Does anyone else have problems reading??

I know how to read... but only half way. When it comes to most textbooks, when I get done with the page I realize I didn't take in a single word. The only thing that seems to help is reading out loud (anyone else like that?).

The problem with that is nowhere to read. If I'm laying down on my stomach, I have to rest my head with my arms which makes it hard to read out loud. reading on my bed makes it a lot easier but I get tired after about 15 minutes and feel like I HAVE to sleep.

Another problem is the glare on the pages. For w/e reason this distracts the hell out of me. If the light is too bright, The pages have glare on them so it helps to read early in the morning or later in afternoon where it's more dim.

I've never been diagnosed with A.D.D but I may have it...maybe? I've read/heard a lot about A.D.D being 100% mental and just being a the persons personality/lack of discipline to concentrate. 9/10 times I sit down to read... I can't concentrate and have to read each page 2-4 times before I understand what the hell I'm reading....YET... I can read large stories on screen without being distracted/ having problems comprehending the text. wtf? I can also play games or w/e without being distracted. Apparently my "A.D.D" has a mind of its own.

Does anyone have my problem? Any suggestions to help concentrate? I'm just really getting stressed the **** out trying to read this A+ book. I'm really having problems learning from a text book...

:?:(:mad::think::dead:

Do you get distracted from other things? doing multiple things at once when you only need to do 1 right now?

I know i have ADD, if someone is clicking a pencil, sniffling etc i will make obvious mistakes on tests that require work. I have to read at night (11 pm or later) just so i dont hear my parents working.

I've been diagnosed with ADD and have been given medication for it, but ive only taken it a few times, and it doesnt really help me.

hey greco

i have add also and i take ritalin for it i dont belive its a mental thing but some people overcome it but that doesnt make it a mental thing
i never actually had a problem reading i learned how to read in pre kindergarten so i bet thats why but i know what u mean about textbooks if there was like a hardware book i woudlnt have a problem with it but stuff im not intrested in i find alot harder to read also im constantly doing soemthing like ill ocnstantly by like playing with my hands or like messin w/ sumtin (i hope noone finds that creepy) also i dont shut the hell up lol

but yeah go to a nueroligist and see if u can do sumtin about it

also ive went thru like 20 different meds and different dosages of them it almost seems that like over time they were off and dont work anymore but my mom doesnt believe me so like after like a year the stuff doesnt work anymore and then my mom doesnt like actually listen to me telling her that it doesnt work until like a teachers says i forgot to do sumtin for class then its diffrent which pisses me off

I have dyslexia, just bad enough for it to mess me up while not expecting it. I'll swap a paragraph around or spontaneously start skimming over text and not take any of it in. I just can't really recall anything right and am too stressed for school as it is, but I'm not throwing away the money I've invested in this semester, and I don't feel like doing all this stuff all over again, to hell with that.

To the reading, go slow and take in what you can. You can only try your best. Taking notes while you go, with a pad and pen right there by you can help out alot. It takes almost double the time but it helps me to get atleast some of what I read. I can't seem to remember much of anything if I don't write it down. If I write it though, its pretty much logged in my brain some where.

I do think something happened sometime in the last year or two because my memory has seriously been failing me. To the point of not knowing much of anything short term. Because my heart was crushed, they were worried about something happening with my brain not getting enough blood and such. Maybe something happened, who knows. The doctor's can't figure any of that out because I didn't tell them about what was wrong with me soon enough. They just said to keep track of it and see if it gets worse. I don't know.





To Ryo, don't give up. I am telling you from experience. I was having health issues at the times that i gave up but...here's a short "story".

I was at the top of my classes and got sick right at the last few weeks. I missed alot because of it. (because of my heart). I could have gone back in for the last week, took the final and still gotten a passing grade. I felt like I just failed so I dropped out. This happened two semesters. Had I just not given up I would've gotten a B in most of my classes it turns out, even with all the stuff I missed. For the most part, if you show up, do your homework, and atleast try your best on tests and stuff. There really isn't much of a way to fail. Unless you try to just not care or fail, or just give up on yourself. The biggest thing is to never miss a class that you could be there. It just snowballs and thats when you get caught up and stressed.


