Beyond Dyslexia: Reduced Processing Speed

Introduction

Welcome to the latest post in our series, Beyond Dyslexia. Today, we are jumping into the topic of reduced processing speed in children. This often confusing, and sometimes overlooked aspect of learning can profoundly impact a child's academic performance and overall social and emotional well-being. In this blog, we explore:

• what reduced processing speed is
• how processing speed affects reading
• how lower processing speeds manifest in children
• who can identify/test for low processing speed
• what interventions are available to support children with lower processing speeds

In certain instances or clinical reports, reduced processing speed may be referred to as processing speed deficit or slow processing speed. Within this blog, it will be referred to as reduced processing speed.

Understanding Reduced Processing Speed

Reduced processing speed can be likened to a slow computer that takes longer to load things, or a filing cabinet that is too full, making it harder to locate specific documents. Just as a slow computer, children with reduced processing speed may experience delays in processing/understanding and responding to information.

Because children with reduced processing speed may take longer to understand or process information, this can impact their ability to complete tasks efficiently and effectively. It may seem purposefully slow or frustrating, but they are truly needing all the time it takes.

That same lack of fluency also applies to make sense of a memorizing new information. Reduced processing speed can impact various aspects of academic performance, such as reading fluency, comprehension, and mathematical problem-solving. It's important to remember that children who have reduced processing speed are still very capable of learning and completing tasks, it may take them longer to process and respond to information compared to their peers.

It is important to remember that getting frustrated with these students, or encouraging them to work faster will have the opposite effect. Patience and calmness are must-haves when working with these children.

Causes of Reduced Processing Speed

In some cases, the cause for reduced processing speed is clear, such as a traumatic brain injury. In other cases, the causes are more nuanced. For example, factors such as family history, medical conditions, certain medications, and even environmental factors can influence processing speed.

If you see you child being slow to respond to thins, or your suspect they may have reduced processing speed, it is important to have them evaluated. A private neuropsychologist or licensed clinical psychologist can do an evaluation, or you can have your child assessed through your local school district.

Impact on Reading and Academics & Signs to Look for

Children with reduced processing speed may exhibit a range of behaviors and challenges in academic and everyday situations. Reduced processing speed is not synonymous with dyslexia. A child may have one or the other, or both. In the classroom you may see things like:

• taking longer to complete assignments
• struggling with timed tests
• requiring additional time to process verbal instructions.

Outside of school, they may have difficulty following conversations, processing complex information/multi-step instructions (eg. eat breakfast, brush your teeth, then get dressed), and completing tasks that require quick decision-making or problem-solving skills.

Here are a few more examples of how processing speed in learning may present:

Reading:

A child with reduced processing speed may take significantly longer to read a passage compared to their peers. This is not because they are poor readers, they simply need to read more slowly to comprehend. They may struggle to decode words, leading to frequent pauses and hesitations while reading, and they must take their time to ensure they are reading correctly.

As a result, they may be unable to finish reading assignments within the allotted time, impacting their academic performance. Additionally, children with reduced processing speed may struggle to keep pace with their peers, leading to negative feels about reading in front of peers or even other adults. This could also effect comprehending text, and following along in class readings. They may require more time to process each word or sentence, leading to frustration and fatigue during reading tasks.

Processing speed vs dyslexia:

While processing speed and dyslexia can be related to each other, they are not the same thing. Dyslexia is a language-based learning disability, while processing speed refers to a general cognitive process. There are many types of non-language based learning that will not be affected by dyslexia, whereas processing speed will impact all areas of an individuals life.

Mathematics:

In math class, a child with reduced processing speed may take longer to solve problems, and especially complete multi-step calculations (think long division!). Word problems are also extremely frustrating to children with reduced processing speeds because they may require extra time to process the information presented in word problems.

Between reading the problem, understanding which information is necessary, identifying the correct operations, then solving the actual problem - these children may need significant extra time to come to the correct answer. This also leads to more opportunities for mistakes.

