![]() ![]() In the studies done at the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP) at Mass General, we have found that: Regardless of the reasons for the deficit, the real world impairments are significant. The short answer to that question is, “It’s complicated and we don’t know how to fix it.” It’s complicated because there is no single region of the brain that is responsible for the primary problem with processing speed rather, one’s ability to process information involves a complex network of different parts of the brain, any or all of which may result in slower speed of processing. In fact, perhaps the most difficult question parents ask me is, “What exactly is processing speed, and is there any way to fix it?” However, often it’s the impaired processing speed that can eventually be one of the more challenging problems in a child’s profile. In addition, most of the kids I see who have processing speed problems have other primary diagnoses such as ADHD, a learning disability, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Even more simply, processing speed could be defined as how long it takes to get stuff done.īecause we place such a high value on doing things quickly in our culture, it can be difficult to live with a nervous system that needs more time to process information. Another way to define processing speed is to say that it’s the time required to perform an intellectual task or the amount of work that can be completed within a certain period of time. Processing speed involves one or more of the following functions: the amount of time it takes to perceive information (this can be through any of the senses, but usually through the visual and auditory channels), process information and/or formulate or enact a response. Is this a real increase in the population at large? Is it an artifact of the types of curriculum used in our schools? Is too much value placed on product and not enough on experiencing the process? Or, does it just seem like a bigger problem because what was once regarded as a behavioral trait is now a real disability in a world in which quick processing has become a more important necessity? It’s impossible to answer this question with the data we have now, but regardless of the cause, the emotional toll of having slower processing speed has significant consequences for children. In conversations with other professionals around the country, many tell me they are experiencing the same trend. In my work as a child psychologist who specializes in pediatric neuropsychology, it seems that I’m evaluating more and more kids with processing speed deficits every year. These are kids who may have what are known as processing speed deficits. Other kids don’t, or, perhaps it would be fairer to say they can’t. They run, talk, complete homework assignments and do all sorts of things at a rate that seems appropriate for their age. Q+A: What’s the Difference Between Slow Processing Speed and Other Disorders?.Processing Speed in Social Relationships.Coping With Slow Processing Speed At Home And At School.Braaten entitled Bright Kids Who Can’t Keep Up. This post is the first in a multi-part series from Dr. ![]()
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