Just a few hints/things I went through that maybe I could help someone with somehow. The biggest thing is to not give up. Whether it be for school, or just trying to get through a page in a book.

Just don't give up on yourself, or you will only be there moping by yourself.
One lesson I learned.

Thanks for the bit of motivation. I'm not giving up, the only way I'll quit is by going insane or dying, and I'm not planning on either. I dropped my Algebra class because once a week from 6:00-8:40pm wasn't working out at all, I also dropped my one online class because none of the work made sense and the wobsite they had it on was awful. Writing's annoying, but it is what it is... at least I'm learning how to write, eh? High school they never did focus on writing, just reading books that were really disturbing.

But yeah, I'm a work in progress myself.

When I read, I have to turn everything off and close the windows because even a car driving by will set me off track. I usually end up cleaning my room because I get stressed when things aren't organized around me.

I'm constantly doing more than one thing at a time in a sense... Perhaps that's why I don't notice the A.D.D while playing games if I do have it?

More often than not, I will realize for the last few pages, I've been thinking about something else. I'm not sure if that is just stress or part of the A.D.D?

Just for a real life example, I tried reading tonight and ended up building a temporary reading place only to "read" 2 pages.

At first I just had the book and a stand I rigged up and was laying up against a wall.

I was uncomfortable and decided to lay down... I got a large speaker box that has strange angles and propped it on a box so the speaker box had a large flat surface for my back... then put the z-5500 box on top for my upper back and head.

My head wasn't forward enough so I got a pillow

My feet weren't stable enough on the carpet so I layed down

The carpet felt weird against my skin after a couple minutes since I was in boxers and a shirt so I got a sheet and 2 extra pillows.

I got situated and read 2 pages or so, then got tired.

i have the same thing greco101, its a LD (learning disability). i can read a book but it doesn't really sink in unless i like what its talking about. i also suck and getting the ideas and such outta my head to paper/pc properly, which explains my common spelling and grammar mishaps. i also have ADHD and use to take Ritalin but changed to concerta (millatary stuff :):) and 3 bucks a pill, well thats the MSRP) its has a way better release system so you get a nice steady flow of Ritalin instead of a burst. but i don't take it anymore as i don't really need it.

****, bits of what some of you guys have is starting to sound a bit like me..
Anyways Greco, my dad is a teacher and we works mostly with dyslexia, autism, ADD and that kinda stuff. One of the things he does to help kids reading is to get a sheet of paper or card and cut a rectangular hole in it just the right size to see one line of the book, he says it helps focus them or something like that.
So give it a try it might help a bit.

I mysaelf have a form of autisdm. I only actually read the first 3 sentences though.

What's going on is no disorder or anything. It's simply a lack of focus. Here's an example.

I'm reading an A+ book too. However, since I know most of what's in it, I'm skimming what I know and reading word-for-word what I don't. Some of it is interesting, MOST IS NOT. The way textbooks and reference books are written is very to-the-point and dry. Now, I have a great book that tells why your brain doesn't learn that, and that would be "Head First: Java". Java isn't a fun subject to learn by reading. I read 20 pages of Sun's Online Tutorial and learned NOTHING. The first chapter of Head First: Java explains why.

Your brain doesn't take to things it thinks aren't important. You may think it's important, and really want to learn it, but your brain thinks differently. If you had to fight a tiger, your brain would remember what you did. If you read a chapter in your A+ book, your brain would leave the space for something more important. Head First: Java counters this by making things fun, interesting, and giving stories for examples that help things stick. Since the A+ book doesn't, it just means you'll need to reread, do the quizes at the end of the chapters, and reread again. Simple as that. My suggestion is read before you go to sleep; science has proven this to help you remember better. It's what I'm doing with both books, and trust me, it works.

