Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Do blind people read faster? (self.Blind)
submitted by BibbidiBobbidiBu
Every time I see somebody reading braille they always go super fast. Is it easier to read for blind people since they rely on touch? It just appears to go so much faster than when I read myself or hear/see sighted people read.
Mamamagpie 13 points 1y ago
I think you might be comparing apples and oranges. Consider how many Braille characters fit on page, it is far fewer than what is on page printed in Times Roman.
PaleontologistTrue74 6 points 1y ago
No.
I do like making sighted people read things for me. Audio books make me feel like a royal. " read this for me peasant. Here's 5 dollars. Use a voice for the characters too "
I do like making sighted people read things for me. Audio books make me feel like a royal. " read this for me peasant. Here's 5 dollars. Use a voice for the characters too "
codeplaysleep 3 points 1y ago
Not all blind people read braille - a fair number of them don't and that number is probably growing. But in general, no. Reading braille is slower than reading printed text.
I read large print and my reading speed is solidly average, from what I can tell. It was slower when I was younger, though.
I read large print and my reading speed is solidly average, from what I can tell. It was slower when I was younger, though.
AllHarlowsEve 3 points 1y ago
I believe an average braille reader is below the speed of an average print reader, and that braille tops out at about half of what print does for speed, but the people you see reading braille are typically higher tier readers. They can read at much greater speeds because they do so frequently, whereas print readers tend to not read a significant amount, on average. So many people haven't read a book past high school.
Mamamagpie 2 points 1y ago
One of my friends used to get a magazine in Braille, that thing took up the space of text book, between thicker pages and fewer words per page.
Mamamagpie 2 points 1y ago
Before I lost my the sight on the right I had taken a speed reading class (I ha a novel a day habit I was not willing to give up to take all advanced classes). I could read 500 words per minute at a 12 grade level of comprehension. Two weeks after that I’m recovering from brain surgery, can’t see a whole page of a book and can’t remember the alphabet or any written language…
WorldlyLingonberry40 1 points 1y ago
Have you ever met a Math teacher that didn't know Math, or a music instructor who didn't know how to play? The majority of teachers for the blind are not Braille literate.
WorldlyLingonberry40 1 points 1y ago
Braille is an effective literacy code. Proficient readers will be reading 120 words per minute and above. I've met plenty of readers that read at over 300 words per minute.
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
[deleted]
Amonwilde 1 points 1y ago
Screen readers (having a computer or phone read out loud to you) are probably faster. Braille readers are mostly slower.
HeftyCryptographer21 3 points 1y ago
Actually, skilled braille readers are on par with audio and print readers, especially with hard copy braille! The problem is that so many blind people don't learn braille until they are older, and "drag down" the average reading speed.
Iamheno 3 points 1y ago
From the NFB “ It is generally accepted that a good braille reader reads at approximately 1/3–1/2 the speed of a print reader of the same age (Pring, 1994). For adults who read braille, averages of 70-100 words per minute are often reported compared to print readers' 200-300 words per minute.”
Even Wall-Emerson’s ABC study on young Braille readers found on average Braille readers are slower than print readers. I always wonder personally when I see people claiming WPM above 120.
I’m thinking OP may be talking about seeing Braille on TV or a movie?
Even Wall-Emerson’s ABC study on young Braille readers found on average Braille readers are slower than print readers. I always wonder personally when I see people claiming WPM above 120.
I’m thinking OP may be talking about seeing Braille on TV or a movie?
Amonwilde 1 points 1y ago
I'm really only talking about the median reader, and not exceptional people, though honestly, if you were to compare apples to apples, there is a long tail of sighted readers who are almost ridiculously fast, like can read lines just by glancing at them. I used to be one of them, sigh, though I can't really complain, as I enjoy screen readers pretty well.
TechnicalPragmatist 0 points 1y ago
Much slower in fact, at least if we’re being genuine and honest here.
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