Reading comprehension.?

Question

I am male, middle aged. I could nt complete graduation. In my youg age, i went into depression, treated for long and cured now found i have dislexia, which have been there from my college days. But i could know only now. Took medicines now i can work on computer, I am very good in writing, But in reading.., i have problem in reading comprehension. Counselor advised me to read a 'single bible verse' and try to recollect, than one full chapter. I am very much fancy over books. Hundreds of books i buy and keep, but i am not able to read even one. My real problem is, when i read i can understand word by word meaning, but i am not able to connect ,comprehend, understand the full meaning of the entire texts. I take each book with high interest to read, but soon i loose interest since i am not able to comprehend. My lifelong passion is to be a good reader. I am craving to read books. Please suggest a remedy..

Answer 1

I was diagnosed with a reading comprehension disability as a kid. I worked vigilantly to correct it; reading book after book no matter how little I understood. It wasn't until college till my comprehension level was close to that of my peers.

I am now getting a masters degree in special education and learning all kinds of techniques to help children with learning disabilites. I wish I knew what I know now back then.

If there is one book I would say that will help you the most out of any book you read in your entire life it would be "I Read It, But I Don't Get It", by Cris Tovani. The author describes how best to help students with reading difficulties like no other author I have read. The author herself complains that she has a reading comprehension disability herself and it wasn't until she was in her 30's that she actually began to become a proficient reader.

I believe the reason I found her book so helpful was because she had the same reading problems I had as a kid. She knows exactly what I went through and therefore she knows best how to correct the problem.

Her methods helped me more than any book I have ever read. I have never before in my life been able to comprehend text as well as I can now. I give all the credit to Tovani's book, I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to read it.

Answer 2

How about books-on-tape?  Have you tried listening to a book-on-tape?  If so, did you comprehend it, were you able to follow the story and enjoy the book?  

If so, then we're not dealing with a comprehension issue, it's merely an "input" issue.  You would be best off finding a tutor who has a strong basis in teaching reading to "non-reading older English speakers," like myself.  We use methods such as Orton-Gillingham, and strategies such as reading nonsense words and phrases to make you focus on what is on the page versus what you think is there.  

If not, if books-on-tape are not enjoyable because you cannot process them well, then I would start by working with them.  Short stories, long phone messages meant for someone else, lectures, anything with one person talking (preferably about something you find interesting) will help you to take in the information and start to process it.  Move up from there.