Processing speed is gauged by how quickly the brain absorbs, understands, and responds to information, a process that varies from person to person. It can be likened to a quiz game—some people buzz in with the right answer almost immediately, while others take longer to arrive at the answer.
Processing speed is not a measure of either ability or intelligence. However, a slower processing speed can create challenges in school or other areas, especially if it goes unnoticed. When that happens, a student might be misinterpreted as inattentive or struggling to complete tasks. This can dent their confidence and affect their behavior.
Social interactions can be awkward for someone with slow processing speed, but the good news is that with the right support and strategies, students can learn to adapt.
The right strategies can boost their academic performance, self-esteem, and overall well-being, helping them to make better life and career choices in the future.
Although slow processing speed—also known as a processing speed deficit or delay—is not an executive skill, it can influence key executive functions. This includes working memory, cognitive flexibility, and the ability to manage thoughts and impulses.
Identifying learners with slow processing speeds
Learners with slow processing speed may have other special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, or Dysgraphia. Some may have a learning disability.
However, not everyone with a SEND diagnosis has a slow processing speed, and not everyone with a slow processing speed will have SEND.
Here are some signs that can help identify learners with slow processing speed:
- Take a while to answer questions or seem to forget the answer.
- Struggle to recall information, even if it’s “on the tip of their tongue.”
- Have trouble following verbal instructions or directions.
- Find it hard to make quick decisions.
- Have difficulty focusing and are easily distracted.
- Often struggle to finish work on time and find timed tasks stressful.
- May rush through work or produce something that does not reflect what they understand.
- Struggle to keep up with fast-moving conversations – this can impact social interactions and classroom participation.
- Overwhelmed when faced with too much information.
- Avoid joining class discussions.
- Have difficulty starting tasks.
- Often work below age-related expectations.
- Read slowly and with considerable effort.
- Struggle with reading comprehension.
- Have trouble breaking tasks into more manageable steps.
- Reading and writing become more challenging as texts get longer or more complex.
- Become anxious, frustrated, or fatigued as the day progresses.
- Seem disengaged, either academically or socially.
- Copies text slowly or inaccurately.
- Have low self-esteem, especially when it comes to learning.
- May have limited verbal response because of inability to process thoughts quickly.
A test called Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) can help evaluate processing speed. In this test, the child is asked to name a series of familiar items, like colors, numbers, letters, or objects. This assesses how quickly they can recall information.
If the child is not familiar with letters or numbers, objects alone can be used. Before starting the test, it is important to make sure the child knows the names of the items and feels comfortable with the task.
How to Recognize Signs of Slow Processing
Every child is different, and no two learners with slow processing speed will show the same signs. But there are some common things to look out for – for instance, children with slow processing often struggle with timed tests and assignments.
They might have a hard time keeping up with class discussions and usually do not finish their work as quickly as other students.
They can also have trouble processing directions and might find it tough to get started on both written and verbal tasks. Learners with slow processing speed often struggle with holding information in their working memory, and therefore the need to understand something before it moves into long-term memory can be impacted.
These children might also have difficulty staying focused and tuning out distractions. Some struggle with executive functions, like setting goals or planning. Without good planning skills, they might feel overwhelmed and this can affect their confidence in tackling tasks.
For adults with undiagnosed slow processing, school may have been difficult and they may feel they have failed to reach their career goals. Fast-paced conversations can be especially challenging because they are so busy trying to process what is being said that they miss the chance to respond.
Reading and writing often become more difficult for older students and young adults, particularly as texts and assignments get longer and more complex.
Slow processing speed is sometimes coupled to other learning challenges like ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or dysgraphia.
Reading and Processing Speed
When children are learning to read, they have to sound out words by breaking them into individual letters and sounds. This takes a lot of brain power and is not the most efficient way to read. Eventually, though, their brains get better at recognizing common letter patterns, and they will start to recognize entire words by sight.
Once that happens, reading becomes much faster. This allows the learner to focus on understanding what they are reading, instead of trying to decipher individual words.
For learners with slow processing speed, reading can be mentally exhausting. They have to juggle word sounds while trying to retain all the information in short-term memory to make sense of the text.
A helpful strategy is teaching them to quickly recognize common, high-frequency words, especially from the Dolch List. This builds their literacy skills and makes reading less overwhelming.
10 Tips That Will Support Learners with Slow Processing Speed
Give them plenty of time.
Children with slow processing speed are not lazy, they simply take longer to process information. They need extra time to understand lessons, complete quizzes, and finish homework. Whether it’s reading a book or following directions, giving them more time can make a huge difference.
Repeat instructions.
Processing multiple directions at once can be tricky, especially if learners have to memorize all the information. Repeating instructions helps, and is even better if you involve different senses—like reading the directions aloud, showing a chart, or giving a clear example of the task.
Provide summaries of lessons.
Too many details at once can be overwhelming. Help learners by giving them a summary or an outline of the lesson that highlights the main points. This helps them to see the bigger picture before processing finer details.
Encourage them to repeat things.
Reading or repeating the same task multiple times can help the child to absorb the lesson. Overlearning, or practicing beyond mastery, is a great way for children with slow processing speed to fully grasp a lesson. Programs like Touch-type Read and Spell can help build these skills.
Write it down.
When children have to retain too much information in their minds, they can quickly become overwhelmed. Writing down their thoughts or working through problems on paper can help them process step by step, especially in subjects like math.
Focus on one question at a time.
Seeing a whole page of questions can be intimidating. Encourage the child to cover up the rest of the page and only focus on the question at hand. This can make tackling an assignment feel more manageable.
Shorten their assignments.
Children with slow processing speed may struggle with lengthy tasks. Reducing the workload allows them to focus on quality rather than quantity, helping them to put more effort into their work without feeling rushed.
The grade is based on knowledge, not speed.
It may take longer for a child with slow processing speed to finish their work or express their thoughts, but that does not mean that they have not learned the material. Focus on what they have absorbed, rather than how fast the task was achieved.
Let them use a computer.
Handwriting can be a big challenge for children with slow processing speed. Using a computer to type their work can help speed up the process, reduce distractions, and give them tools like spell-check to support their writing.
Cut out distractions.
Background noise and visual clutter can make it more difficult for children with slow processing speed to focus on the task at hand. Seat them near the front of the classroom and try to minimize distractions.
Overview
Every child is unique and no two individuals with slow processing speed will have the same symptoms. However, learners with slow processing speed often struggle with timed exams and assignments.
Technology can provide children with shortcuts, especially a child who is already exhausted by the processing required to complete a task such as brainstorming ideas and organizing these into the written word.
Remember, these children need a lot of support and encouragement, patience and understanding, to give them the time they need to succeed!