At 36 years old, academically and professional “accomplished,” I still struggle with reading. When I take time to read, I’ve noticed several things: my eyes tend to move faster than I am comprehending, I’m not reading each word and seem to be skipping forward a few words at a time, and I often will finish a paragraph or even a page, and will have not comprehend a thing, requiring that I re-read over and over.
I’ve always struggled with reading in general. I grew up in a poor education system, and when we moved for better education when I was in 5th grade, it was clear I was way behind when compared to my peers.
The most efficient I ever got with reading and comprehension, was in grad school. PA school required ingesting an enormous amounts of detailed information at a dizzying pace, yet it was sink or swim.
What advice, tips, or processes do you recommend in improving reading and comprehension as a whole? I think the general answer would be:, keep reading and then, read some more. I’m just curious if anyone has had similar struggles as an adult and how did you improve?
Perhaps, like many, I have developed a short attention span due to all the apps and technologies we have at our fingertips vying for our attention.
Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated as I really want to improve! Thank you all!
by ma5ter_of_n0ne
5 Comments
What’s helped me more fully grasp what I was reading was to actually “say” the words in my head, as if I was reading them aloud. I read slower, but I feel I comprehend and retain more
You could try listening to the audio book version and follow along with the physical book.
Read out loud. That helped me get a better grasp of the Bible. I used to just read it to get through it but couldn’t recall what I had read. Reading it out loud made it stick.
I Google every single word I don’t know. I give myself permission to reread if I realize I haven’t been paying enough attention. I read what I enjoy without regard to whether others would think it’s the right thing to read, and stop reading a book that I hate no matter what point I’m at in it.
>I’ve noticed several things: my eyes tend to move faster than I am comprehending, I’m not reading each word and seem to be skipping forward a few words at a time, and I often will finish a paragraph or even a page, and will have not comprehend a thing, requiring that I re-read over and over.
This really sounds like a description of anxiety to me, maybe it’s have nothing to do with reading per se