In short, it doesn't really matter what stage of your life you are at, ability to be able to speed read is an essential one.

Occasions when speed reading may not be beneficial

Having said that speed reading is an essential element no matter what stage you are at in your life, there are a number of circumstances under which it may not be overly beneficial to be able to speed read. These include:

* If you have a reading problem:

Speed reading techniques use cluster methods. This is to say, reader needs to group whole paragraphs together and skim read them. However, if a person has a reading disability that doesn't allow them to be able to process clustering of paragraphs easily, then this may result in a feeling of embarrassment, discomfort, or even slowness. In such circumstances, it is far better for confidence of reader if they resort to traditional methods of reading each word on page word-by-word.

* Age:

Care needs to be taken at what age a student starts to learn to speed read as certain clinical studies have shown that students who try to learn to speed read too early can be left with counterproductive problems - such as dyslexia. As such, it is not recommended that children below 10 learn to speed read.

* Comprehension:

In certain circumstances some readers who speed read are left with a loss of comprehension of reading material, rather than more. If this is case, then invoking speed reading skill may be counterproductive.

To sum it up, like most things in life, ability to speed read is something most of us should try to conquer, which is not to say that it is necessarily beneficial to all of us, nor that we should invoke it at all times.

Learn it and use it to your advantage, as and when is needed.

Speed reading technique #3 - Group wording

There is a term in speed reading circles that is seen as being one of major demons of reading: "subvocalization". Subvocalization is a clinical term for word-for-word reading - and it's a huge no-no in speed reading techniques. Subvocalization slows reading down, without providing any upswing in comprehension to counter lost reading time.

Group wording, as name suggests, is where reader looks at a group of words and phrases at same time. Using group wording technique, speed readers are able to read large chunks of information at same time - thus, saving time.

Additional speed reading techniques

Aside from specific speed reading techniques in 1 to 3 above, there are a number of habits/practices that are generally considered counter-productive to speed reading - thus will have an affect on your speed reading abilities. In no particular order, these include:

* subvocalization - as already stated, this is where you speak out words you read. It's a major cause of slow reading. Unfortunately, as most of us are taught to speak out words we read when we learn to read as children, it is also one of hardest habits to break. All that can be said is that you keep plugging away at trying to eradicate this habit.

* digressing - digressing is where reader will read a passage, then return to re-read it, usually in mistaken belief that they will be able to comprehend better what has been written on a second read. Again, in speed reading circles this is seen as a major no-no, bad habit, which needs to be broken!

Conclusion

So, if you want to improve your speed reading skills, you need to remember not to subvocalize or re-read passages, and to read great chunks at one time by broadening your eye-span. Simple really! Actually, in fairness, it will take time to learn, and don't expect to get it right first time. Don't push this issue too much, as pushing it may prove to be counter-productive.