Author: Butnik, S.
Publisher: 2e Newsletter
Year: May/June 2013
It’s not unusual for gifted students to have slow processing speed. Of itself, slow processing speed is not a formal learning disability, but having it can frustrate students, teachers, and parents. As a clinical child psychologist specializing in assessing and treating students with attention deficit disorders and other learning problems, I often hear parents tell me their very bright child isn’t finishing her classwork or that homework takes hours and hours to complete. Through observation or formal assessment of their child, these parents have been told that the child has slow processing speed.
Understanding the role of slow processing speed is essential. Gifted students with processing speed problems who are “missed,” misdiagnosed, or mis-taught may become discouraged, depressed, undereducated, underemployed, or worse. By contrast, when these twice-exceptional (2e) children are understood and well-addressed educationally, they can become treasures who shine in unique ways.
In this article I will explain what sort of struggles children with slow processing speed experience; where slow processing speed comes from; how it can be identified; and what students, teachers, and parents can do to reduce or eliminate its impact.
The Signs of Slow Processing Speed
At home, parents easily see slow processing speed in areas outside of homework. Aiden’s mom asked him to get dressed ten minutes ago and when she checks on him, he hasn’t even begun — and he has to be at the bus stop in five minutes! Nancy’s family is in the car waiting for her and she, as usual, is still in the house, looking for her book. At school, Jack didn’t finish writing his assignment in his planner when the bell rang, so he left out important information because he couldn’t afford to be tardy again for his next class. When Emily didn’t finish her classwork, her teacher sent the unfinished work home to be completed along with her usual homework. These children all have slow work pace, which leads to problems at school and at home. They need the understanding and help of parents and teachers so that they can succeed and so that their self-esteem is not damaged.
Understanding the source of the problem in children like these is a critical part of knowing how to help them. Thorough medical and psychoeducational evaluations are necessary because there are many sources of slow work pace. It can be associated with physical illness or injury such as low thyroid, epilepsy, or traumatic brain injury. It might be related to other physical problems such as lack of adequate sleep or reaction to medications. It might also be part of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disorders, and/or emotional factors. We’ll take a look at some of these possible causes.
Slow Processing Speed Associated with ADHD
Children with the predominantly inattentive subtype of ADHD may have a sluggish cognitive tempo. They typically daydream, stare off, and appear spacey. They may be mentally foggy, underactive, slow moving, and lethargic. Their work is often slow and error prone. Their brain activity shows patterns of under arousal in the portion of the brain associated with focus and planning.
In addition, children with ADHD typically exhibit poor executive functions, brain-based behaviors that contribute to effective functioning. A useful model of executive functions (See the figure below.) has been developed by Thomas Brown, Ph.D., a psychologist at Yale University. These are the functions, according to Brown, that are impaired in attention deficit disorder syndrome.
Some children take more time to complete tasks due to trouble with activation. A student may not begin a task due to problems organizing time or materials, or due to reluctance, uncertainty, lack of confidence, or anxiety. Other children may take more time to complete tasks because of problems maintaining focus. While time is passing, these students may be distracted or daydreaming, drawn to other, more interesting stimuli.
Effort includes processing speed as well as mental stamina. When effort is a problem, the child’s work pace is very slow and he may complain that his “brain is very tired.” When the problem is emotional, on the other hand, children find it hard to regulate their feelings. They might melt down when starting to work or encountering a frustrating task; or they may refuse to work, be argumentative, or have tantrums.
Problems in working memory can add to the time it takes a child to complete tasks. After reading a paragraph, a child with poor working memory may forget what she just read and need to read it again; or he may stop working on a class assignment because he forgot the directions. Finally, when action is a problem, the child has trouble sitting still, fidgets with objects, or may want to stand or walk around when working.
An additional issue that children with ADHD face is having a poor sense of time. For them, time seems to go more slowly during the tasks they feel are boring while moving more quickly for tasks they find interesting. When planning work tasks, a child with ADHD may underestimate how long the task will take; and when playing, the child may be unaware of how much time has passed. Taken together, poor executive functions and poor time sense can make homework take hours to complete and create major stress.
Slow Processing Speed Associated with Cognitive Functioning and Learning Problems
Processing speed is an element of intelligence, as measured by many tests of cognitive ability, including the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (4th Edition). Scores for both the Working Memory and Processing Speed subtests make up the WISC-IV’s Cognitive Proficiency Index. These abilities are separate from the WISC-IV’s General Abilities Index, a measure of core intelligence derived from an individual’s Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Reasoning Indices (verbal and nonverbal abilities).
