Increasing numbers of children are being diagnosed with a little-known condition called slow processing disorder.
It results in difficulty making sense of and retrieving information from the brain at speed.
Slow processing can also be diagnosed in later years, requiring coping mechanisms in your professional and personal life.
If you are wondering whether you or your child may be affected, here are some questions to consider…
What is slow processing?
Psychologist Dr Morvwen Duncan says it may be helpful to think of your brain as a computer
Slow processing disorder is a special educational need (SEN) that does not correlate with intelligence, but may mean you need more time to complete tasks involving receiving and understanding information.
Dr Morvwen Duncan, clinical psychologist at The Lotus Psychology Practice (thelotuspsychology practice.co.uk), says it might be helpful to think of your brain as a computer, ‘receiving information from all your senses in a constant stream of data. Processing speed is how fast your brain can take in the information and decide how to respond.’
Jacqui Strubel, specialist teacher and SEN consultant at flourish teaching.co.uk, says: ‘It can be a standalone condition, but it can also be co-occurring with other special educational needs,’ such as ADHD, dyslexia or dyscalculia.
What are the symptoms?
The signs, according to Lynn Lovell, head of professional standards at the British Dyslexia Association (bda.uk.com), can include: ‘Being slow to respond to verbal instructions or questions; taking longer than others to read or write; feeling overwhelmed by too much information; difficulty following conversations and picking up on social cues; poor time management; finding it hard to find the right word; and anxiety when required to work at speed.’
How are adults affected?
At work, you may struggle absorbing information in long meetings or following multi-step sets of instructions. ‘This can lead to higher rates of workplace stress, overwhelm and burnout,’ says Dr Duncan.
‘Slow processing speed can impact on friendships and relationships, as a person may often feel “left behind” in conversation and they may frequently start tasks that remain unfinished.’
Best coping strategies
Strubel says you should share a diagnosis with your employer because a staff member with slow processing ‘may not be able to
complete aspects of their work in the same time as somebody else through no fault of their own. They may then need to educate their employer on what the condition is.’
She also suggests colour-coding your calendar and asking for regular breaks during long meetings.
Lovell recommends harnessing technology. ‘Read-aloud software can help to process written information,’ she says, and ‘reminder apps can aid memory. Use the features on your mobile phone to help record, recall and plan. Ask for an agenda ahead of meetings.’
