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What is Processing Speed?
KoolMinds Team
Processing speed is the pace at which we take in information, make sense of it, and begin to respond. It is the ability of the brain to respond within a given time frame. Processing speed can be impacted across three main areas including visual, verbal, and motor.
Slow processing speed is a term that describes difficulty in getting certain tasks completed in a given period of time. It is not an issue of intelligence or laziness; it just means that you process information slowly.
Signs of Slow Processing Speed
Slow processing speed is a lifelong challenge and the signs can look different for different ages. Some of the common signs that you may notice among individuals with slow processing speed include:
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Needs more time to make decisions and give answers
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Needs to read information multiple times to understand it
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Will often miss social cues
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Has difficulty following directions and routines
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Has difficulty finishing tasks on time or in a reasonable amount of time
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Is overwhelmed by being given too much information at once
Causes of Slow Processing Speed
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Genes. Slow processing speed can be inherited from your parent, grandparent or another close relative.
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Disorders. Slow processing speed can happen on its own, but it often co-occurs with dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, and anxiety. Conditions like high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes can also be a culprit. It can also be caused by head trauma and neurodegenerative illness.
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Brain-Based Factors. There are several brain-based factors that contribute to slow processing speed. There is some evidence that decreased volume in the frontal lobe is related to speed of processing. Other factors that contribute to slow processing speed include: the composition of the neurons in the brain, lower amounts of myelin in the neuron’s surroundings, neurotransmitters in the brain, and the size of the space between neurons, called the synaptic spaces, is also suspected to be a cause of slow processing speed.
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Age. Processing speed normally slows with age. The reason for this isn't fully understood but there is reliable evidence that it results from the wear of the white matter in the brain.
How to Help with Processing Speed
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Practice a specific skill. Research shows that repeating a task makes it become more automatic and faster to process.
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Start routines early. This will help you avoid rushing and feeling anxious.
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Learn to be more efficient. Look for strategies that can help you become more efficient.
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Allow more time. Provide extended time for tests and assignments.
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Improve planning/organization skills. This can help you be more efficient at routine tasks. Keep a log of how long it takes to certain tasks/projects. Try to keep things consistent and predictable so that there is less new information to process.
Articles/Resources
Videos
What Is Slow Processing Speed?
Bright Kids Who Can't Keep Up
If you or your child struggle with slow processing speed, contact KoolMinds today to find out how we can help!
Sources:
[i] Braaten, E., PhD. (2021, March 22). Slow Processing Speed: Signs & Solutions for a Misunderstood Deficit. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/slow-processing-speed-adhd-interventions/
[ii] Clark, A. (2021, January 21). Signs of slow processing speed at different ages. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/signs-of-slow-processing-speed-at-different-ages
[iii] Kelly, K. (2021, May 19). What is slow processing speed? https://www.understood.org/articles/processing-speed-what-you-need-to-know
[iv] Kulman, R. (2017, July 3). What Causes Slow Processing Speed? - LearningWorks for Kids. LearningWorks for Kids. https://learningworksforkids.com/2017/07/causes-slow-processing-speed/
[v] T. (2023, February 15). What Causes Slow Processing Speed? Here Are 4 Reasons - Tomvad. Tomvad. https://tomvad.com/what-causes-slow-processing-speed-here-are-4-reasons/#:~:text=But%2C%20what%20causes%20the%20slow%20processing%20speed%20in,reason%20a%20child%20might%20exhibit%20slow%20processing%20speed.
[i] Braaten, E., PhD. (2021, March 22). Slow Processing Speed: Signs & Solutions for a Misunderstood Deficit. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/slow-processing-speed-adhd-interventions/
[ii] Clark, A. (2021, January 21). Signs of slow processing speed at different ages. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/signs-of-slow-processing-speed-at-different-ages
[iii] Kelly, K. (2021, May 19). What is slow processing speed? https://www.understood.org/articles/processing-speed-what-you-need-to-know
[iv] Kulman, R. (2017, July 3). What Causes Slow Processing Speed? - LearningWorks for Kids. LearningWorks for Kids. https://learningworksforkids.com/2017/07/causes-slow-processing-speed/
[v] T. (2023, February 15). What Causes Slow Processing Speed? Here Are 4 Reasons - Tomvad. Tomvad. https://tomvad.com/what-causes-slow-processing-speed-here-are-4-reasons/#:~:text=But%2C%20what%20causes%20the%20slow%20processing%20speed%20in,reason%20a%20child%20might%20exhibit%20slow%20processing%20speed.
