What can I do to help my son....

So my son is 10 years old in the 5th grade this year. He has always somewhat struggled in school. Especially in reading and writing.

Today, as we are in virtual school, he asked for help with a math problem. The question was “If you add together an even number and odd number, would the answer be even or odd?” His response was “5+4”. Now, I get where he was going but it’s like he didn’t really read the question and answer it the way should’ve been answered. This has been an issue that I’ve noticed since about...2nd grade maybe? where he’ll like half read the question or not really understand it and just give any answer. It’s like his reading comprehension is lacking. If affects him in every subject because as he’s moving up in grade levels, the work tends to be involve more reading and word problems.

What can I do to help him? Have any of your children experienced a similar problem?