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

Our DD has tested slightly above average intelligence (110 FSIQ) with very low (20% tile) processing speed and executive function deficits. ADHD inattentive, also some above average levels of anxiety. She wasn't tested until high school when we finally realized it wasn't just about her being a reluctant reader or not applying herself. She's 16 now and has been taking Adderall XR 20 mg daily, and we have a 504 plan for her that allows her extended time on tests. It is helping a lot; her grades have gone from C/D's to B/C's and a few As. Recently she took up guitar on her own and is doing really well with it -- all self-directed other than a few lessons we gave her at the start.

I'm not sure what it will be like for her in college. We've started looking at options, and the consultant we've hired assures us there's a place for her in a college suited to her strengths. Anyway, just wanted to say that you have many years until college and lots might change between now and then, especially since you have early intervention on your side. Best of luck!

In addition to individual sports you might want to have him try arts workshops that aren't too technique based.

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Posters come to this forum in a state of high anxiety. Other people take the time to read and absorb the facts of their posts and to reply with helpful responses. Posts that consist entirely of flippant sarcasm and one-liners about DCUM or DCUM children really do nothing but exacerbate anxiety. They also derail discussion of core issues and sideline discussion. Finally, this humor is not original. We have seen posts like this a hundred times. Just save it.

The comment it was in response to neither showed thoughtful absorption of the facts nor offered anything presently helpful to OP.

Anonymous wrote:Does slow processing ability affect social and athletic skills?

It affects everything.

Does slow processing ability affect social and athletic skills?

Anonymous wrote:OP my DS sounds just like yours. He's in 7th grade.

We've had him tested twice over the last 7 years, both times by private psychologists. The DX is ADHD on the scale of moderate/severe. he has slow processing speeds, no actual LD's and an average IQ - which means nothing to me. Apparently I too have an "average IQ", but have been quite successful in life - at least by my own definition.

I am by no means even thinking of limiting what my DS will be able to do as he gets older. I fully expect him to go to a 4 year university and have a happy and successful life! And if he ends up in Vo-Tech, then that's fine too as he will likely be earning more than his peers who went into "white collar" career fields.

Most important thing to me is that he is happy and mentally balanced, and self sufficient.

Yes !

Anonymous wrote:OP my DS sounds just like yours. He's in 7th grade.

We've had him tested twice over the last 7 years, both times by private psychologists. The DX is ADHD on the scale of moderate/severe. he has slow processing speeds, no actual LD's and an average IQ - which means nothing to me. Apparently I too have an "average IQ", but have been quite successful in life - at least by my own definition.

I am by no means even thinking of limiting what my DS will be able to do as he gets older. I fully expect him to go to a 4 year university and have a happy and successful life! And if he ends up in Vo-Tech, then that's fine too as he will likely be earning more than his peers who went into "white collar" career fields.

Most important thing to me is that he is happy and mentally balanced, and self sufficient.

You may have an average IQ, but you're very wise. Thanks for this post.

OP my DS sounds just like yours. He's in 7th grade.

We've had him tested twice over the last 7 years, both times by private psychologists. The DX is ADHD on the scale of moderate/severe. he has slow processing speeds, no actual LD's and an average IQ - which means nothing to me. Apparently I too have an "average IQ", but have been quite successful in life - at least by my own definition.

I am by no means even thinking of limiting what my DS will be able to do as he gets older. I fully expect him to go to a 4 year university and have a happy and successful life! And if he ends up in Vo-Tech, then that's fine too as he will likely be earning more than his peers who went into "white collar" career fields.

Most important thing to me is that he is happy and mentally balanced, and self sufficient.

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.

Posters come to this forum in a state of high anxiety. Other people take the time to read and absorb the facts of their posts and to reply with helpful responses. Posts that consist entirely of flippant sarcasm and one-liners about DCUM or DCUM children really do nothing but exacerbate anxiety. They also derail discussion of core issues and sideline discussion. Finally, this humor is not original. We have seen posts like this a hundred times. Just save it.

Anonymous wrote:I thought slow processing speed doesn't necessarily mean doesn't think quickly on their feet. I thought it mostly had to do with decoding symbols, and thus led to problems with learning languages and spelling.

Processing speed is the pace at which you take in information, make sense of it and begin to respond. DD has a hard time participating in class discussions. By the time she thinks about what was said, formulates a response, the discussion has moved on.
This she would not make a good court room lawyer. Her objections and cross examination skills would suck.

1845 again .. ds7 has dyslexia as well and his below average processing speed plays a role there. He does have average working memory, at least, which means it's not as frustrating for him as it could be.

I'm confused why everyone is calling testing in question. A disparity between processing speed and overall intelligence is a thing ... and usually alongside ADHD.

My 7yo has low processing speed, significantly lower than his strengths. He tends to latch onto things and think deeply but it may be over a long time ... like weeks. He can be tenacious with something that has caught his attention. He has low frustration tolerance and likes to operate at his own speed. Soccer was horrible, swimming pretty good. Not sure where this will take him long term.

I thought slow processing speed doesn't necessarily mean doesn't think quickly on their feet. I thought it mostly had to do with decoding symbols, and thus led to problems with learning languages and spelling.

Also OP, the rule of thumb is retesting every three years. It's costly but as testing has improved over the decades I've been in SN, I have found it well worth the cost because something new either pops up or a diagnosis has been discarded - every time. It really is an art and few care enough to do it well.