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Reading - Memory

O

I'm wondering if this is something to do with autism or not I haven't been able to fine much online that directly talks about this particular issue that I have.

The issue is my memory when I read something, I can read and write perfectly fine I'm not dyslexic I may read I a bit slower than the norm but I think that's because I just don't really do a lot of long form reading.

I've had this issue for my entire life it's something about myself that really, really annoys me. But since being diagnosed with ASD I'm wondering if it's something to do with that, I would love to able to read books. To be able to just sit, relax and enjoy a good book is something that I have always wanted to do but I don't do it because I can never remember what I have read I have to read over the same line over and over and over again many, many times to remember it and even then my memory of it isn't great, I can barley even remember what the subject of a chapter in a story is because it's so bad.

I know I can listen to audio books which would be a work around but its just another monthly subscription I'd rather not have. (I have quite a lot already)

I'm curious to know if anyone else has this issue and particularly if someone has over come it, and how you did it would be much appreciated.

O

  • Do you have ADHD?  It's common with people on the spectrum.  I can read an entire book (I LOVE to read) and not be able to tell you a thing about it afterwards.  I'm the same way with movies. My husband has to tell me what's going on constantly.  I have ADHD inattentive type. 

  • I used to have this problem and found a few things which helped.

    1. Symbolic logic

    2. cold reading techniques with utilising imagination  

    Symbolic logic can take a little time to learn but it is incredible for transforming most of non-fiction, journalism or educational books into easy to follow pieces. 

    Cold reading techniques are taught in acting classes. I discovered in high school I could only memorise lines to a play if I could envision literally everything I needed to say. Sometimes I’d attach a scenario which had nothing to do with what I was saying, but if I needed to explain a difficulty and attached the linguistic phrases to imagery of trying to... say... bathe an elephant at a circus, I’d be able to recall the lines. 

    the technique actually involves looking at one sentence at a time, reading it silently then saying it out loud. Now I added reading it silently with conjuring up an image while saying it out loud. Actors need to speak lines in convincing ways but I found as I continued to do this it improved my ability to focus while reading.  

    I’m not sure if I have a more natural ability to focus or if I’ve managed to dispose of invasive daily distractions... these techniques help, tho I’m still a slow reader and have mild dyslexia.

  • in reply to ParentingAutism

    Yeah that happens to me too somehow I'll just to the middle of page and not not realise what just happened but the thing is I have books about things I find interesting and I still have this issue its just irritating and I can't find techniques to help so I'll think I'll just have to get a audio book subscription, there's only so much I can learn from watching the same documentaries over and over.

  • I've struggled with something like this(?) too. The re-reading a few times of lines in books is familiar to me.

    The more anxious I am, the harder I find reading and the harder I find it to take in/remember what I've read. When I'm calmer, it's easier.

    I struggled to 'get back into' reading of books as an adult. Over time, it's got easier and better.


    With fiction books, I don't remember huge amounts but I do remember certain concepts, certain connections and I have a good memory of the characteristics of characters. I know which characters I'd want to steer clear of a bit and which I'd be much more open to meeting (if it were possible).

  • I generally get either extremely engaged in a book, or not at all. If I'm not into it then I won't remember or keep track of what's happening and I'll usually give up after a couple of chapters. 

    Maybe you just need to keep looking for the right authors or genres. I generally enjoy fiction with action (e.g. The Martian) or philosophically interesting ideas (e.g. Brave New World). I admit I also still really like kids authors such as Philip Pullman and Anthony Horowitz. Good luck :)

  • I can't read story books - my brain gets bored with all the thousands of filler words that surround the 'meat' parts of the story.        I lose interest and never get to the end.

    Conversely, I can instantly memorise any technical manual you put in front of me, It's all meat with no filler.

  • Hiya, my 14 y.o daughter has the same issue. She's not dyslexic but she just can't read books unless it's on a hobby or something she likes. She never remembers what she reads, it just goes in one ear and out the other. I can remember a few times where I think she started reading normally and then she would read backwards or from the back of the book and just become really confused and didn't know what the hell just happened.