Many 2e children show substantial differences between their verbal abilities and working memory capacity and/or between their nonverbal abilities and processing speed. Working memory and processing speed scores are often low in 2e children.
The WISC-IV’s Processing Speed Index is calculated from the Coding and Symbol Search subtest scores. A supplemental subtest is Cancellation. These three subtests, described in the next paragraph, rely on rapid visual/motor analysis and output. Because processing speed can be affected by a number of factors, it is not a unified construct like other parts of the WISC-IV. See the figure below.
Each of these three subtests taps different abilities that contribute to the Processing Speed score. Coding, which requires children to draw symbols, is heavily influenced by grapho-motor demands. Children with poor handwriting or dysgraphia may struggle with this task. Symbol Search has less emphasis on motor output but requires rapid differentiation of abstract symbols. Cancellation, the supplemental Processing Speed subtest, makes use of concrete images rather than symbols.
Tests of educational achievements make use of processing speed on subtests that measure academic fluency. For example, the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement include three subtests of fluency:
- Reading Fluency. For three minutes the student quickly reads simple sentences and answers yes or no to each.
- Writing Fluency. Using three words and a picture, the student quickly writes simple sentences for seven minutes.
- Math Fluency. The student rapidly performs simple calculations for three minutes.
2e children who have trouble activating, are inattentive, or have sluggish cognitive tempo may struggle on all of these tasks. 2e children with slow motor output would have less trouble on Reading Fluency but would do more poorly on the Math and Writing Fluency tests. Working memory problems would likely have a greater impact on Math Fluency than on the other fluency tasks.
Slow processing speed is not a learning disorder. To be considered to have a learning disorder, a student must have the following:
- Average or better intelligence
- Patterns of substantial processing differences
- A significant difference between abilities and achievements.
However, research has shown that processing speed is linked to reading development and reading performance. Specifically, processing speed may be a factor in these situations:
- Reading disorders such as dyslexia
- A subset of reading disorders in which individuals display marked difficulties with verbal and visual processing speed
- Grapho-motor problems (dysgraphia). Individuals with dysgraphia have serious trouble forming letters and numbers; their handwriting is slow and labored; they may have trouble with spacing between words; they mix upper- and lower-case letters; etc. Because neatness only comes with their taking much time, their written work can be very strained and painful.
Slow Processing Speed Associated with Emotional Interference
In addition to cognitive and attentional variables, a number of emotional factors can increase how much time it takes for students to complete work. When students are anxious, their processing speed can slow due to self-doubt, uncertainty, second-guessing, and self-consciousness.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can cause even more slowing. Here are some examples of how children with OCD might behave in this context:
- One child has developed a “rule” that if he hesitates when reading, he “has to” reread the entire passage.
- Another child spends inordinate time when writing, laboring to form letters and numbers so that they are “perfect.”
How to Address Slow Processing Speed
After a thorough psychological and educational evaluation, a plan can be developed to reduce the impact of slow processing speed. Intervention strategies fall into three categories: school-based, home-based, and child-based.
School-based Strategies
A public schools’ child study committee can provide an evaluation to determine a student’s eligibility for accommodations and modifications. If a formal learning disorder is identified, an Individual Education Program (IEP) can be provided, following provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. Students without formal learning disorders, but who are having trouble learning due to ADHD, may receive services under Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Schools may also provide services before determining formal eligibility through Response to Intervention (RtI). [For information on RtI, see the November, 2012, and January, 2013, issues of 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter.]
Regardless of the category of services for which the gifted student qualifies, it’s important to prevent slow processing from interfering with a child’s success. Teachers should be aware of how slow processing speed can affect the performance of bright students and strive to differentiate their instruction. Gifted students with slow work pace should not be denied gifted education opportunities.
To provide suitable interventions, a teacher or school needs to determine the source of the problems and tailor interventions to the individual student’s needs. To the right are examples of interventions that can address them.
Other school accommodations or modifications may include:
- Increased time to complete tasks including quizzes, tests, and exams
- Providing a method of prompting the student to increase time awareness
- Eliminating unnecessary clerical tasks (e.g., transcribing math problems from a textbook to a work sheet) and making use of brief response formats
- Eliminating timed tests such as “Mad Math Minute” tests
- Reducing the number of tasks required to demonstrate competence (such as 5 math problems instead of 25)
- Monitoring time spent on homework and adjusting assignments as necessary.
Home-based Strategies
Parents should become aware of the impact of slow processing speed on their child’s daily living and develop plans to reduce that impact. Because students with slow processing speed often have major problems with homework, parents should work with the teacher to determine how much time the student should spend on each homework assignment and what to do if the time is exceeded. The goal is to avoid homework battles. If handwriting interferes with work pace, some of the school-based suggestions in the table can be implemented at home.