Right now one of the things I'm having a problem with is doing stuff I know is important. I know that doing this writing project is real important, but I can't figure out how in hell to write good... at least not in the same way as the class requires it. My instructor said to write it as if I'm saying it. The problem is, I don't talk much, I don't know how I say things. So yeah, I'm in a bind... that and on this contrast paper I should've done a couple things I really know: video games, not contrasting a couple restaurants... oh well. I haven't been playing any games at all lately as I'm bored with what I have.

From what you've all said I think that I might have ADD aswell. If there's something that I'm really interested in I can learn about it really quickly, but when it coems to something that I completely hate, I can't concentrate for a single minute on it. A lot of the time it feels like not a word has sunken in, but I seem to get good grades. That glare is really annoying, anything distracts me, I always get into trouble for talking at school and it's reallly annoying. I hate noises what people make, like when they're eating or something, or if I see a little mark on a fork or something, I can't eat from it. I have to read To Kill a Mockingbird for school and I just can't. Reading in bed helps, but I fall asleep aswell. I know how it feels.

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oh well. I haven't been playing any games at all lately as I'm bored with what I have.

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same here

That and the one game I want to play won't [Censored for jd's sake]ing play because Steam is made by Nazis that want me to go insane. Stupid Dark Messiah won't run at all. I'd start a thread about it but I'm too tired, hungry, and near insane to care. I'd reinstall it but it took six hours to download the updates before I could play, so screw that. I miss my mad 1337 ability to sneak around and take those guys out by throwing a shovel at them... ah well.

I find music helps while doing work, I listen to music and ignore everything else around me. It's quite helpful until people decide my odd musical tastes are too much for their little walnut sized brains.

Classical music is supposed to help people concentrate, but normal music helps me a bit. Not tried classical though, the closest I've ever come to classical is the Halo soundtrack.

Also I hate MSN, but love it at the same time, I don't know if that's a problem for anyone else

Classical is nice and all, but I prefer the metal and whatever else I listen to... I enjoy it more.

I think I'm turning this into an IM chat... lol. I don't like MSN much, it's too limited. I use Pidgin for my IM needs, all-in-one clients ftw!

yeah i have the same problem. i just tend to put on some sound dampening headphones or ear buds and blast up some classical music and then read on a hammock(is that how you spell it?) outside. but then again sometimes i tend to fall asleep and wake up with a book on my face or on my chest.

Greco, I just reed your first post, but don remember anything of it... :D
Seriously, for myself, I always try to build some cartoons in my head. It help me figure out what I'm reading (specially in english) and you always remember cartoons... :)

Mal, that was an interesting bit of information. Perhaps that's why I think I'm not concentrating? I test myself as I read and see if I can repeat what I just read and I usually can't so I reread it.

...and reread it.

I really wish they would make a video instead of a book. I would 3x more for an instructional DVD that covers everything in the A+ book just because I know I'd remember it all. I can watch an episode of south park or family guy and have it down verbatim by the 2nd time around (which sucks because I can only watch a movie or show 1 or 2 times).

I don't think the music will help make me concentrate but I'm going to try reading at night and visualizing the text as cartoons. I'm also going to try the rectangle cutout too.

Thanks guys

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Originally Posted by xRyokenx

Right now one of the things I'm having a problem with is doing stuff I know is important. I know that doing this writing project is real important, but I can't figure out how in hell to write good... at least not in the same way as the class requires it.

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I was the same way throughout school. I was always in advanced math from 1st grade, up, but when it came to writing I was always on the "re-do chart." Part of it I'm pretty sure was because the teachers hated me because I was a little **** in school until later in HS because they'd always give me a 2+ instead of a 3- which was needed to pass lol. 9th and 10th I was constantly failing at writing then for whatever reason 11th I was typically the highest in the class, or tied with someone else. I'd have to say the thing that helped me with writing most was having a more open structure. In earlier years of HS they'd MAKE YOU stick to a certain outline... If you had more than 5 sentences in a paragraph, you fail.(Is this what you meant by, "at least not in the same way as the class requires.")? It was ridiculous...

on a side note... my spelling has always sucked.


