How to Read for Meaning

Many individuals seek out SLP therapy with reports of difficulty reading. This can be challenged due to language problems but also exacerbated by fatigue, attention, memory and other cognitive challenges. If you have always loved reading, this can be quite frustrating. Sometimes use of a compensatory strategy, change of the environment or reading approach can make a big difference.

Here’s a list of some of the best strategies we use in therapy as well as in our community book club to help hold on to information:

  • Highlight important pieces of information as you go

  • Stop reading every 1-2 paragraphs and summarize before continuing.

  • Keep track of the names and roles of characters

  • Read small chunks at a time, pausing and then continuing to read again

  • Re-read the same passage a few times

  • Use active listening strategies to ask yourself questions

  • Talk about what you read

  • Join a book club to receive support and ongoing practice!

In addition, consider other factors that may help make information stick, such as:

  • Environment: calm background, comfortable positioning, time of day

  • Genre: historical fiction, mystery, nonfiction, etc.

  • Print size: small or large

  • Reading or listening to a book

  • Topic choice

  • Type of prose and writing style

  • Familiarity of subject matter

What else helps you with reading? If you’re interested in working on reading, other speech and language skills or want to join our book club, let me know.

Amy can be reached at SLPAmyKaras@gmail.com or through the website: www.SLPAmyKaras.com

Amy Karas, MS, CCC-SLP |(617) 893-8807

Owner/Speech-Language Pathologist

Certified Brain Injury Specialist & Trainer

Certified in LSVT®, SPEAK OUT!® and PhoRTe

SLPAmyKaras@gmail.com | North Shore, MA