Parents should avoid personalizing, punishing, and reacting emotionally, remembering that slow processing speed is not purposeful and can improve. Parents can help by providing more structure, using schedules, timers, clocks, alarms, and incentives. With older children, it can pay to involve them in the problem-solving process.
Children with ADHD may benefit from stimulant medications such as Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall, or Vyvanse. This type of medication may not directly increase actual processing speed but can often help with activation and focus, increasing a child’s work pace. Once a child is properly diagnosed, parents can explore the medication option with their child’s pediatrician or medical specialist. It’s also important for parents to monitor and address any sleep problems that may occur and to encourage sound nutrition as well as frequent, vigorous exercise.
Child-based Strategies
Because some very bright students with slow processing speed do not see themselves as smart, it’s important to help them understand the nature and pattern of their abilities. It may help to remind them that all people have strengths and weaknesses and that having a slower pace does not mean one is not smart. One student loved that I referred to him as an intellectual tank — not very fast, but extremely powerful.
Some students make good use of timers and alarms to help them track time. A teenager I worked with began using an alarm clock in the bathroom to remind him to get out of the shower. It can also help to conduct a time study. Parents can use a stopwatch to determine how much time it takes the child to complete routine tasks like doing a chore or getting dressed for school. These times can be used as goals to work toward and rewards can be provided when the student completes a task within the allotted time.
Conclusion
When they go unrecognized and their needs go unaddressed, gifted students with a slower pace can feel discouraged and demoralized. However, once they are understood and efforts are made to help reduce the impact of the slower pace, these students’ best abilities can shine. Parents may need to take the lead and arrange for evaluations, educate those involved in their children’s lives, and provide their child with unwavering support and encouragement.
Steven Butnik, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist and co-director of ADDVANTAGE, PLLC in Richmond, Virginia, a private practice dedicated to evaluating individuals with attention problems and other learning problems. In addition, he is trained to perform quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and neurofeedback as well as to offer an evidenced-based training program to improve working memory in individuals with ADHD. Dr. Butnik has written and spoken about various ADHD and learning issues, served as a consultant for a University of Virginia study investigating the roles of multiple ADHD assessment instruments, and was appointed as a reviewer/consultant for the Journal of Attention Disorders in 2008.
If you’re interested in receiving parenting support for your gifted child, our Young Scholars program offers a wealth of resources, professionals, and parent-to-parent connections to help you navigate raising a profoundly gifted/twice-exceptional child. Apply today.
Permission Statement
This article is reprinted with permission from the 2e Newsletter and the author.
This article is provided as a service of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting profoundly gifted young people 18 and under. To learn more about the Davidson Institute’s programs, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org.
Disclaimer: The appearance of any information in the Davidson Institute’s Resource Library does not imply an endorsement by, or any affiliation with, the Davidson Institute. All information presented is for informational and archival purposes only. The Davidson Institute bears no responsibility for the content of republished material. Please note the date, author, and publisher information available if you wish to make further inquiries about any republished materials in our Resource Library.
Comments
Venetia Sladek
pk
Meditation and Playing Chess and Table tennis has helped me a lot .
Also i think choosing the career that you love may also help which (I am trying ) to get over all the issues.
