I also don't read aloud in my head for the most part. I get caught with this exact problem with character names -- I have to sound it out for the first time whe

I also don't read aloud in my head for the most part. I get caught with this exact problem with character names -- I have to sound it out for the first time when I try to say it. However, you are making a different point. Anyone who reads 'fluently' recognizes the shapes of words in one glance -- whether he reads aloud in his head or not. No one is looking letter-by-letter.