| It is an almost instinctive reaction to think that | | | | that they suffer from headaches if they read too |
| reading faster equates with comprehending less. | | | | much, for too long. If you feel these symptoms |
| Empirical evidence, however, seems to indicate | | | | may be affecting your reading abilities, it may well |
| otherwise – individuals who read at slower | | | | be worth having your eyes checked, as there is a |
| rates are just as likely not to fully comprehend | | | | chance you may be suffering from some form of |
| what they have read as those who read too fast. | | | | eye defect. |
| Consequently, trying to find an optimum between | | | | 2. Read in comfort: |
| the speed you read at and the overall | | | | Reading should be a pleasure, not a chore. If you |
| comprehension you have of the material is the | | | | make reading a chore, you will have problems |
| key to good reading skills. What follows is a brief | | | | comprehending what it is you are reading. On the |
| look at how you can try to optimize your speed | | | | other hand, don't make your reading environment |
| reading and comprehension at the same time. | | | | too laid back – you may find then that you |
| Speed and comprehension | | | | just want to go to sleep! Adapt your environment |
| It should be the goal of every individual who | | | | (for example, chair, lighting, etc.) to maximize your |
| wishes to read efficiently to understand what | | | | reading pleasure. |
| they are reading, learn from it, and then move on. | | | | 3. Reading material: |
| Reading should not be an activity which we linger | | | | It is very important that you keep in mind what |
| over. In this regard, it is generally accepted that | | | | the material is that you are reading. If you are |
| someone who can read between 250 and 300 | | | | reading the latest blockbuster novel, there's every |
| words per minute is an average reader. Those | | | | chance you can read faster, and comprehend |
| who read less than 250 words per minute are | | | | more, than would be the case if you are reading |
| slow readers. And those who read more than 500 | | | | the text book for your next exam. As such, it is |
| words per minute are speed readers. However, | | | | always useful if you keep the old adage "horses |
| there comes a point when reading too fast would | | | | for courses" in mind. |
| make you lose your comprehension. | | | | 4. Try to avoid talking (vocalization): |
| If that's the case, what should be the optimum | | | | Many of us enjoy [lip] talking (vocalizing) out the |
| speed? Only you can tell because you'll need to | | | | words of our reading material as we read it. This |
| test it out yourself and try to stretch it as much | | | | actually causes an obvious problem: we can read |
| as possible. Different people will have varying | | | | faster than we can talk! So, if you find that you |
| levels. | | | | have the habit of talking when you read, try to |
| If we accept that these reading rates are fairly | | | | cure this habit and you may well find that you |
| standard, it should be the aim of every reader to | | | | increase the speed at which you read. |
| be reading more than 500 words per minute but | | | | 5. Block-reading and re-reading: |
| at the same time, not to lose comprehension. | | | | As we grow older, we should be able to develop |
| Why is reading faster important anyhow? | | | | the skill of "block-reading". Essentially |
| The reason why it is generally considered | | | | "block-reading" means that you have the ability to |
| important to read with at least some modicum of | | | | read more than one word at a time; for example, |
| speed is because it is clear that, as is the case | | | | you can read whole paragraphs in one go. This skill |
| with a reader who reads too fast, a person who | | | | is enhanced by training your eye to broaden its |
| is reading slowly most probably does not | | | | span so as to take in more. Likewise, re-reading, |
| understanding what it is that they have read. | | | | or regressed reading as it is also known, is a habit |
| Here, it is generally accepted that a slow reader is | | | | you should try to eliminate. |
| unable to retain the information that /he has just | | | | Generally, studies indicate that readers who read |
| read in his/her memory. In other words, by the | | | | 250 words per minute (the 'average' reader) |
| time they have completed the sentence they | | | | regress/reread material on a page up to 20 times. |
| have read, they've forgotten what the beginning | | | | Essentially this regress/rereading has two major |
| of the sentence was about! | | | | faults: |
| Improving your speed: Improve your | | | | (i) it means you are not comprehending what you |
| comprehension | | | | have read the first time; and |
| Having read the above, if you believe that you | | | | (ii) it is utilizing valuable time you could be using to |
| need to increase the rate you read at, with the | | | | read more. |
| aim of furthering both your speed reading and | | | | As such, eliminating both of these habits is |
| comprehension skills, the following are 5 brief tips | | | | considered good practice. |
| to help you further your reading skills: | | | | Conclusion |
| 1. Check your eye: | | | | Developing speed reading skills at the expense of |
| One of the most commonly cited (no pun | | | | comprehension is counter-productive. Ultimately, |
| intended) reasons why people have problems | | | | the comprehension of what you are reading is |
| reading at high speed is because they either | | | | achieved not by reading fast, nor by reading |
| cannot see clearly what it is they are reading, or | | | | slowly, but by reading at your optimum speed. |