Love
Paul Channon
I'm a 64 year old male. I always struggled in school, more so in later years, doing very poorly in the final exams and so, did not get to attend university. From, perhaps age 16 onwards I realised that I was not a top student but did not know why. My 'cognition' was such that I did not realise there was a real problem until, in my early 30s I heard a discussion on the national broadcaster (in Australia) about the topic of ADD/ADHD. The discussion rang many 'bells' so I saw one of the 'gurus' (in Australia) of ADHD. I had prepared notes of all the issues I believed I had (eg concentration problems, higher-end IQ but poor school results, etc). I started to read from my notes and he stopped me, saying "no, tell me in your own words without looking at your notes." After about 20 (stumbling) words, he stopped me and said, no doubts, you have ADD. He started me on ADD medication which was somewhat effective but not the effect he was decribing - to paraphrase him: "when you get the right medication, it is like a camera, finally coming into focus". Trying to keep my story as brief as possible, I went on and off medication over the years - all seemed to help a bit, but there was no dramatic 'focussing'. Now, so many years down the track, and with the benefit of many more years of self analysis and research, it's obvious that slow processing speed and poor working memory - in esscence, poor executive function is a significant part of my problem. Whilst excellent at basic maths (addition/subtraction/division/multiplication in my head), my reading speed and comprehension is poor, although spelling and sentence construction is ok. Now back on ADHD medication (Dex) over the past 8 - 10 years, I've realised that it does, at least, assist a tired 64 year old brain to concentrate a little better. I've spent the last few years researching scientific articles on ADHD, processing speed, executive function, substance abuse (alcohol for me) for those with these conditions. I've tried trans-cranial direct-current stimulation (TCDS)(self-administered, very carefully), with effectiveness measured by any improvements in 'Luminosity' scores. Whilst there were minimal gains in relation to my scores, and to my peer group, there were no huge improvements. I've also looked at Trans-Cranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) but the cost of either purchasing equipment or getting professional treatment is prohibitive. At one stage, in my late 30s, I had a test (at a hospital clinic) where I had the 'skull-cap with wires' evaluation. The diagnostician advised me that there was also a significant component of OCD in my results. Since that result I have realised that there is an element of OCD in my day - having to make sure that work tasks are processed in a particular way/order, sticking to 'naming-conventions' when filing electronic documents, sticking to the same routine of morning tea at 10.00 am and lunch at 12.00, etc. I mainly recognise this in relation to what my co-workers do (or fail to do - something which bothers me but is a further manifestation of the issues!). I work in payroll/HR and have done ok up till 2018 when we finally adopted a new (and infitinely more complex) payroll/HR processing system. The younger folk (ie most people except me) seem to handle the new system without too many issues, even though it is '1000 times' more complex than the previous system. I struggle (and I'll bet many of you do too) when a new task is complex but then, as the adoption process continues, things change quickly and you are required to rapidly and constantly change procedures. This brought me in 2023 to the point where I was put on a performance-improvement program' (think early precurser to dismissal) and I had no option but to 'admit' that I had a recognised disability. I come from a generation where you do the very best that you can, so it felt (very much) like admitting to failure.
From my many years of research and personal experience, I've realised that it's difficult to 'know what you don't know' - to see that you may have a deficiency in an area like executive function, until you do some research and 'piggy-back' off the findings of others. I feel like we (science/psychiatry) are slowly rounding on the issues, particularly with people of high IQ who underperform. Lets hope that, with the advent of 'AI', the discovery process for these issues will accelerate!
Sorry if I've bored anyone with my story but I felt you, or your children will probably be going through the same issues eventually, and I wish you all the best in your journey. Please realise that depression, hopelessness and doubting of self-worth are likely to be an issue for you or your children at some point - recognise this and seek professional assistance where necessary to ensure that we don't lose the unique contribution that someone with such issues can provide.
Kellee Montoya
Brad
Shawn Hoyle
Precious
Christiana ikuenobe
Anonymous
Secondly, I outsource personal chores at home as much as I can. It’s important to keep things simple at home with simple meals, a job with a uniform is ideal (if not create one). Also reduce the amount of stuff you have. The less stuff you have the less you have to clean. If you can afford it, order groceries online, use a laundry service, hire a cleaning lady. I have found that these tasks take so much time for me that’s it’s worth the cost to pay for these services and have less stuff. I also set alarms on my phone for reminders and timers to help with time management.
At the end of the day I focus on using my strengths as much as possible and find ways to minimize my weakness at home and at work. It’s important to look at the big picture and cut out unnecessary tasks that are time consuming.
Anuradha
Mustapha
Thanks for sharing and good going..
Keep well
Helen Williamson
Jessamyn Land
I wish my teachers had known what to look for, and been able to recognize my issues and help me. All that struggle and demoralization was so unnecessary!
It's taken me quite a while to get used to the ideas I am encountering, and I have new revelations about my past everyday.
My two cents: Take your time as you discover about yourself; I am finding it all a little overwhelming.
On the bright side, understanding and finding new coping strategies is exciting and so hopeful and helpful! I am truly enjoying finding ways to actually function in my life for the first time!
Wurdruw Zurovast
James Afourkeeff
Meaghan mcb
Labina Farhan
ISBAH Naaz
No help for Adults
Kathleen
Marian Erikson
Nettie Butts
Tiffaney T
Heather
https://www.cognifit.com/science/cognitive-skills/processing-speed
Best,
Heather
Kathy wood
I loved being there for my patients !
In order to do my job, I had to look at my notes before entering a patients room. My
Co- workers would sometimes notice and look at me strangely.
Sometimes they would ask me if I was ok.
Patients rooms were my safe zones. There I was able to focus on that one person and give them my full attention.
It helped to not have over distractions around me.
When I worked in a smaller hospital, some co-workers complimented me and asked me why I wasn’t in nursing school.
