Habits that hinder reading

To become fast and efficient readers we must identify and eradicate the habits that hinder the proper development of reading. The most common bad reading habits are:

• Skip back.

• Moving your head from one end of the lines to the other.

• Following what you are reading with your finger.

• Subvocalization.

Skip back

This habit consists of going back to read a word, a sentence or a paragraph that the reader thinks they have missed or not understood. In general, the most frequent causes of these skips are the following:

• Lack of confidence in our reading abilities.

• Difficulty concentrating on reading.

• Excessive attention to the smallest details.

• Problems with visual perception.

What effects do backward jumps have on reading?

• They reduce reading speed.

• They do not significantly increase overall comprehension of the text.

• They cause poor reading performance.

How can we eradicate reading backwards?

• Always read forwards, avoiding rereading at all costs.

• Concentrate our attention on what we are looking for in the reading.

• We should not pay too much attention to small details.

• Progressively increase the speed of reading, establishing a harmonious rhythm of eye movements.

Head movements from one end of the lines to the other

Many untrained readers are accustomed to reading by moving their heads along each line of the text, instead of only moving their eyes. This habit has the following negative effects on reading:

• The activity of the neck muscles causes premature tiredness and loss of concentration and assimilation.

• The reading speed is slower than when we follow the reading only with our eyes.

Following what you are reading with your finger

The habit of following what you are reading with your finger is an excellent method for maintaining concentration and attention, however it has the following disadvantages:

• The size of the finger can obstruct vision.

• Reading speed will be slower as eye movements will be limited by the speed at which the finger moves.

To avoid the problems caused by this habit, it is suggested that a pen, pencil or thin guide be used instead of the finger; this will allow for better vision and ensure adequate levels of concentration. Once we have achieved fast reading speeds with acceptable comprehension, we will be able to do without the use of reading guides.

Subvo