ADHD and reading

[Assumption]

Originally Posted by ana futura

Other times it drifts to some tangent inspired by the reading, but I'll keep on reading, then a few seconds later realize my eyes are drifting over the words, but I'm thinking about something else entirely. It is a very weird feeling.

That's exactly what I get! Also when listening to people. Sometimes the tangent is very tangential, and sometimes it's relevant to what I'm reading, but either way it prevents me from absorbing any new information (often it also results in me googling on impulse, if I'd been working at a computer).

[Michiko74]

For me, retaining anything I read was a HUGE issue for me. Prior to medication, it was a struggle to try to retain anything I read. Imagine trying to do homework when you're reading something twenty times! Now it's true the learning disability has something to do with it. But I know that medication also helped me focus long enough to remember what I read!

[Assumption]

I just remembered another random thing. Every night before bed, I read Sylvie a bed time story. I've discovered that I'm actually quite capable of reading to her without taking any of it in. I know I'm reading it fine because SHE knows what's happening, but I have no memory of what I just read out loud

[MentalNomad]

Originally Posted by Michiko74

For me, retaining anything I read was a HUGE issue for me. Prior to medication, it was a struggle to try to retain anything I read. Imagine trying to do homework when you're reading something twenty times! Now it's true the learning disability has something to do with it. But I know that medication also helped me focus long enough to remember what I read!

That's just it, I'm not sure I have an officially classified learning disability aside from ADHD (I believe it is classified as one, not sure), or if crushing depression and anxiety are the main roots of my learning issues (or some other unknown psychiatric problem), or if there are hormonal complications affecting my working memory, which in turn affect reading ability. I've been thinking of dropping out of school because of poor mental functioning, but I have no other source of income aside from student loans.

[ana futura]

I pesronally don't find medication to help at all with reading. It helps with a lot of other things- like not putting off my reading until the night before class. As far as the actual act of reading, it doesn't help at all.

I've never had a problem retaining what I've read, provided I make an effort to engage the material when I'm reading, which means rereading sections, underlining, and taking notes. Actually, I think I engage the material more when unmedicated. It's easier for me to discuss things in class when I've done the reading without meds.

[fracturedstory]

I read so damn fast on medication. I was reading out loud once and I sounded like a tape on fast forward. And I still retained the information.
I was diagnosed with a learning disorder before ADHD so parents and teachers have always known of my issues. It took a while for me to become aware of them.
It's an immediate processing issue with me. Sometimes I read a sentence and I just don't register it. Have to read over it, blink, and let it soak in for awhile.

[MentalNomad]

I think for me, the issue largely boils down to a very significant working memory impairment. Or maybe my ability to make inferences isn't as honed as it should be.

All of my reading comprehension test scores were high enough (near perfect) that every adviser I had commented on them, one asked "do you read a lot of books"? I wasn't sure how to respond to that, I wasted much of my youth reading puerile fiction, or random medical journals, and I've heard that general knowledge aids in reading, which I probably lack at least to some degree.

Another possibility is "poor instruction" which was claimed as having a possible impact on reading normally. I find that relevant because I was home-schooled for a number of years and since leaving that I still haven't bounced back to a normalized education. I don't know, all this might take me back to the "it's ADHD" signpost, whether as a direct or indirect affect on certain impairments I have.

[Vector]

Originally Posted by MentalNomad

All of my reading comprehension test scores were high enough (near perfect) that every adviser I had commented on them, one asked "do you read a lot of books"? I wasn't sure how to respond to that, I wasted much of my youth reading puerile fiction, or random medical journals, and I've heard that general knowledge aids in reading, which I probably lack at least to some degree.

Another possiblity is that you are having reading problems because you are striving for perfect comprehension. Maybe if you loosen up while reading your reading will become more efficient.

People who are reading fast and well have their brain in alpha modus. Beta is the mind mode in full alertness and Alfa is somewhat more relaxed. In alfa modus, more reading relavant brain areas are able to work effecient together. It got something to do with not only using your left but also your right hemisphere.

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by MentalNomad

I think for me, the issue largely boils down to a very significant working memory impairment. Or maybe my ability to make inferences isn't as honed as it should be.

Have you tried an active reading style? Taking notes, debating the author, underlining? When I read I don't just want to "absorb" information, I want to form a critique of it. When I read in a critical way, I retain far more of what I've read.

All of my reading comprehension test scores were high enough (near perfect) that every adviser I had commented on them, one asked "do you read a lot of books"? I wasn't sure how to respond to that, I wasted much of my youth reading puerile fiction, or random medical journals, and I've heard that general knowledge aids in reading, which I probably lack at least to some degree.

It sounds like your issues are a lot like mine. In which case, your reading comprehension score is worthless, unless it's timed. I always have very high reading comprehension scores. On tests like those, you only have to retain information long enough to take the test, you don't have to engage the information presented in a critical manner, which means you likely won't retain the information after the initial test.

It sounds to me like what you want to work on is speed and engaging the material in a manner which helps you retain it. Note taking will help immensely with retention. Good luck with improving your speed and retention at the same time, it won't happen.

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by fracturedstory

I read so damn fast on medication. I was reading out loud once and I sounded like a tape on fast forward. And I still retained the information.

I did have a couple awesome reading experiences on IR dexedrine. My brain just worked perfectly. I could retain everything, engage it critically, and read at a good pace.

Unfortunately, while I do think Dexedrine is the best for me academically and socially, it started making me a little manic and I really couldn't take it daily. MPH seems to be a much better choice for daily use, and I've finally come to terms with the fact that I do need to take something daily. I had a horrid social melt down unmedicated and that was it.

Ritalin sucks for reading though, at least the kind of reading I need to do. I can't read critically on it at all. I feel like the anti-ritalin poster girl- a fuzzy blank space above my head where my critical thinking light bulb should be.

[Slapstick]

Does anyone ever get headaches due to delayed gratification while reading?

For example, I attempt to read reviews of a new cell phone on CNET.com or a news story at the New York Times website (content that does interest me), and I get very anxious because instead of having to plow through chunks of text, I just want to know it all RIGHT NOW. The anxiety builds up and very quickly, I my temples hurt.

[Conman]

Originally Posted by Spacemaster

I'm a reading machine, when it comes to leisure reading. I've always had a reading level that was far above my age level. My kindergarten teacher gave me special advanced material for me to work on at home. My mom has a copy of an early report card, gushing on how amazing I was at reading.

Absorption of text book details is horrible. I can thoroughly read a chapter in a textbook, multiple times, and still not remember the key points.

Unless the subject is really interesting, I can read a whole chapter, and it was like I didn't retain one single bit of it.

agreed Spacemaster. as a kid i dont think my teachers noted me being advanced or ahead of the curve until i was in about 4th grade (and it started cuz of a funny story where i proved my history teacher wrong, ask later), but as a kid i liked reading but was too excited and active to do it independently until 5th grade, which is when i started medication, gee what a coincidence! but i do read unmedicated too, just need the background noise more so than when medicated. most my report cards from my youngblood years were good except the parts about paying attention, getting on task, being distracting, etc.

i find textbook reading somewhat difficult depending on the subject and how the class is worked. like in AP Bio our tests and homework were more on the notes we took from either the parts of the chapter assigned in the lethal weapon of a book, and the notes from powerpoints. we only used the book for actual homework things as in note taking, then we did powerpoint notes.

but reading my chem book now i find was harder whilst unmedicated (i read it over the weekend). although the current chapter is also intro to quantum so it was kinda hard either way (although im already somewhat knowledged since i read hawkman's book). i mostly go back to the chem book after i read the chapter to see the vocab, the equations and formulas, and sample problems where they show how to get the solutions.

on the other hand when it came to world history h, us history ap, psych ap, and other social studies classes from earlier than highschool i find reading those textbooks easier because theyre not as complex or intricate.

im just curious, since im not reading the past 3 pages to see if more people posted about casual reading, but is there any one single genre, literary aspect, or type of story that seems to be commonly liked/enjoyed by people with AD/HD (like people on this thread who enjoy casual reading)?

