I am suspecting that when my husband reads all day that he isn’t really reading - you know, reading each sentence on each page?

Mag,

You would not have posted unless you were concerned. Are you noticing other changes in your Dh's behaviour?

It is worth mentioning to his doctor, perhaps you can send a note in, so the Doctor can assess things on his next visit.

The losing ability to read can have significant impacts on your husband's life as well as your own. Can he read the instructions on prepared food packaging? Can he read the labels on medication bottles?

What is causing the reading issues, has he lost the ability to process the words? Is it related to vision?

Perhaps he chose a book he had read before to try to use his memory of the story to fill in the bits he cannot read.

It is hard to know what kind of advice to give unless we know more info, like: has he been given a cognitive exam at any time by his doctor? Or are you saying he has no diagnosis of cognitive or memory issues? What other symptoms are of concern to you? If he has diagnosed memory or cognitive issues, just leave him be if he seems content. You can maybe get him books or magazines with a lot of pictures - of topics you knew he enjoyed in the past. Two years ago we were shocked to find out that my MIL in LTC completely forgot how to write. She didn't have a stroke. She just lost that ability. Could not even make an "X" mark or copy one that I made. But she seems to still be able to read. So strange. My 98-yr old aunt with advanced dementia loves looking at the same Cat Fancier magazine over and over (she has 2 cats). She's content and that's the most one can hope for.

Let him read his books however he wants to. Why does it bother you so? Is he hurting you by not really "reading" his book? He's probably lost his ability to read, and might be embarrassed about it. So leave him be, and let him enjoy his books,

P.S. and by the way, my husband had a massive stroke at the age of 48, and lost his ability to read, write, talk, and walk. I would always just smile when we would go to any Dr's office, and he would pick up a magazine to "read", when I knew he was just looking at it, and that was ok with me. I think he just wanted to feel more "normal"(whatever that means), as probably your husband does too.

Nothing really unless there are other problematic symptoms. And you don't mention any.
Your profile says you are caring for your Mother. Are you also caring for your husband? Does he have other problems. Often a book is a way to not really engage with others, just to be at peace and thinking, dreaming, if there are no other symptoms. People seldom interrupt people with open books.

magpark, when was the last time your hubby had an eye exam? Eyesight can put a major damper when it comes to reading. Both my sig-other and myself find ourselves re-reading the same paragraph over and over because we have issues with eyesight and there are always distractions [like the cat] or something on TV or one of us talking.

What can you really 'do' about such a situation? You put your question under the Alzheimers/Dementia category, so I assume your husband is suffering from cognitive impairment. If so, he will definitely lose the ability to read after a while. A person suffering from dementia can no longer focus or concentrate on the written word, or even remember what they're reading. He may feel embarrassed about his inability to actually read, so he's answering your questions in generalities.

If your husband has not been tested for cognitive impairment, now might be the time to have such a test taken. Is he against going to his doctor for an evaluation? Your question is not really clear about what's going on with him.

My mother suffers from moderate dementia & stopped reading about 8 months ago. She was an avid reader her whole life, books, magazines, etc. Now she says she 'reads the newspaper' which I seriously doubt, but they do have a newspaper out on the dining table at the Assisted Living she resides at, so who knows? I DO know she can longer read her novels or her People magazines and has asked me to dx the subscription.

Good luck!

Have you talked to him about your concerns?
I have read that someone with dementia has been covering up signs and symptoms for up to 10 years before they are “officially “ diagnosed.
He may be defensive or relieved to talk about what might be going on.
Defensive or relieved there are steps you need to take to prepare for what is in the future. And if it is nothing it is a starting point for discussion as to what either of you want as far as all the “what if’s” in life.
Then set your priorities. Do the things you have wanted to do while you can. Do this no matter what happens. We wait and put off until later the things we want to do....what happens if there is no later?