Following Directions:

During classroom activities, a child with reduced processing speed may struggle to follow verbal instructions quickly. It is important to note that these children are NOT trying to be a behavior problem! Instructions may need repeated explanations or additional time to process the information before completing tasks.

Often times, these children feel “left behind” are are always looking to peers to make sure they are not supposed to be doing something else. The need for extra time to understand and process directions can lead to delays in completing assignments or participating in group activities, and potential social difficulties.

Writing:

When writing essays or completing written assignments, a child with reduced processing speed will likely need extra time to organize their thoughts and formulate coherent and grammatically correct sentences. Often times, these students struggle to express themselves fluently, feeling like their thoughts are “stuck in their brain”. The difficulty in getting those thoughts onto the paper results in slower writing speed and difficulty meeting deadlines for completing assignments.

Social Interactions:

In social settings, both among peers and adults, a child with reduced processing speed may have difficulty keeping up with conversations or processing social cues in real-time. They may struggle to respond quickly to questions or participate in fast-paced discussions. This “lag” can lead to feelings of frustration or isolation, or a general sense of “not fitting in”.

These are just a few examples of how reduced processing speed can manifest in children across various academic and social contexts. It's essential to recognize that each child is unique, and their experiences with reduced processing speed (especially when considering the specific amount of a deficit for each individual child) may vary. By understanding these challenges and providing appropriate support, we can help children with reduced processing speed thrive academically and socially.

Identifying and Diagnosing Reduced Processing Speed

Teachers, parents, and doctors play key roles in identifying reduced processing speed in children - but only a licensed clinical psychologist, neuropsychologist, school psychologist, or educational diagnostician can diagnose. Teachers may notice that a student consistently takes longer to complete assignments or struggles to keep up with class discussions or activities. Parents may observe similar difficulties at home, such as delays in completing chores or difficulty following multistep instructions.

Formal assessments may include standardized tests, observations, and interviews to assess the child's abilities (both academic and cognitive) and processing speed relative to their peers (usually same aged peers across the country). A diagnosis of reduced processing speed may be made if the child consistently demonstrates slower processing abilities across multiple domains, AND there is not a reduced ability across various other domains. If there are general lower scores across the board, this is likely not (just) a processing delay.

Interventions for Reduced Processing Speed

Interventions for reduced processing speed are not like typical tutoring. They focus on providing targeted support to help children overcome challenges and develop strategies to help compensate for any delays. These interventions or accommodations may include:

• Extended Time: Providing additional time for completing assignments, tests, and other academic tasks (including class discussions and other activities)
• Multisensory Learning: Utilizing multisensory (think movement while learning) teaching methods that engage multiple senses to enhance learning and retention of information.
• Assistive Technology: Introducing assistive technology tools, such as speech-to-text software, recorded lessons, or audio books to help children access and process information more efficiently.
• Executive Functioning Skills Training: Teaching executive functioning skills, such as organization, time management, and task prioritization, to help children manage their workload. Simple hacks like color coding folders and books for certain classes all together, or labeling folders can go a long way!
• Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504 Plans: After an evaluation has been completed, you will be collaborating with a team of educators and specialists at the school to develop an individualized education plan (IEP) that outlines accommodations and support strategies tailored to the child's specific needs. Your child’s teacher will be part of this team, and they can give great guidance on what they see as being helpful in the classroom.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

If you have a child with reduced processing speed, there are a few important things to remember. For starters, the importance of building a support network. Join online support groups, find resources and professionals to follow on social media, and work as a team with your child’s teachers to understand how they learn best.

Additionally, finding the right specialists to work with your child, such as the teachers at LD Expert, can make a huge difference! Understanding the patience involved, and the specific strategies to help learners with reduced processing speed master a topic is a skill that takes experience to understand.

Conclusion

Reduced processing speed can contribute to significant challenges for children in various aspects of their lives, including academic success and social interactions. However, with early identification and appropriate support, children with reduced processing speed can learn to compensate for and feel less frustrated with their challenges. Children with reduced processing speed can absolutely achieve academic and social success. By working closely with educators, professionals, parents, and extended support communities, you can be an amazing advocate for your child! Schedule a consultation today.