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May 27, 2021
To Whom It May Concern
I am a pediatric neuropsychologist, licensed to practice in both Nevada and Utah. My practice currently offer comprehensive neuropsychological and psychological evaluations for children between 2 1/2 and 17 years of age.
Our team offers expertise in evaluating and diagnosing a wide range of childhood concerns and diagnoses, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, Developmental Delays, Communication Disorders, Anxiety, Depression, and Mood Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Behavioral Disorders. We also offer evaluation for giftedness.
Given the diversity of the population that we serve, our team works with children who struggle with learning for various reasons on a daily basis.
In my opinion, one of the greatest resources for the families in our community who have children in need of specialized intervention to improve their academic abilities, is KoolMinds, founded and operated by Jura Kool.
KoolMinds is the first place that we refer families when their child is diagnosed with a learning difference because we have seen the quality of their service, and the positive impact that they have on their clients, time and time again.
The feedback that we have received from families about their experience with KoolMinds has been overwhelmingly positive.
Ms. Kool is an asset to our community; she is very responsive to questions and has always been able to provide our clinicians as well as our patients and their families with valuable insight and practical tools for improving academic performance and remediating academic difficulties.
When Ms. Kool informed me that she was growing her practice to Utah and Idaho, my first thought was how amazing it will be for families in those states to be able to access her services.
It is exciting to think how many more children and families will have a better quality of life because they will be able to get the help that they need to succeed academically.
In sum, I highly recommend that you consider referring any child with a learning difference to KoolMinds.
Please feel free to contact me if I am able to provide additional information in support of KoolMinds and Jura Kool.
Warmly,Nicole Ann Cavenagh, PhDNV Licensed Psychologist, PY0584UT Licensed Psychologist, 120174472501Pediatric Neuropsychologist
Jura Kool
President & Co-Founder
Jura has been helping students with learning and attention issues since 2009. She is a Reading and Dyslexia specialist, an Orton-Gillingham practitioner, and Educational Advocate.
Jura has done volunteer work as Co-Founder of Decoding Dyslexia of NV where she helps parents with accommodations and resources for students who struggle with Dyslexia. She became passionate about working with students with learning difficulties when she witnessed her own family members struggle with Autism, ADHD, and Dyslexia.
Jura's vision and dream would be for every parent and teacher to understand learning differences and know how to help their students. She has experience with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, ODD, and NLD. She has a background in Psychology, Education, and is currently continuing her education in Linguistics and Cognitive Neuroscience at Brigham Young University.
Jura loves researching about best remedial techniques for students with learning disabilities. Jura enjoys spending her free time with a relaxing movie or good book, reading classics to her children, studying the French language, teaching, traveling, and experiencing new things with her two children and husband. At KoolMinds, she's the Director of Learning and Development and manages the instructional design and support of the programs.
Andrew Mellen
Chief Operating Officer
& Co-Founder
Andrew currently manages the Weber and Davis County KoolMinds locations. He had a unique journey pulling him towards a passion with cognitive skill development. As a young student Andrew struggled to keep up with his schools demands, even in elementary school the load was very overwhelming for him. Specifically reading and concentration were challenge.
When Andrew decided to attend college things really hit a focal point. Immediately the learning struggles became magnified, the learning environment required more individual focus and reading ability. It didn’t take long before he was fighting to pass classes. At this time he had to look at his future with a different perspective, take a different path outside of education or find support to help address the underlying learning blocks.
Immediately after surviving the semester and some research, Andrew enrolled in a cognitive skills program to open up the processing blocks that stood in the way of achieving academic success. A few months later things really started to change, it was about half way through the next semester that he recognized more focus, stamina, retaining information came easier and test scores greatly improved. Reading wasn’t just doable, it was enjoyable!
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