My 10-Year-Old Struggles with Reading — Could It Be Dyslexia?

When Reading Feels Like a Wall Instead of a Window

You're sitting beside your 10-year-old at the kitchen table. The book is open, the words are simple, the room is quiet—but your child is staring, fidgeting, skipping lines, rereading sentences. Frustration builds. For them, for you. You wonder again: why is reading still this hard?

If you’ve found yourself having this thought over and over, you’re not alone. Literacy challenges don’t disappear just because a child is older. In fact, many children with dyslexia aren’t diagnosed until well after age 7 or 8. So at 10, your child might be hiding their struggle behind coping strategies like memorizing or guessing.

So how do we know what’s a gap in confidence vs. a deeper learning difference? Could it be dyslexia? And what can you do next if your child feels like they’re falling behind?

Understanding Dyslexia at 10: It’s Not Too Late

Many parents believe that if their child reaches fourth or fifth grade without a diagnosis, dyslexia is unlikely. But plenty of research, along with countless parent stories, say otherwise. Children with mild to moderate dyslexia often develop clever ways to mask their difficulties. They may avoid reading aloud, steer conversations away from books, or become the “class clown” to redirect attention.

If this hits close to home, step back for a moment and ask yourself what you’re seeing—and what your child might be feeling. Avoid court-style interrogations. Instead, share your own reading moments from childhood. Say things like, “I remember hating chapter books at first. They felt impossible.” This can reframe the conversation from performance to partnership.

If you want to better understand what early dyslexia can look like across different ages, this article on how to tell if your 8-year-old might be dyslexic can be a powerful reference. Remember, age doesn’t define the cutoff for diagnostic clarity—observation and curiosity do.

Real-World Signs You Might Notice at Home

Your child is getting older, but their reading still lags or feels unsure. At age 10, signs of possible dyslexia might include:

• Struggling to sound out new or longer words
• Frequent guesses based on pictures, not letters
• Unusual spelling—not just wrong, but inconsistent (the same word spelled two ways in one paragraph)
• Resisting writing tasks or taking much longer than peers to complete them
• A noticeable gap between verbal intelligence (they talk a lot and well) and reading ability

These aren’t definitively diagnostic, of course. But if you’re nodding your head, read this thoughtful breakdown of the early signs of dyslexia. Sometimes, seeing the signs highlighted clearly can help lift the fog of self-doubt many parents feel.

The Emotional Layer: What We Don’t Always See

Academic struggles are only half the story. The hidden cost of unidentified dyslexia is emotional. Children may internalize failure and develop anxiety around school, reading, or even sleep. A once-curious child might say, "I'm just dumb," or purposely avoid classroom participation to dodge embarrassment.

If your child seems increasingly frustrated, discouraged, or resistant around homework, reading isn’t the only thing that needs support—confidence and emotional safety do, too.

Getting Help Without Making It a Label

If you suspect dyslexia, your next step could be requesting an educational evaluation through your child’s school, or through a private educational psychologist. But even while waiting, you can begin supporting your child right now.

One of the most effective strategies is multi-sensory learning: tapping into audio, visuals, movement, and narrative. This is not about “dumbing down” content—it’s about adapting the delivery so your child can actually absorb it.

For example, if your child struggles to make sense of a history lesson on paper but loves stories, try turning the lesson into an audio adventure with them as the main character. (This is actually possible now through tools like the Skuli App, which transforms written lessons into personalized story-driven audio experiences using your child's name—a small change that can spark big engagement.)

Other families find success listening to lessons on long car rides or while doodling—where the pressure of reading disappears, and comprehension grows through listening. These alternatives aren’t shortcuts, but stepping stones to deeper confidence.

What About Gifted Children Who Struggle to Read?

Here’s something many parents don’t expect: a child who is both exceptionally bright and struggles to read can exist. In fact, twice-exceptional (2e) children—those who are both gifted and have a learning difference—are often overlooked because their strengths mask their challenges.

If your child has strong vocabulary, rich imagination, or a fascination with complex topics but can’t seem to read independently, this article on gifted 10-year-olds and appropriate educational tools might offer insight. You may also find this reflection on channeling the intensity of gifted children incredibly relatable.

Understanding your child’s unique learning profile—gifted, dyslexic, or both—isn’t about boxing them in. It’s about opening the door to the right kind of support.

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Behind, You’re Just Starting From Today

Whether your child is officially diagnosed with dyslexia or not, the most powerful thing you can do is shift from reaction to compassion. When you see reading struggles as a signal, not a verdict, everything changes.

Your child doesn’t need to “just try harder.” They need help that fits how their brain works—and encouragement that tells them they are more than a test score or reading level. And you, dear parent? You’re already doing the brave, extraordinary thing of leaning in instead of walking away.

Start there. Keep going.