Extremely slow processing speed and average intelligence

[Anonymous]

Op, I'm so glad you posted this. this is our son too - except we've been told lower IQ rather than average. Although I do suspect it's because of his very slow processing speed and learning disabilities.

We've been struggling with the sports he should do as well. He is only in the 2nd grade, but we're already seeing a disconnect with his peers (can't keep up with the games they play) and sports (same thing - not quick enough to get it). we are seeing him being isolated from friends and it's heartbreaking.

we are going to try non-team sports next - swimming, karate, etc. but even those were a bit challenging for him when we tried them years ago.

I just wanted to offer support since we are struggling with the same issue.

[Anonymous]

I have an 11 year old DS with the same profile (no ADHD though). Definitely soccer was terrible. After learning his diagnosis we suddenly understood why he just couldn't see to "get in the action". Thankfully he was diagnosed at 7 and we've had IEP supports since then. He is still a slow reader (we are encouraging audiobooks to keep him interested in reading), a slow writer (needs and gets writing support), terrific at math, passionate about lots of things, the sweetest kid, and he struggles with anxiety (he's been seeing a therapist for the past few years which has really helped with his anxiety levels). I have found that getting a team approach going (with his teachers and doctors) has really helped him. We've tried lots of individual sports but he feels to anxious to do anything competitive. He loves rock climbing though. The other interested trait that he has had since he was very young is whenever he is put in a new situation (a theater performance, an amazing movie, etc) he can't react to it in the moment. He just has a look of intense concentration on his face (won't even laugh if it is something funny) but as soon as it is over he'll start to share his emotions and thoughts about what he just experienced. For us, that is what slow processing means. He learns in two steps, (1) processing the information, (2) reacting to/analyzing the information. He can't do them both at the same time. We've had lots of discussions with him about his learning style and his strengths and weaknesses and I think talking about it has helped him accept his abilities and appreciate the things that he is really good at (which are many!). We will be retesting him before middle school (so next year) and it will be interesting to see how his results may have changed.

[Anonymous]

My child fits this profile. I second getting a full NP decal. Processing speed, ADHD, anxiety, and executive functioning are often mixed up together in more simple evaluations. Peer relationships have been the hardest as well as siblings. My younger child is much quicker and less patient. I strongly suggest you read Elken Beaaten's book Bright Kids Who Can't Catch Up. She has some online lectures I found helpful. One of the best things you can teach your child is to advocate for him or herself ("please give me a minute to think). Ask the teacher for extra wait time in class and not just in examinations (here's your question, I'll come back to you in a minute)

I've accepted that my child probably won't be an emergency room physician, but there are different specialties in any career (oncologist or pathologist rather than ER physician, etc)

[Anonymous]

I'm the teacher who posted earlier. I'd suggest artistic fields especially technical drawing and interior design. I know a couple adults who fit your DS's profile through a part time job I had at a small design firm. Neither was great with short deadline projects, but they both did incredible work and our boss was willing to play to their strengths.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op, I'm so glad you posted this. this is our son too - except we've been told lower IQ rather than average. Although I do suspect it's because of his very slow processing speed and learning disabilities.

We've been struggling with the sports he should do as well. He is only in the 2nd grade, but we're already seeing a disconnect with his peers (can't keep up with the games they play) and sports (same thing - not quick enough to get it). we are seeing him being isolated from friends and it's heartbreaking.

we are going to try non-team sports next - swimming, karate, etc. but even those were a bit challenging for him when we tried them years ago.

I just wanted to offer support since we are struggling with the same issue.

Strangely, my son tested with with superior processing speed, but there is a lag when it comes to sports. He has ADHD and just does not react quickly enough to play group sports. He's in 3rd grade.

Anyway, he does reasonably well in martial arts and swimming. These sports are popular among kids with these issues for good reason.

[Anonymous]

Did they give you a full scale IQ number? DD went to Stixrud, and her WM and processing speed where much lower than her other scores, so they have her a General Ability Index (GAI) score instead of IQ. So the IQ would be closer to 105, but the GAI score is 116... though she is clearly not gifted, it took into account ADHD and other issues that may have impacted her over all IQ score.

That said, she struggles with fast paced sports, or learning new things in school... and of course it takes eternity for homework/school work to get done.

I am hopeful she will find a good fit for a career, and a focused interest in school at some point.

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to say thank yo for all who shared about their slow processing skills, EF etc....
I have found it very helpful as we struggle to support our DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just wanted to say thank yo for all who shared about their slow processing skills, EF etc....
I have found it very helpful as we struggle to support our DD.

Good. That's what we are here for (most of us, actually). To help others find their way. DCUM either wasn't around or I hadn't found it when I was trying to find my way through the SN mess 15 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does slow processing speed affect the social skills of older kids? Can they have back and forth conversation, participate in group discussions / team projects?