Blebbz

I'm not going to encourage cheating or taking shortcuts, but there is a movie if you need help recapping after you've read. Be warned that you can not substitute one for the other though because the tests will definitely be based on questions from details that were in the book only. Don't do the whole sparknotes thing either. I was constantly trying to find shortcuts through school and to be 100% honest, I regret every one of them.

They always taught me wrong. ALWAYS. I had no friends throughout school and still don't have any. I have one friend whom I think I'm slowly driving away. My life is hell right now and school is becoming more and more difficult for me. I really do think I should've taken a year off, but I had forgotten to and my parents keep shoving me forward even though it looks like there's a real nasty cliff right up the road... and I forgot my parachute.

I do pretty well at school, and I'm aiming for an A in every GCSE apart from french and RE (catholic school), which I want a B in, but I always get treated like *insert profanity* by the teachers, because their lessons bore the *insert profanity* outta me. I understand what they are trying to teach in the first five minutes, but after twenty minutes we end up going over the same thing, and I end up getting sent to another class for not listening. I got moved down a from top set in english just after we did mock, mock exams. She said that I was'nt taking in anything what she was teaching and that I needed to go at a slower pace, then I got the results and I got an A*. People complained to her (including teachers) and I got moved back up so that I could be "pushed". But I hate the reading part!

Don't feel bad you're not the only one. .I can read and retain the information I've read just fine, but when it comes to writing about what I've read I tend to scramble the details the end becomes the beginning. .kinda like Pulp Fiction :D

wow this has turned into an LD thread, so i might as well add some more complaints about my brain.

I have HORRIBLE memory, if you randomly asked me to walk away from my computer then name 5 users that goto tbcs, i'd get to 3 and struggle for a good 15 mins, then get to 4 and quit.

Math is the WORST subject for me, ill understand and memorize 1/3 of the steps and then just completely loose the concept of the rest. the only reason i can keep up a C+ in it, is because i try to do my work and dont just blow it off...

the sad thing is, im considered a "smart" kid by my parents and other students, which means kids just dont try anymore.

After middle school, they should place kids into career based schools, instead of the general knowledge ones we have today. Everyone does better in fields they enjoy and do at home. Do we really need to know the history of literature in america? chemistry? high level math?

not unless it pertains to your career field. Sure sure people say you may need it if you change jobs.

What are the odds that im going to change out of the computer field (which all of my electives are) into american literature? basically 0.

Im not complaining about the fact that its difficult to learn, but the fact we are learning subjects we will probably NEVER use.

(wow i got kinda off topic)

I agree with you 100% D1337... it's almost always "use it or lose it" when it comes to knowledge. Memorizing information for a grade is a huge waste of time when you could be building knowledge for your field of interest at an early age. I really wish career schools existed and were and option for highschoolers that know what they're interested in... maybe even have an employment plan through the school after graduation like ITT??

If only... I'd be employed right now with my dream job.

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Originally Posted by .Maleficus.

Your brain doesn't take to things it thinks aren't important. You may think it's important, and really want to learn it, but your brain thinks differently.

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I totally agree with this.. the only way I can remember things from technical manuals and text books is if I can actually attempt them on my own.

Sometimes I'll have to hear a phone number 10 times, and still forget it. Then out of the blue, I'll say something like "tell me that number now, and I wont forget it." And I wont! I have to WANT to learn something before I can actually grasp it. :)

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Originally Posted by Luke122

I have to WANT to learn something before I can actually grasp it. :)

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Same thing here a lot of the time. If I stop caring about it as it still doesn't make sense it'll just flow right around me. I learned that from AP Calc at the end of the day, ugh.

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Originally Posted by D1337

After middle school, they should place kids into career based schools, instead of the general knowledge ones we have today. Everyone does better in fields they enjoy and do at home. Do we really need to know the history of literature in america? chemistry? high level math?

not unless it pertains to your career field. Sure sure people say you may need it if you change jobs.