I once approached a doctor ( Infectious disease specialist) who was looking into one of my assigned patients chart. I expressed my concern over the misdiagnosis of a patient by the resident doctor. From my experience with other patients, I had a good idea of what this person was suffering from.
Her response was -
“ You are exactly right ! Why aren’t you in medical school ? “
My processing speed and dyslexia prevented me from succeeding in school. Had it not been for that, who know how far I could have gone !
I have always been interested in the medical
field. Still in all, I did love my the time I had with my patients.
I do know that I helped them to realize their worth. I loved them and they knew it.
Jan Keeling
Andrea Ali
Jesseagela
Jesseagela
Davidgok
Richardsmact
Davidgok
marisa hewitt
Keely Woodley
Hank McFadden
Beneth Browne
contexts like the medical and legal fields. I wish you the best.
April V Kronback
I try to explain that they are far behind because im farther behind S a single mom, than most, the way it is. Ive never been able to complete paperwork, and dread theyre much needed appointments, all because its so exhauating just surviving the day, one minute at a time the way it is...notes? Id forget to check my notebook!
I could wake everyday with my blank state of mind- easily missing everything, for the rest of my life, yet im the ONLY advocate my kids have! Ive tried every nonsti.ulat adhd med& various doses to no avail, and due to heart condition, i cannot take stimulants over 3 years now. My final feeling is that I just never know where to begin with anything and I get overwhelmed easily. Delete, and that becomes my day. So then I feel guilty because what am I really doing for my kids?If I could change one thing, it would be definitely my ability. Or my lack thereof. And I would shift it so that I can function somewhat normally I don't need high function.
I just need to function someone normally and be able to Follow through with simple things for my little girls! Honestly though where does One begin when everything that's tried and suggested becomes so overwhelming and I end up missing important appointments?? I think for myself it's cognitive mentally psychological all of the above but but at 41 years old. I make it until 8:09 o'clock. And I am exhausted. Just being me.. I really want and have a desperate need to engage with my children with my girls, But it's so hard to deal with the same difficulties. They're having that I'm having as well Or have had My whole life. My parents are deceased. I can no longer ask them for feedback or advice. I don't have any siblings, no family. So it's just really hard when people ask questions for me to come up with answers that take so much effort to really explain the core problem. Thank you, this post did help a lot and kind of open me up a little bit in the explanation department!
Ashley Alsey
Poppy Firmin
Solidarity message:
I am in exactly the same situation and totally understand your struggle and how you're both feeling. I was formally diagnosed whilst at university about 10 years ago. I am on the 2nd percentile for processing speed, which is pretty damn slow. After being diagnosed I would get extra time in exams which did get me through university, and has also got me through some professional exams. However, I've never really been able to find any useful information about improving or coping strategies, and to be honest this article is the most useful thing I've come accross so far. I'm glad some research is happening.
I work so much overtime just to get the stuff done that's expected of me, and like you Hank, I do it because I really care about my clients and want to help others. I'm an immigration lawyer. But I just dont know how sustainable it is. I got signed off work with depression a couple years ago because it all got too much. I started a new job this week hence trawling the internet for strategies, tips. I'm so worried that they going to realise soon that I'm not good enough.
It impacts massively on my relationships, because my organisation is terrible, I'm late for everything and have no sense of time. People think I'm not making an effort, I've had relationships with partners that have broken down and also growing up was really difficult because my family thought I was defiant and disrespectful, selfish, and deliberately slow to annoy them. So then I would be excluded or exclude myself. It's hard, I often feel unworthy and a bad person, but I keep trying. There is just so little information out there and my attitude has basically been that I just need to try harder and then I'll get up to scratch. Its exhausting!!!!
I dont really have any answers. It's nice to know that there are others with similar struggle, try to remind yourself of the positives like I was told that I make fewer errors because I work so slowly, and I take time for people and being very present with them, I guess just try to celebrate the little wins at work and in life.
:)
P.S. Thanks Dr Butnik for this useful article.
APRIL RAGUSA
I know this is not helping you in your situation at all, but I just wanted you to know that this momma understands what you are facing and maybe it will be of some reassurance to you that I am trying my best not to let my kiddo get to the point in life where you are without enabling him with every tool I can. I'm not perfect and have my own issues to overcome as well, so I don't always have the best solutions for him.
Maybe your desire to care for people will lead you to helping kiddos like mine, and like you, so they don't have to face life without the skills they need to succeed.
Bless you, and know that I at least understand your struggle if that is any consultation. i wish you the best of luck in your journey!
Emma Bennet