Speed Reading Tactics - What is the Relationship of Speed to Comprehension?

As someone begins the journey to learn speedthousands of words per minute. This type of
reading immediately speed takes center stage.practice requires the speed reading student to use
The learner knows something must change, andboth the vertical and horizontal axis of the sight
engages in exercises to move the eyes moreexperience. This visual approach uses what is
efficiently. This initial approach is sound up to acalled dimensional sight. All sight is dimensional in
point. However, the learner can often getthat at normal reading distances you can easily
overwhelmed and frustrated and then give up thesee the print one to three or more inches on
process and return to the old inefficient patterns.both the vertical and horizontal axis.
In this article I will put the quest for speed intoThe beginning speed reader using this approach
proper perspective.starts practicing at thousands of words per
If you have done any research on the topic ofminute. This radically different approach causes
speed reading you are probably familiar with thethe brain to shift gears and begins to engage both
most common limiting habits of inefficient fixationsthe right and left hemispheres of the brain. The
(the number of words the eye takes in for eachright hemisphere sees and perceives more globally
stop), regressions (the back-skipping of the eyes),and thus interprets in idea chunks, not merely
recovery time (the inefficiency of moving fromindividual pieces and individual words. From here,
the end of one line to the beginning of the nextthe learner gets the larger context of the
line), and subvocalization (the saying and hearing ofmaterial, and the comprehension process begins
the individual words before the mind recognizesto shift.
meaning). These inefficient habits must be brokenThe faster a reader grasps concepts and ideas,
to achieve speeds in the thousands of words perthe faster assimilation of facts, details and
minute range. Specific eye pattern exercises mustspecifics can begin. Approaching reading in this
be used to break these habits and learn moremanner dramatically and permanently changes
efficient patterns.how the reader comprehends.
The approach many programs take is to graduallyTo master speed reading takes practice and even
speed up your old linear process, that is, bymore practice. You are in fact retraining your
expanding eye span over the horizontal axisbrain and creating new neuro-networks. The
moving from left to right. They may even stretchresults I described earlier does not take place
your eye span to six or more inches across theimmediately with one try. You must re-train your
page, which is beyond the normal clear focal areabrain.
of the eyes of 1-3 inches in diameter. LittleAnother pitfall for beginning speed readers is not
attention is give to the vertical axis - seeingdifferentiating between practicing the skills and
words above and below a particular line in yourapplying the skills. Practicing should be done with
visual field. If you start your speed readinggreat intensity and to the point of overloading the
development at 250 words per minute, theybrain somewhat. Like most physical training, speed
might then stretch you 300, then 400, then 500,reading training needs to be practiced with pushing
and so on.and stretching. Call it mental conditioning. For
This approach is doomed for failure. It failsspeed reading training higher and higher speeds
because it does not use normal eye focus andare essential to success. However, after the push
because it merely speeds up what you alreadyand stretch, there needs to be time for
are doing. You may get some results, but it won'tconsolidation. When practicing speed reading, a
be the radical permanent change you seek.helpful tip is to reflect on what you have just
Eventually you will probably return to the speedsseen. Give the mind a moment to reorganize
you started with.what the eyes have seen.
Another reason that approach fails is that it keepsApplying speed reading skills means that you back
the reader using primarily the left hemisphere ofoff the full throttle that you pushed during the
the brain only. It does not adequately re-train thepractice session. If you are applying the skills
brain to see and understand print in new ways.means you want to use the skills and
Learning to perceive the material differently iscomprehend at the desired level to meet your
key to achieving lasting dramatic results. Changingpurpose. If you are well conditioned, you will see
perceptions is all about comprehension.the mind will absorb much faster. But you have
Comprehension is about your mind's interpretationcontrol over the accelerator. Remember to "play"
of the visual stimuli, or the print.with the accelerator and don't lose control when
Effective speed reading is not about seeingapplying.
"groups of words," it's about understandingIn closing, learning to speed read does require lots
thought units, groups of meaningful symbols.of proper speed training. Don't look to gradually
These meaning units may be spread acrossspeed up what you already do. Transform your
several lines, not just left-to-right. Too muchapproach. It is more effective to start with
focus on eye-span and speed of eyes is notextreme speeds and then decelerate to a level
effective reading in itself. Practicing over the samethat is more comfortable. Speed is important, but
material from slow to faster and faster passesso is comprehension. A real speed reader, when
will not change how the mind perceivesapplying the skills, does not have a sense of
comprehension. It is a misleading approach.rushing, but is fully mentally engaged with the
You can certainly train the eyes to see tens ofmaterial.