workplace manuals
- Read newspaper articles and explain key terms
Tips:
- Teach word roots, prefixes, and suffixes.
- Use a personal vocabulary journal.
- Encourage daily conversation to reinforce new words.
I happen to be a fan of vocabulary lists. I know many people feel that this is old-fashioned, but I have found success with it over the years. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
6. Build Reading Fluency with Repetition and Audiobooks
Struggling adult readers often read slowly or with hesitation instead of smoothly and with expression like good readers.
Strategies:
- Use repeated reading of short passages.
- Pair printed text with audiobooks.
- Have learners record themselves reading and listen for progress.
- Listen to audiobooks
Listening to audiobooks is one of my favorite ways to get my students to learn to read. By following along with the book while listening to the audio, many readers learn how to quickly recognize and pronounce words.
7. Teach Reading Comprehension Strategies
(This video discusses middle school, but the same strategies work for adults!)
One of the key focuses of helping struggling adult readers is helping them to understand what they have read. Reading is more than decoding. It’s about making meaning. Adults may struggle to follow the main idea, infer meaning, or summarize.
Even some of my best students have struggled with reading comprehension. Over the years, I learned that it was mainly due to their lack of decoding skills.
So, be sure to grab my reading comprehension worksheets!
Techniques:
- Use graphic organizers (like story maps or Venn diagrams).
- Teach how to ask questions before, during, and after reading.
- Summarize each paragraph aloud.
- Use “think alouds” to model reading comprehension.
- Work on decoding skills.
8. Incorporate Digital Tools and Apps
Many adults are tech-savvy and benefit from learning tools on tablets, phones, or computers. And, if they aren’t, chances are good that they know a younger family member or person who can help to get them connected with these beneficial reading apps.
9. Connect Reading to Goals and Interests
Adult learners are more motivated when reading is tied to their real lives and goals.
Examples:
- Read about health, nutrition, or parenting.
- Use career-focused texts for those seeking job advancement.
- Let learners choose topics—sports, fashion, music, business.
Make learning meaningful to their current and future needs.
10. Use Peer Support and Group Learning
Many adults benefit from group learning where they see others with similar challenges.
Ideas:
- Create small reading groups with peer encouragement.
- Set up reading partners or “study buddies.”
- Use group journaling, read-alouds, or book discussions.
11. Teach Self-Monitoring and Metacognition
Help learners think about how they read, not just what they read. Metacognitive strategies help readers identify confusion and choose tools to solve it.
Teach Them To:
- Reread difficult passages
- Ask themselves questions like: “Do I understand this?”
- Highlight key phrases
- Pause to paraphrase
Ways to Overcome the Psychological Barriers of Adult Literacy
In addition to academic strategies, it’s essential to address emotional barriers. Many adult learners carry shame, frustration, or trauma related to their education. Tutors, educators, and families must be sensitive to these issues.
Tips for Emotional Support:
- Build Trust: Establish a relationship before diving into academics.
- Be Flexible: Understand their schedule, responsibilities, and possible insecurities.
- Celebrate Progress: Highlight even small wins to build confidence.
- Be Patient: Understand it may take time to undo years of difficulty.
Struggling with reading as an adult can feel isolating—but it doesn’t have to be a life sentence. With targeted strategies, supportive instruction, and encouragement, adult learners can become fluent readers. Every adult deserves the dignity of reading success, and you can help them gain this power. How? By using strategies that work!
Happy Teaching!!!
Other Articles to Read:
Other Videos to Watch: