Speed reading has been around for quite some time, but not without controversy.
If you are reading this then you are among the many who are searching for the truth.
Humans have always found a way to do things a lot faster and better, so it should not come as a surprise that that such an idea as speed reading exists.
As technology continues to grow and integrate with our daily lives through mobile applications, one can expect to encounter hundreds of applications that promise to help achieve one or two goals.
A quick search in an app store will reveal dozens of speed reading apps that promise all kinds of things.
So, does speed reading really work?
Let’s focus on some of the claims of speed reading and whether or not it is indeed possible to read 1,200 words a minute.
The regular speed at which we read is about 200-400 words a minute.
But speed readers have made bold claims if reading up to 1000-1700 words a minute.
I know what you are thinking, but we will try to dissect this claim as much as possible. In order to fully understand the claims regarding speed reading, let’s begin by looking at the different types there are.
Types Of Speed Reading
Speed readers supposedly spend less time fixating on a word as they read.
They are able to achieve this by reducing what is is referred to as sub vocalization.
The concept of speed reading has been around since the 1950s, but it has become even more popular in recent times, experiencing a kind of revival via mobile apps and becoming quite the buzz.
Skimming
Skimming is a very popular method that a lot of people are already familiar with.
If you have been skimming through pages, then you have been speed reading.
Although it is regarded as a speed reading method, you are not necessarily teaching yourself to read much faster.
You are basically skipping parts as you go on.
As you may already have guessed, you don’t keep much of the information you get from skimming.
Meta Guiding
This is an old speed reading technique. This involves using your finger as a pointer to guide your eyes to focusing on key words.
This technique basically helps you to focus by reducing distractions, which ultimately increases your reading speed.
Another speed reading technique involves expanding your peripheral vision, which allows you to read multiple lines all at once.
This technique trains you on focusing your vision.
Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP)
This method is employed by digital speed reading systems.
This involves flashing single words on a screen so that your focus on a single word per time.
You can speed up how fast the screen displays the words as you get used to the system.
So, Does Speed Reading Work?
To answer the question, there are possibilities of training ones self to read way faster than the average person, but speed reading at certain levels are hard to believe.
There are fewer facts to support the claims.
Even with the techniques mentioned above, you are most likely going to struggle with comprehension because you are reading the words at such a fast rate that your brain has little time to process them.