Signs of Slow Processing Speed and How to Think Faster
Slow processing speed impacts every area of life, whether you’re 5 or 95. The ability to think quickly opens up the door to MUCH easier learning, reading, remembering, reasoning, and performing in schools or workplaces. If you suspect you or your child might have slow processing speed, here are some of the top warning signs:
Constantly missing important pieces of information in classes or conversations.
Are you always asking, “what? Can you say that again?” or “Remind me what you told me about ____.” Or is your child in their own world, seeming to miss a lot that goes on around them?
These are all signs of slow processing speed because your brain is not adequately keeping up with new input fast enough to manage.
Taking a long time to complete tests or homework, resulting in frustration, shame, or feeling like they’re missing out.
Does your child alway finish last on tests or assignments? Are they embarrassed to read in front of other people because of how slowly they go? Or do you as an adult constantly feel like you’re one step behind everyone else, just struggling to keep up?
Being “slow” comes with a lot of feelings of shame and frustration for anyone. Increasing processing speed is a great way to lessen these feelings and boost confidence in all areas of life!
Struggling to keep up with verbal and non-verbal communication, whether from adults or your child’s peers.
Communication is a quick art. You have to hear what someone’s saying, take in their body language, and formulate an appropriate response. For some people who seem “distant” or “awkward,” the real reason may be that they just can’t keep up with the speed of a conversation.
Many individuals who complete brain training programs to increase processing speed report that they are better able to explain their thoughts and engage in conversations in everyday life.
Having trouble applying new information to their lives or reasoning through a question to come up with a solution.
Do you or your child ever feel stuck? Is there a massive learning curve for ANYTHING you try to do? It could be because slow processing speed is making you work harder (and longer) than necessary.
Being able to think on your feet and reason through situations is critical, whether you’re learning to read, learning to drive, learning a trade, or practicing a new skill. Increasing processing speed can make this process go more smoothly!
Having poor reading comprehension.
Reading struggles in general are often tied to slow processing speed. But when it comes to deriving meaning from what you’ve read, this gap can grow even larger. People with slow processing speed get hung up on many stages of reading:
- Identifying the letter
- Tying the letter code with the sound
- Blending effectively
- Remembering what they’ve read
- Forming a picture to derive meaning
- And more
Comprehension requires ALL of these skills to happen quickly—along with a strong memory to keep these things top-of-mind as you go through a text. Slow processing speed can make comprehension much harder for readers of all ages.
Reading struggles are almost ALWAYS tied to cognitive skill weaknesses, but brain training is the best solution to address these struggles from the root cause! Learn more here >>
So How Do We Increase Processing Speed?
If any of these situations resonate you’re probably wondering: how can we make ourselves think faster?
There’s no one easy way, but some things to consider are:
- Playing fast-paced games. Blink, Dutch Blitz, Nertz, and other timed games make you think faster on your feet! (Here is a roundup of some simple, fast games to try.)
- Set goals for yourself and use a timer. Trying to get homework done faster? Use incentives and rewards to mark progress and encourage faster thinking.
- Learn to tune out distractions. Often slow processing speed and poor attention go hand-in-hand because distractions send you off track, making your thinking seem slower. Learning to tune out distractions can help you get tasks done more quickly!
Targeted Brain Training for Slow Processing Speed
LearningRx has a unique program that builds processing speed in almost everything we do. By using a metronome during our procedures, we force clients to complete tasks at gradually increasing speeds. This along with other targeted activities allows the brain to become faster and more efficient in its thought processes.
If you suspect that you or your child is struggling because of slow thinking speed, click here for a FREE brain skills quiz that can shed light on how your brain ranks!
