Does anyone else have this problem with reading?

NO!

This is a learning style, I have a high IQ, i am a retired elem teacher, but i am like you, my mind wanders :) it is just the way you assimilate information, One suggestion I have for you is to read outloud to yourself, because that is really what you are doing in your head, but to keep you own attention,, if you read it outloud, it kind of goes back into your ears and into your brain. this is for real ;) It would be interesting to know how old you are and how you dealt with this when you first learned to read, when you want help and ask and answer, there are a lot of teachers here , but we need to know you grade in school or age bracket to help you. You could be in 6th grade or 12th, and by the way, if you aren't interested in history, it is a very hard subject, i am lucky because i love it and if you have a teacher how expects you to just spit back dates and names for a test, that is not a very good teacher !!!!!!!! another way to help yourself, if you are reading for comprehension for school, take organized, outline notes as you read, your writing it down will help put it into your brain :)

I have the same exact problem. I must say it is one of the most troublesome and annoying things ever. I will end up having to read the same page over about five times because the last four times I ended up thinking of "PAY ATTENTION" and that one phrase leads to some strange day dream that was involuntary. I haven't actually gone to a doctor about this, I suspect that this can be ADD or ADHD though, my parents rather not face the fact that I have such a disorder. But I suggest you go to the doctor and ask about it because this will not go away.... I've had it since fifth grade, and continues to get worse. I still get acceptional grades, but I spend more time trying to paying attention then actually putting effort into my assignments! If you do ever go to the doctor, please email me, and tell me what they say! I'm interested because what you describe sounds very similar to what happens to me.

>>I can only Truly understand the simple things unless I put some put serious thought into what I read. ... but I don't actually think about what I'm reading and can only subconsciously pick out things that catch my attention.<<< All of that is actually very good, except that you process it in a negative way. It takes effort to focus attention instead of daydreaming, but I suspect that you don't know how to make that effort. Putting serious thought into it is part of the process, you don't have to consciously think about what you're reading because, as you say, you pick things up subconsciously. A few simple things that are helpful for soe people with this problem: Read this, then follow the link. >>>Whether you're hitting the textbooks in philosophy class, reading long-winded emails from co-workers, or just reading the morning newspaper, chances are at one time or another you've wished you could read a little faster. So widespread is the desire to learn speed reading, in fact, that teaching the skill has become big business: a host of companies now offer books, training sessions and even computer programs to increase reading speed, sometimes at a cost of hundreds of dollars. But why fork over your paycheck or student loan money for a speed reading system when you can start reading faster today by following these simple steps?<<< Follow the link below for info on how to speed read - there are a lot of useful tips and techniques.

I suffer from the same problems. I learned that sitting at the front of the class, keeping eye contact with the instructors as they lectured, and actively participating in group discussions helped with lectures. Reading was difficult, especially with dry material. I learned to that most text books are printed in justified type, making then difficult for anyone to read, and that let me cut myself some slack. Short reading spells of 15-20 minutes, with a little stretch of the legs between, use of highlighters, and taking notes as I went, helps stay on task when reading. Further help should be available through you school. Talk to your councilor. ADHD is better understood today than in my time.

I have the same problem I have to read something over and over again to understand something or just actually to know what I have just read. But I have a slow processing speed and find it hard to lear something straight away so .... and I have a bad understanding of words.