(wow i got kinda off topic)

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I totally agree. In the UK we do get some choice in subjects, we can choose 1 out of 2 technology subjects (Electronics, Product Design, Food, Textiles), and 2 other subjects (Geography, Information Technology, Physical Education, Music, Drama, Art) but these are compulsory for the first 3 years of high school, which I think is a bit of a waste, but on the other hand, I feel that an age of 11 or 12 is far too young to choose your career path at. At my school the compulsory lessons are: sciences, maths, french, religious education, english, and 1 lesson of physical education. French is understandable because i think a GCSE in it is required to go to some universities, but all of the others are pointless apart from maths science and english.

By the way does anyone know what i should study in college if i want to do Electrical Engineering/Computer Engneering at uni?

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Originally Posted by D1337

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After middle school, they should place kids into career based schools, instead of the general knowledge ones we have today. ...

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In the US, thank your parents for this NOT happening. Due to the enormous amounts of lawsuits brought by parents, the career tracked education (ie: vocational schools), have all but been eliminated in public schools. Parents do NOT want their kids taught specifically in one general field, and instead want their education focused on getting into college.

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Originally Posted by .Maleficus.

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Your brain doesn't take to things it thinks aren't important. You may think it's important, and really want to learn it, but your brain thinks differently. ...

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Not sure I agree with this. Learning is not about "what your brain finds interesting", it is about enforcing the information as many ways as possible. Not everyone learns the same. For me, I need to hear it, write it, then do it. (most people do learn this way) For others it can be repetitive instruction, others just need the information presented in several different ways for it to "stick". One interesting study was done many years ago, that reinforced the information using the "Sister Mary Method" (the threat of violence with a ruler...). Most students improved comprehension _and_ retained information longer, but had a harder time getting out of bed to go to school. (this is information that the SO has learned in the 18 years of post graduate work for her various teaching credentials (she now is director of special education at her school))

As far as the music while learning/studying, studies have shown that classical music raises the IQ around 8% while metal (and hard rock) actually lower the IQ by the same %. The reason they gave is that the brain will actually create new synapse connections due to the complicated patterns in classical music, while metal causes the same synapse's to be used over and over again, with more "traffic" on those synapses. (at least that is what I remember)

If you have specific questions as to learning disabilities and how to overcome them, let me know and I will ask the wife. She is _always_ more than happy to help out in that area and can even provide specific links for help.

Out of all of the classic musicians, Beethoven has been shown to have one of the strongest influences on retention through patterned thinking. Karl Albreit wrote a fantastic book called "Brain Power" which covers many things discussed here, definately a worth while read.

As for those who struggle with academics, don't let this lead you to the conclusion that you are limited in your pursuits. I have struggled with reading retention all my life, almost didn't graduate high school, and only did average in college until I found the spark I needed in science leading me to medical school. Even in med school, I struggle far more than the average student when it comes to academic style learning. However, when I am in a hands on environment like the clinic, I learn things with a much deeper understanding than the average student because I learn differently than most. This is exactly why you will find that most doctors can be grouped into 3 catagories that fit the classic "bell curve" or standard distribution. The middle group is by far the largest and includes people who have either have excellent academic skills with outstanding board scores but are terrible at patient interaction (by the way, these are the ones you want as your specialists like cardiologists, they may be dicks but at least they won't miss the little tiny yet very important signs), or they have great personal skills and are wonderful at the bedside but struggle to remember all of the minucia and overwhelming amount of info. The other two groups are very small but important to recognize. One is the docs who have neither the personal skills or the academic knowledge and are all around piss-poor physicians who just barely slipped through the cracks of the medical guidelines. And of course, the smallest group of all are those with both the academic retention and wonderful inter-personal skills, if you ever find one stick with him/her for life because the chances of finding another are very slim.

So Greco, does it helped?

I've seen a night and day difference reading late at night alone in the livingroom sitting in the recliner. I made a book holder using the lid of a computer case and a base out of a binded calender stuck in it. It makes a huge difference not really having to hold the book nor have it on a desk and strain your neck.

Thanks for asking! :)