Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Is it really possible to read braille at speeds comparable to reading print? (self.Blind)
submitted by Altie-McAltface
I've seen a few articles online claiming braille reading speeds of over 100 WPM. I believe 200 WPM is the lower bound of what's considered typical sight reading speed. My question isn't so much whether this is possible, but more if it's practical. Speed reading print kills retention and comprehension, and I feel like braille reading speeds that fast would have the same drawbacks.
Also, how do you build stamina in your fingers for long reading sessions? Mine go numb after about half an hour, although I only have access to a braille display, not paper.
Also, how do you build stamina in your fingers for long reading sessions? Mine go numb after about half an hour, although I only have access to a braille display, not paper.
brimstone_tea 6 points 3y ago
I know some people who were born blind and read just like someone who sees. You can't hear any difference.
AmAsabat 2 points 3y ago
I read out loud as fast and at the pace of sighted reader when reading Braille.
dmazzoni 2 points 3y ago
You mean read out loud?
Yes, no question that a good Braille reader can read fast enough to read out loud.
But sighted people can read much faster than a normal speaking rate. It's not clear if you can read Braille quite as fast as that.
Yes, no question that a good Braille reader can read fast enough to read out loud.
But sighted people can read much faster than a normal speaking rate. It's not clear if you can read Braille quite as fast as that.
BlindGuyNW 4 points 3y ago
I can’t address the reading speed question, as it is one that I stopped worrying about quite a while ago personally. I tend to agree that going faster impedes comprehension, however, so I don’t make a conscious effort to do so. As far as long sessions, continuous exposure is the only way I’ve done that. I read at least half an hour every day, and my fingers grow far less numb and they used to.
Remy_C 3 points 3y ago
This is actually a question I wondered about myself. As a voice actor I have always been very discouraged with the fact that I cannot read braille out loud fast enough for it to be practical when doing a session. Every article I’ve come across seems to be geared towards reading books to blind children rather than teaching how to read braille quicker I definitely don’t feel like I need to be able to read at 200 or more words a minute, but being able to read fast enough and say the words out loud without stumbling and making it sound natural is something I very much wish I could do. I actually was top rail from a very young age, but I realize now I was very stubborn and did not adopt the proper braille reading techniques when I was young. Now I’m 37 and really only have access to a braille display.
razzretina 3 points 3y ago
Your average sighted reader reads between 250 and 350 words per minute. It is very possible for someone to read braille that fast. The ones who do usually were taught to read at a young age the way sighted children are. This is one of the big reasons why we push so much to get braille into kids' hands. Thankfully for us adults who didn't get the basic privilage of learning to read young, speed is not an indicator of fluency. You can read much more slowly and still understand the text perfectly fine. For the record, I've worked with a student who reads braille at over 400 words per minute with accuracy.
CloudyBeep 3 points 3y ago
I've heard that comprehension starts to decrease when a sighted person reads that fast. I wonder then if it isn't too concerning if a blind person can't read at more than about 220 WPM. I can read faster than I can speak aloud, but not so fast that I forget what I'm reading if the content of what I'm reading interests me.
razzretina 2 points 3y ago
Nope, comprehension is fine at those speeds and higher if the person is comfortable reading that fast. I easily read at 350+ words a minute with sight when I could and I currently read 700 words per minute by ear with no comprehension difficulties. The only time someone has difficulty with comprehension is if they're pushing themselves inappropriately or being forced to read faster when that's not their preference. A much bigger problem with comprehension is reading too slowly, where the reader can't keep track of the sentence's beginning by the time they reach the end because of their slow speed. I've got a degree in special education and spent two years studying how to teach reading; these statistics are burned into my brain. :D
oncenightvaler 2 points 3y ago
I would say the best way to build stamina for Braille reading is just do more of it on paper it's probably easier on your fingers than the RBD, at least in my opinion.
BlueRock956 1 points 3y ago
Hi, I'm an educator and fluency is very much associated with comprehention. I've seen countless teachers and people be satisfied with 50 words per minute, and its frustrating because they don't expect that they can reach a fluency thats over 100 words per minute. I am currently reading 120 words per minute, and I use Braille every day. I have friends who do speaches while reading them in Braille and I am working on my fluency everyday because its the only way I'll reach a fluency of 200 words per minute.
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