Does your child tend to feel overwhelmed when reading and struggle to focus? Even as adults, focusing while reading can be difficult.. If we feel unfocused, reading a paragraph can be exhausting, and information is less likely to soak in. For those with ADD or ADHD, this can be even more so true.
There is a new technology that was developed to deal with the common problem of losing focus while reading called “Bionic Reading.” Bionic Reading was developed by a Swiss typographic designer, Renato Casutt and manipulates fonts to make it easier and more efficient for our eyes to follow (Bionic Reading).
“Bionic Reading is a new method facilitating the reading process by guiding the eyes through text with artificial fixation points. As a result, the reader is only focusing on the highlighted initial letters and lets the brain center complete the word” (Bionic Reading).
It’s been suggested that Bionic Reading can help people with ADD and ADHD focus more easily on what they’re reading by making the font more visually stimulating. Some people find it distracting so it’s not for everyone, but it’s worth giving it a try with your child (or yourself!) if they struggle to focus. It has also been suggested that it might help people with dyslexia but the research for the conclusion is less substantial.
There are many free browser extensions and apps that will transform text into the Bionic Reading format. Try one of the Google Chrome extensions by clicking here!
