I'm still pretty new to this all. I have begun my Masters program and have tried something that seems to be working for me.

One of my main problems is that it is almost impossible for me to read things that I am not interested in. I start falling asleep within 5-10 minutes and it is a major struggle for me.

So, I had an idea (and hyperfocused until I got it to work). :o)

I configured Text-to-Speech (TTS) software on my computer. My classes are taken online, and most of our reading material is online. So, what I do is READ ALONG with the TTS software!

This may sound stupid, but for me, it really helps. I always read aloud in my head anyway, so with this I am HEARING it, READING it, and SEEING it ("it" being the text).

So far, I am able to read the required texts and have not fallen asleep on my computer! :o) Also, I seem to comprehend what I've read a bit better. I am still working on it all, but for me it seems to be a step in the right direction.

Meds help a lot too! But I am without meds until July 1 when my insurance kicks back in...

Hope this helps someone!

Brent

I have had problems with reading since late grammar school and it is as you say--I just can't read something I'm not interested in.

One thing I did learn to do when I started college that I still do today at age 57. If I am reading a long passage and it is allowable for me to underline in the book I'm reading, I will underline main ideas for nearly every paragraph. This saves me the trouble of having to find my place before starting back at reading. It also helps me to focus as I determine where the main idea is stated. In the end, I have all the most important parts of the chapter underlined by exam time so review is simplified as I only need to re-read the parts that are underlined.

I could write a small book on reading struggles I have dealt with in the past.

when reading text in a book, the only way i can read it is if i bookmark underneath each sentence. that way i wont know where the end of the paragraph is. very good tip there.

Great idea Perlguy and I am glad it is working out for you. And nothing sounds weird as long as it works for you.

Someone also told me that in reading text material that it may help if you get the colored transparencies and put them on top of the text. I personally have not done it yet, but it has something to do with the color working for you and makes it easier to read.

Dear Perlguy,

I have been working on my undergrad degree now for 27 years. But this year is different. I had my diagnosis of add and reading l.d. documented and now I qualify for free books on tape through my university. I give my class list to the disabilities office and they procure my textbook tapes (or cd's). I have been learning the process by getting books on tape at the library along with the book, so far for a few classics I missed when I was younger. It is amazing how much more I get from a story by reading and listening at the same time. I am looking forward to this semester to try it out with the textbooks. This has always been my downfall, reading and falling asleep and falling behind...

A co-worker of mine is getting a masters for reading in elementary education. I confided in her my dilema, she discussed it with her classmates and instructor and then she gave me some suggestions:

#1) read, read, read.
#2) do a word a day - i am on a listserv for this).
#3) write down words you don't know and pull out a dictionary. discover their meaning and their origin.
#4) do crosswords or word searches.
#5) limit distractions-turn off the computer,turn off the stereo, turn off the t.v., go to the library.
#6) figure out what lighting works best-natural vs. bright light vs. dim low light.
#7) sit up straight, no lounging (I have found I read best at a table that is mid chest height so I can rest the open book upon it and have pencil and paper handy).

I once went to a reading coach who also suggested the colored film, and this works for me when the type is small and tightly spaced, and when the film is light green.

Kepp us posted on you trials and tribulations, I am keenly interested!

Good Luck.

:cool: sneekkers:cool:

colored film? why lightly green? why is green the same color chosen most often as favorite of geniuss? why is green the most common in nature? Hmmm, I wonder if there is some sort of genetic evolution and relevance to the color green, and therefor possibly sky blue? uh oh, my meds must be wearing off I am going off on tangent again....:)

but, personally I like earplugs and classical music just loud enough to come through the ear plugs.

the music helps keep away that annoying buzzing that comes from ????? what your mind working ????? bad hearing ????? residual electrical activity ????? no clue, anyone know ?????

After reading about the colored film suggestion I tried it and I think it does help hold my attention better, just because it makes the page itself more interesting to look at. I think the best one for me is a light blue, just because I like the color. I read somewhere that among learning disabled children blue transparencies reduced the reading rate and improved comprehension, and that other colors could help make reading seem more interesting but didn't have any other effects.

There are quite a few useful ideas here that I've never heard of or considered. The colored film suggestion is interesting and I would like to give it a try. What type of film is this and where can I buy some? Thanks for the thread!

I just bought some colored transparent dividers (like for a 3-ring binder) at OfficeMax to try it out. I guess I could buy something more high-tech but I don't see a reason to and wouldn't know where to get something like that anyways.