My DS does very well in smaller groups. In larger settings he needs more encouragement from the teachers to participate in class. When asked questions directly, he does fine. If he has to jump in, it is more difficult for him. If it is a subject he feels confident about, he does well too.

These are not dumb kids. They just absorb information a bit slower. Right now my DS's passion is World War II, and he shows impressive knowledge about the era, devouring book after book. Cannot stop talking about it

How do you get teachers to do this? DD has slow processing and is very shy. She has two classes where teachers are sticklers on participation - worth 25% of the grade. She has and NC (F) in one class for participation and C- in the other. These grades bring down her overall grade. Her 504 plan says only ask her one question (with the hope of her raising her hand) as she was nervous about any follow up question and not knowing the answer to the second question that she would not raise her hand. This has helped some but she has a hard time formulating a response quick enough to raise her hand before the teacher moves on. She's struggling....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How does slow processing speed affect the social skills of older kids? Can they have back and forth conversation, participate in group discussions / team projects?

My DS does very well in smaller groups. In larger settings he needs more encouragement from the teachers to participate in class. When asked questions directly, he does fine. If he has to jump in, it is more difficult for him. If it is a subject he feels confident about, he does well too.

These are not dumb kids. They just absorb information a bit slower. Right now my DS's passion is World War II, and he shows impressive knowledge about the era, devouring book after book. Cannot stop talking about it

How do you get teachers to do this? DD has slow processing and is very shy. She has two classes where teachers are sticklers on participation - worth 25% of the grade. She has and NC (F) in one class for participation and C- in the other. These grades bring down her overall grade. Her 504 plan says only ask her one question (with the hope of her raising her hand) as she was nervous about any follow up question and not knowing the answer to the second question that she would not raise her hand. This has helped some but she has a hard time formulating a response quick enough to raise her hand before the teacher moves on. She's struggling....

I'm the teacher who posted above. For my students with slow processing speeds, I do three things to amp up their verbal participation. The first is that I provide the class with discussion questions in advance and let the student know a small number of questions that I might ask him or her. So if the post-reading reflection has six questions, I might stop by Larla's desk and put a small dot next to two questions. Larla knows that I will ask her one of those two. The second thing that I do is to "The Remix". My students love this. I will write down everyone's contributions on the board at the beginning of class and then 5 minutes before the bell I say "Reeeeeeeeeeeeeh Mixxxxxxxxxx!" in a silly dubsteppy tone. Students have a couple minutes to "remix" someone else's answer with new info and share with a classmate. I let Larlo know before my announcement that I will call on him for "The Remix". The simplest thing of all is that we do "But the Most Important thing to remember is..." and I pick 4 to 5 students. They have to be additive, until you get to the last person who can be additive OR repetitive. I pick the child who processes slowly last so that they have time to either formulate a new answer or they can declare someone else's answer the most important thing to remember.

By the way, your teachers sound like they need more training with Wait Time 1 AND Wait Time 2.

[Anonymous]

PP teacher, I love you. Thank you for integrating our kids like this. How did you figure this stuff out? I don't know of anyone who is doing this sort of thing in my area (Arlington).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you just described my son to a T. He has average intelligence, poor working memory and processing speed. He also has a lot of trouble focusing. He is the sweetest little guy and always works really hard at everything, poor little guy. He attends OT and it helps him a lot.
He enjoys soccer and plays tennis with me. Does not like to read fiction at all, but reads tons of magazines and science books.

How does OT help?

DD just started working with a speech pathologist for executive functioning skills but I wonder if OT would help her slow processing skiils.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP teacher, I love you. Thank you for integrating our kids like this. How did you figure this stuff out? I don't know of anyone who is doing this sort of thing in my area (Arlington).

Thanks. Trial and error mostly. Also, there are great training opportunities outside of what my system offers. If I was stuck with our in service on students with slow processing, I wouldn't have more a list of what not to do.

[Anonymous]

Yes please suggest a good testers in the my area for adults. I am in North Miami Beach and VR is not helping me at all. Their test just said I am a slow processor but I do not have any LDs. They believe nothing is with me but I struggled in college and at work all the time. I get in trouble alot for not doing my job fast enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unless you feel your child was evaluated by a first class professional, be wary.

Why? Because she acknowledged that he has average IQ?

OP, you have violated the unspoken rule of DCUM. No children here have average IQs. They are all highly gifted. You need to find a specialist who will say your son is a genius. Anything less is neglect on your part.

Please shut up. This is the special needs forum.

Wide disparities between processing speed and intelligence should, perhaps, result in another test at another time.

Reread the post, it is obviously written humorously.

NP and no, it wasn't funny. It was snide. Grow up and leave the SN board alone.