[MentalNomad]

Originally Posted by ana futura

Have you tried an active reading style? Taking notes, debating the author, underlining? When I read I don't just want to "absorb" information, I want to form a critique of it. When I read in a critical way, I retain far more of what I've read.

It sounds like your issues are a lot like mine. In which case, your reading comprehension score is worthless, unless it's timed. I always have very high reading comprehension scores. On tests like those, you only have to retain information long enough to take the test, you don't have to engage the information presented in a critical manner, which means you likely won't retain the information after the initial test.

It sounds to me like what you want to work on is speed and engaging the material in a manner which helps you retain it. Note taking will help immensely with retention. Good luck with improving your speed and retention at the same time, it won't happen.

I remember I took an active reading style, taking notes etc, and I actually scored worse on the following exam than on my prior ones, in that particular class. I'm sure my study skills could be refined, though.

As far as reading tests are concerned, the ones on the ACT/SAT are timed, as you are only allowed so much time to complete each section. The test I took for college was a critical reading assessment, but that was not timed. I agree, though, that those tests don't confirm long-term retention.

I guess I should have clarified, my main concern is short-term retention and comprehension (the two are linked, but I believe there are other issues as well that affect my level of comprehension). Of course, long-term retention is also a concern of mine.

[ana futura]

Originally Posted by MentalNomad

I guess I should have clarified, my main concern is short-term retention and comprehension (the two are linked, but I believe there are other issues as well that affect my level of comprehension). Of course, long-term retention is also a concern of mine.

Yes, I think I'm forgetting what life was like for me as undergrad- my reading style was quite different. I just read in a rote memorization manner, scanning quickly and going for the important facts, which is different than what I do now. In graduate school long term retention is far more important.

I'm not sure my old approach worked either, as I got through my undergraduate on my powers of BS'ing. I never took the SAT's, I went to community college after my second year of HS, so I skipped a lot of that agonizing memorization that holds so many of us back. I'm lucky I finished school when I did, I think my memorization ability has noticeably deteriorated over the years. My spelling has also gotten horrible, it used to be great.

As far as long term retension and working at a graduate level, an active reading style is very important. For undergraduate I could see how your concerns would be different. It sounds like maybe your natural style is closer to what one would do for graduate school, but you really just need to get the information in and out quickly.

I could see how pouring over every detail is really getting in your way, while I think that style is actually beneficial for me (aside from the time aspect). Have you tried something like Kava or lemon balm to reduce your anxiety?

[MentalNomad]

Originally Posted by ana futura

Yes, I think I'm forgetting what life was like for me as undergrad- my reading style was quite different. I just read in a rote memorization manner, scanning quickly and going for the important facts, which is different than what I do now. In graduate school long term retention is far more important.

I'm not sure my old approach worked either, as I got through my undergraduate on my powers of BS'ing. I never took the SAT's, I went to community college after my second year of HS, so I skipped a lot of that agonizing memorization that holds so many of us back. I'm lucky I finished school when I did, I think my memorization ability has noticeably deteriorated over the years. My spelling has also gotten horrible, it used to be great.

As far as long term retension and working at a graduate level, an active reading style is very important. For undergraduate I could see how your concerns would be different. It sounds like maybe your natural style is closer to what one would do for graduate school, but you really just need to get the information in and out quickly.

I could see how pouring over every detail is really getting in your way, while I think that style is actually beneficial for me (aside from the time aspect). Have you tried something like Kava or lemon balm to reduce your anxiety?

I think Kava has been associated with liver damage, and I've been on medications for anxiety that hardly dampened the affects of anxiety, accept Klonopin, and 0.5mgs of that made me very forgetful.

Aside from that, I remember I would agonize over the exact meaning of a sentence or paragraph when I was a child, so this issue has become a habit of mine. But, I find my reading is more fluid when it is a topic I am engaged in (naturally), but the deficit is still there, whether in potentially irrational doubt towards the meaning of the text, or a time-sink of thought circling.

What is interesting is that I have noticed linguistic deficits in myself, from repetition of words and stilted language, to overall poor verbal memory, the latter could be hormonal, so I'm not sure.