Can Speed Reading Apps Really Double Your Reading Speed?

AI Search Summary

This video reviews a speed-reading training study and explains that one app modestly increased reading speed without reducing comprehension, but did not double reading speed.

Main question: Can speed reading training apps effectively double your reading speed?
Short answer / core takeaway: In the study discussed, the app raised reading speed by a little over 20% without hurting comprehension, but the improvement appeared to come from engagement and reduced rereading rather than true dramatic speed-reading.
Evidence type: Speed-reading training intervention with comprehension tests and eye-tracking measures.
Search topics: speed reading apps, reading speed, reading comprehension, subvocalization, eye movements, metacognition, learning.

Common Search Questions

Can speed reading apps double reading speed?

The video says this study did not find a doubling. Reading speed rose from about 195 to 237 words per minute, a little over 20%, with no drop in comprehension.

Did the app help people read more words at once?

No. Eye tracking suggested participants were not taking in more words at a time; they spent less time on each word and reread less.

Why might speed reading training help a little?

The video suggests the benefit may come from greater engagement with the text and the reading process, rather than from bypassing normal reading limits.

Key Takeaways

Reading speed and comprehension often trade off when speed rises too much.
The tested app produced a modest speed increase without lowering comprehension.
The study’s eye-tracking data did not support the idea that participants learned to process larger word chunks.
Fully engaged reading may have a practical speed limit, even if some methods improve focus and reduce rereading.

Transcript

The speed-reading claim

Can you actually double your reading speed by using speed reading training apps like this one? Or is it just a waste of your time and money?

Lots of studies have tested normal people’s reading speed versus comprehension and found that when one goes up, the other goes down. But now researchers actually put one of these training apps to the test.

What the app trained

They chose this app that trains people on all the classic speed reading techniques: increasing concentration, improving eye movements to avoid rereading, increasing the number of words read at a time, and suppressing that inner speech.

But over three weeks, participants used the app for 15 minutes per day, five days per week.

What the researchers measured

They did before-and-after tests, which not only looked at reading speed and comprehension, but also tracked their eye movements to see how they read.

The results were unexpected and fascinating.

What changed after training

Reading speed definitely didn’t double, but it did increase a little over 20% without any drop in comprehension, to 237 words per minute up from 195. Still pretty slow.

But the eye tracking showed that it wasn’t because they were taking in more words at a time. They did spend less time on each word and lowered the rereading amount.

What the improvement may mean

The researchers also had a side experiment suggesting the increased speed was related to greater engagement with the text and the reading process in general.

But that means there’s probably a pretty clear cap on reading speed once you’re fully engaged. But there are other apps and methods that definitely work. I’ve been experimenting with different ones for over a decade now, so let me know if you want some suggestions.

Additional Notes

Caption context

The caption asks viewers whether they have used a speed-reading app or technique, which one they tried, and how it worked for them.

Keywords and topics

Speed reading apps
Reading comprehension
Eye tracking
Subvocalization
Reading speed training