Slow Processing Speed in Kids: Signs to Watch For
You may think of processing speed as just how quickly you’re able to complete a task, but the reality is that this skill impacts so many other areas of thinking and learning. It’s the “entry point” skill in your brain: everything you see, hear, touch, taste, smell, interpret from the world around you goes through processing speed. For many kids, slow processing speed is a major block for engaging in conversations, activities, and learning effectively.
What Slow Processing Speed is Not
Many kids with slow processing speed may take longer to grasp information or complete tasks, but it’s not because of a deficit of intelligence. Their brain just takes longer to process the world, interpret it, and analyze it.
Everything your brain does goes through a network of cognitive skills. Struggles in learning, relationships, communication, test-taking, etc. don’t always necessarily point to a diagnosable learning disability, but they DO always have an underlying root cause (like slow processing speed).
Signs of Slow Processing Speed:
Here are some of the top things we see in kids with slow processing speed:
- Frequently being the last to complete assignments or tests
- Needing extra time for tasks that peers complete more quickly
- Being shy or reserved, taking a while to warm up to new situations or people
- Getting easily overwhelmed by loud or crowded environments
- Needing something explained multiple times because they missed part of it
- Struggling to follow multi-step directions
- Missing cues in conversation
- Frequently changing their mind because they can’t process an actual answer fast enough
- Nervousness or anxiety about new situations, teachers, coaches, etc.
- Poor reading comprehension
- Issues with problem-solving
Check out this video for more signs to watch for:
If any of these situations resonate you’re probably wondering: how can we make ourselves (and our kids) think faster?
Ways to Increase Processing Speed
The good news is that if you and your child are frustrated by the speed at which their brain works, there are ways to hit the gas pedal and grow this skill! Some things you can do at home include:
- Playing fast-paced games. Blink, Dutch Blitz, Pictionary, and other timed games make you think faster on your feet! (Here is a roundup of some simple, fast games to try.)
- Set goals and use a timer. Trying to get out the door faster in the morning? 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! This doesn’t happen by removing all distractions (since that would be impossible). Instead, intentionally making the choice to grow selective attention skills in the face of real-life distractions makes all the difference.
Targeted Brain Training for Slow Processing Speed
At LearningRx, we have 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.
In past clients, processing speed has improved by an average of 2 skill years after training! While every brain is different and your results may vary, we’d love the chance to talk more about why brain training is a helpful tool for targeting these essential skills for thinking and learning.
For many kids, slow processing speed is just one piece of the puzzle. Other cognitive skills may also be weak and have an impact on their daily functioning. Instead of just guessing what they are, you can know! Our cognitive skills assessment takes an in-depth look at the way the brain works and allows you to see exactly where your child’s strengths and weaknesses are. Then we can create a plan to help them make thinking and learning easier and more efficient!
