Reading exercises (How reading exercises can help certain conditions)

Many people read books, journals, or publications for various reasons. It could be for entertainment, learning, relaxation, self-improvement, or academic development. But reading isn’t just a matter of pleasure. It’s better for your overall health than you might think.

Reading can be a beneficial practice for people with various health conditions, as it can help improve cognitive function and overall quality of life. And proper reading exercises, such as reading aloud, silent reading, speed reading, and more, can have a wide range of health benefits.

Let’s discuss further what these reading exercises are and how they can help certain conditions.

Reading and Dyslexia

Reading exercises can be an effective way to improve dyslexia, which is a neurological condition that affects a person’s ability to read, spell, and write. Some examples of reading exercises that can be helpful for people with dyslexia are phonological awareness exercises, decoding exercises, fluency exercises, and multisensory exercises.

Phonological awareness exercises involve practicing the sounds that make up words. Decoding exercises, on the other hand, use word families to identify common patterns. Both reading exercises can help improve a person’s ability to decode and read new words.

Meanwhile, fluency exercises mean having to practice reading aloud with a focus on accuracy and speed. And multisensory exercises can help people with dyslexia connect the sounds and letters of words.

Reading and Dementia

Reading exercises can also be helpful for people suffering from dementia, which is the loss of cognitive functioning. With reading exercises, it can help stimulate the brain and maintain language skills.

Reading picture books, memory books, short stories, and poetry is highly recommended for people with dementia. As the latter may already have difficulty reading lengthy texts, picture books can be more convenient and useful, as pictures help stimulate the brain and aid in comprehension. Similarly, short stories can help stimulate the brain without overwhelming the reader, as people with dementia may have difficulty maintaining focus for longer periods of time.

Reading and Anxiety & Depression

Reading exercises can be a useful tool for managing anxiety and depression, as uplifting and positive books can boost a person’s mood, reduce stress levels, and help one feel more calm and relaxed.

Moreover, reading can be a relaxing activity that can help distract people from negative thoughts. It can help foster empathy, increase feelings of hope, and provide a connection to a larger community.

Dealing with anxiety and depression isn’t easy, and there’s no magical way to make them go away. But picking up a good book can be a good starting point.

Reading benefits both your physical and mental health. It strengthens your brain, builds your vocabulary, increases your ability to empathize, helps prevent age-related cognitive decline, reduces stress, prepares you for a good night’s rest, and helps alleviate depression symptoms.

It’s especially important to start reading at a young age, as its effects and benefits are cumulative. So, read whatever you can get your hands on and start reaping the physical and mental benefits of a good read.