3. The Heart

How does this actually feel for a 10-year-old? The impact goes far beyond the report card.

• The Motivation Dip: Researchers call this the "Dyslexia Paradox." Reading failure often starts early, but it isn't identified until late childhood. By the time they get help, many children have already internalized the idea that "I'm just not good at school" (Sanfilippo et al., 2020).

• The "Knowledge Gap": Because reading is laborious, these children naturally read less than their peers. Over time, this creates a gap in general knowledge a phenomenon researchers call the "Matthew Effect" (Adlof & Hogan, 2018).

• The Need for Belonging: Most importantly, children at this age are keenly aware of how they compare to friends. Studies show that "School Connectedness" (feeling like they fit in) is a huge predictor of mental health. The daily stress of "hiding" their difficulties can lead to anxiety or school refusal (Wilmot et al., 2024).