Too many students have ‘reading anxiety’. New research suggests it is triggered by problems in primary school

By Genevieve McArthur, Professor at the Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy, Australian Catholic University

Western Australian author Hamish Kelly has struggled with reading for almost two decades. In his first of two books, he describes his experience of learning to read:

The letters in words were confusing and words often looked the same […] Each year it got harder. Reading got harder and maths got twice as hard, as maths has lots of reading as well […] By year 5, I was down on myself. I felt stupid and dumb!! My Mum, Dad, and teachers told me I wasn’t, but I still…

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© The Conversation - Sunday, September 13, 2026

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