What I mean by speed read is that you can read groups of words blocked together as opposed to reading each word one by one. Also without sub-vocalizing the words in your mind silently while reading groups or blocks of words.

I am having a hard time stopping the sub-vocalization part. Any advice?

I can speed read for content but not for pleasure.

In my case, I developed it out of "skimming" text.

I can locate information that I am interested in very quickly. I can skim paragraphs and pinpoint the information that I am interested in. I don't subvocalize what I am reading in that case. I am very good at reading manuals (especially if I am farmilliar with the type of device in question). Anything that I have to read word for word, though, I don't comprehend very well.

Reading in this way was a skill that I developed. It takes practice.

It has been said that people with ADHD/Dyslexia tend to have better speed reading skills than NT's. I would say that it is an acquired trait.

I took the Evelyn Woods course 30 + years ago and actually still have my notes...lol.

I could do it a little bit but what really helped me at that time was going on meds for the first time.

Sorry nocturnal, that's a skill I haven't been able to master. I tend to do more one word at at time rather than chunks and also tend to subvocalize (i.e. read aloud in my head) - actually just noticed that I'm doing that now as I type too. Heh! :)

~~bythesea

Heh. Reading speed is regulated by how fast your memory recall works. Now with all of these focus improvements I think it is possible to learn to speed read. And yes my curse of a memory lets me lock in up to 2 pages of material and then recite them back word for word. ****es people off so I try to avoid it.

I'd have never made it to highschool, let alone through college if I couldn't speed read. Compensation technique I suppose, kind of came naturally to me at a young age.

Only when I'm on meds...otherwise my eyes just scan the words and I take barely anything in because my mind is elsewhere.

If I don't sub-vocalize I can't remember anything i read...if Im really reading it at all. Saying it to myself is the only way I can block out most of the other thoughts going on so I can actually retain what im reading.

how to stop subvocalizing? TRUST YOURSELF. That was a hard one for me, to break the habit of believing that I had to "say" the word in order to know it or remember it. Just trust that the words and information are going into your brain. Through the eyes, into the brain.

Just had an argument with my DH about this. I am a self taught speed reader and can consume a book much more quickly than my DH. He claims that it is impossible for me to read a book that fast and actually enjoy it. I think I can be the judge of that! :p

I can't help with the subvocaliztion problem, here is a link that might...
http://www.ababasoft.com/subvocalization/subvocalization_elimination.html