I have trouble comprehending information, what could I do to improve it.?

Question

I have trouble comprehending information. When I read or when a person tells me something, it takes me longer to digest the information. This problem makes me struggle in college and at work. I have to seek special help at college so I can have my lecture material re-explained because I wasn’t able to “get it” in class. My homework is more stressful because it takes me longer to get it done because of my slow ability to digest information. I’m worried about getting fired from work (my well paying and enjoyed internship job) because of my inability to understand/comprehend new concepts I’m being trained to do. My speed to comprehend/digest information is my identified problem. Would could I do to improve my comprehension speed? Is there any mind exercises I can do? Also do you know any website I can go to find out more about this?

Answer 1

This sounds like Attention Deficit Disorder. ADD Or ADHD
Here's some sites that may help explain what's going on:
http://www.add.org
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm
http://add.about.com/
I had the same trouble learning too. To study for a test I first read the material & high lighted the important points. Next I read just the high-lighted parts. I found that I could remember more if I also got together with a small study group & prepared questions that I thought the professors might ask. It just helped me focus & remember better when I was playing "teacher".
Years later, I used that same tutoring method to teach my grade school children to quizz each other with flash cards, chanting mutiplication tables while jumping rope, bouncing a ball, or playing catch. It made learning fun & the rhythmic activity helps us remember lists of things.

It's important to use as many modes of learning as you can; hearing, reading, writing, repetition. I found that I could remember lists of things better if I could first organize the items on index cards & then say out loud the list of items in a catchy song while rocking in a chair or sweeping the floor. Hows that for concentrating all your energy into a learning task?

The important thing is to try to focus better because it's easy to get distracted. I find that I can read faster if I keep down noise & turn off the TV. You'll find that the more you read, the better & faster you'll comprehend.

An administrator at a Carreer Center, who also had ADD, managed his problem with remembering & keeping track of important information by putting what he needed to remember most on a large board in his office. For your job, maybe you can keep important notes in a pocket-sized notebook. As long as you keep your emphasis on finding a system that works for you of tracking important tasks, to keep on top of things, you'll do fine at your internship.

Answer 2

You say that you are in college and working, so you obviously don't have THAT much trouble comprehending. Is this new? If so, it may be stress related, it could indicate an underlying physical problem, it could be that you need a break for your brain to synthesize all the info that you have been pouring into it recently. Sometimes, the way that things are presented to you can have a major impact n comprehension. Some things to try: Record lectures on tape so youcan listen to them again, be sure you go to every class and take notes, ask questions when you don';t understand - you are assuming that "everyone is getting it", but you, that may not be true, it is more important that you understand the material than that you look smart in front of classmates and professors, take frequent study breaks and while breaking get yur mind engaged elsewhere, do something physical, ask class mates about studying together, get evaluated for depression, this can often result in slowed learning and the feelings that you describe. Good luck Keep trying

Answer 3

I am the same way. I believe there are organizations that will help out.. it's a processing information problem. I am a slow reader, and sometimes I will read something, aloud or to myself and not understand a damn thing I have read. I believe one way to get better at something you arent good at is to do more of it.. so read more and more. Make it interesting to you so that you will want to read it and that it's not a boring thing that you WILL want to not pay attention to. Also, there are comprehension testing and such for adults to figure out what kind of learner you are. I would google something about adult comprehension or slow reader. (sorry, I just cant think today.. it's really hot where I am at.. and there IS going to be something that is going to return good results.. I would also include your area in the search)

If you know you are bad at something, you need to practice and practice.. this is the basic point Im trying to make. There are resources out there that can help. If you check your yellow pages about adult education or learning disabilities, you should also find something that could help. Or your local government office may also have something. Personally, I would google it and see what you come up with.

Good luck!

Answer 4

This sounds like you have ADD or ADHD. This is one big problem that people who have this condition suffer with. People think you are just stupid or lazy, and it can cause you many problems in school or the workplace.

You have to make lists in order not to forget, study over and over, make index cards, write your info out, whatever it takes. You feel you don't have the ability to retain anything/

You should go to a website that can screen you for this condition or visit a mental health professional. Family doctors do not have enough education to treat this.

I have had this condition for years and finally found relief with a specialist who treats this. Yes, sometimes drugs are involved, but there are non-stimulants that work well and are very effective in treating your problem.

There are some mental health professionals who deal in treating ADD/ADHD exclusively-depending on where you live.

Answer 5

You need to find out what type of learner you are some do it by reading others by listening and others by feel. Good luck!

Answer 6

Yes its very important to write everything down even if you don't understand it and investigate about it ask about the procedures and keep your notes for future reference that way it won't seem that they have to keep telling you over and over what to do.

Answer 7

READ! Read books, magazines, fliers, everything.

Answer 8

you need reading comp. class.

Answer 9

ya