Stephanie Hobson

Reading is a complicated task. It requires active memory, sustained attention, and a complex understanding of language.

Cognitive disabilities can make reading even more complicated. Permanent conditions, like dyslexia, situational conditions, like learning an additional language, and temporary conditions, like reading in a noisy room, affect a reader’s comprehension.

Conditions like these can affect our readers’ understanding by interfering with their attention, memory, or linguistic comprehension. Three practical things we can do to help are:

• Choose our language intentionally.
• Structure our content well.
• Use media thoughtfully.