Comments on: Understanding, Diagnosing, and Coping with Slow Processing Speed https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/ Sun, 04 Aug 2024 14:19:12 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Kellee Montoya https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-36500 Sun, 04 Aug 2024 14:19:12 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-36500 In reply to Paul Channon.

Wow, it’s so sad that someone with your writing ability and work ethic (never giving up finding an answer, reading all the studies) was not able to go to university. I struggle in exactly the same ways as you. My boss, my husband, my mom—none of them can understand why I can’t get as much done as they can. I am so triggered by the word “lazy” because to tell someone who is willing to spend 3-4 times the amount of time as others (therefore having 3-4 times less down time as others) that they are lazy is…I can’t even finish this sentence without feeling like my brain is going to explode. It’s feels hopeless. But I won’t give up.

]]> By: Beneth Browne https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-33161 Fri, 28 Jun 2024 23:12:02 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-33161 In reply to Hank McFadden.

Wouldn’t it be awesome if as much effort were put into developing & implementingappropriate accommodations for 2E adults (including focusing on strengths) in the “real world” as in the educational system? Society misses out on our potential contributions and damages our self esteem and emotional health. A hospital could assign you to fewer patients, let you dictate notes and provide you with a mentor who already works there and does the job. The healthcare system should be about providing good care. i’m sure the hospital would have a net gain from your dedication to the job and compassion for the patients. The Americans with disabilities act requires accommodations but so little is done to enable them in professional
contexts like the medical and legal fields. I wish you the best.

]]> By: Brad https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-33136 Fri, 28 Jun 2024 20:16:29 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-33136 In reply to Paul Channon.

Thank you for your heartfelt expereince. This has helped me understand my son. Whose IQ is 130 but his processing is in the lower 18%. Very sensitive and low self esteem. This also makes me realize I have very similar traits to him although with an average IQ.

]]> By: Venetia Sladek https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-29291 Sun, 05 May 2024 12:05:01 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-29291 I’ve never related to an article so much in my life. At school I was tested and was put in the top 6% in the country for speaking, reading and listening but the bottom 10% for writing. In the UK if it’s not ADHD, dyspraxia or dyslexia it’s not really recognised in the education system so I never got any help with it. As an adult it’s something I really struggle with particularly when I’m applying for a jobs and get asked tor write a paragraph on my strengths or my experience in this role… Speaking wise I have no problem answering those but writing wise it takes me days, I’m never happy with what I’ve written as it doesn’t reflect what I’m thinking and I often get so demoralised I give up applying at all.

]]> By: Shawn Hoyle https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-28241 Mon, 22 Apr 2024 10:41:26 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-28241 In reply to Paul Channon.

Thanks this is very helpful. Being in my 50s, and now seeing my deficiencies more evident due to a job change. My reading comprehension is noticeably worse. In my years of software development, never had a problem, but now that I am developing sermons and preaching on a weekly basis, I’ve noticed that I need much more time in reading comprehension and delivery. Slow processing has run in my family, more evident in my father than myself.

]]> By: pk https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-24840 Fri, 02 Feb 2024 08:18:03 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-24840 H- I suffered from chronic anxiety , depression , ADHD and few addictions .

Meditation and Playing Chess and Table tennis has helped me a lot .
Also i think choosing the career that you love may also help which (I am trying ) to get over all the issues.
Love

]]> By: Paul Channon https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-24429 Tue, 23 Jan 2024 13:19:01 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-24429 Hi folks – thankyou to everyone for sharing your successes, failures, experiences and tips.
I’m a 64 year old male. I always struggled in school, more so in later years, doing very poorly in the final exams and so, did not get to attend university. From, perhaps age 16 onwards I realised that I was not a top student but did not know why. My ‘cognition’ was such that I did not realise there was a real problem until, in my early 30s I heard a discussion on the national broadcaster (in Australia) about the topic of ADD/ADHD. The discussion rang many ‘bells’ so I saw one of the ‘gurus’ (in Australia) of ADHD. I had prepared notes of all the issues I believed I had (eg concentration problems, higher-end IQ but poor school results, etc). I started to read from my notes and he stopped me, saying “no, tell me in your own words without looking at your notes.” After about 20 (stumbling) words, he stopped me and said, no doubts, you have ADD. He started me on ADD medication which was somewhat effective but not the effect he was decribing – to paraphrase him: “when you get the right medication, it is like a camera, finally coming into focus”. Trying to keep my story as brief as possible, I went on and off medication over the years – all seemed to help a bit, but there was no dramatic ‘focussing’. Now, so many years down the track, and with the benefit of many more years of self analysis and research, it’s obvious that slow processing speed and poor working memory – in esscence, poor executive function is a significant part of my problem. Whilst excellent at basic maths (addition/subtraction/division/multiplication in my head), my reading speed and comprehension is poor, although spelling and sentence construction is ok. Now back on ADHD medication (Dex) over the past 8 – 10 years, I’ve realised that it does, at least, assist a tired 64 year old brain to concentrate a little better. I’ve spent the last few years researching scientific articles on ADHD, processing speed, executive function, substance abuse (alcohol for me) for those with these conditions. I’ve tried trans-cranial direct-current stimulation (TCDS)(self-administered, very carefully), with effectiveness measured by any improvements in ‘Luminosity’ scores. Whilst there were minimal gains in relation to my scores, and to my peer group, there were no huge improvements. I’ve also looked at Trans-Cranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) but the cost of either purchasing equipment or getting professional treatment is prohibitive. At one stage, in my late 30s, I had a test (at a hospital clinic) where I had the ‘skull-cap with wires’ evaluation. The diagnostician advised me that there was also a significant component of OCD in my results. Since that result I have realised that there is an element of OCD in my day – having to make sure that work tasks are processed in a particular way/order, sticking to ‘naming-conventions’ when filing electronic documents, sticking to the same routine of morning tea at 10.00 am and lunch at 12.00, etc. I mainly recognise this in relation to what my co-workers do (or fail to do – something which bothers me but is a further manifestation of the issues!). I work in payroll/HR and have done ok up till 2018 when we finally adopted a new (and infitinely more complex) payroll/HR processing system. The younger folk (ie most people except me) seem to handle the new system without too many issues, even though it is ‘1000 times’ more complex than the previous system. I struggle (and I’ll bet many of you do too) when a new task is complex but then, as the adoption process continues, things change quickly and you are required to rapidly and constantly change procedures. This brought me in 2023 to the point where I was put on a performance-improvement program’ (think early precurser to dismissal) and I had no option but to ‘admit’ that I had a recognised disability. I come from a generation where you do the very best that you can, so it felt (very much) like admitting to failure.
From my many years of research and personal experience, I’ve realised that it’s difficult to ‘know what you don’t know’ – to see that you may have a deficiency in an area like executive function, until you do some research and ‘piggy-back’ off the findings of others. I feel like we (science/psychiatry) are slowly rounding on the issues, particularly with people of high IQ who underperform. Lets hope that, with the advent of ‘AI’, the discovery process for these issues will accelerate!
Sorry if I’ve bored anyone with my story but I felt you, or your children will probably be going through the same issues eventually, and I wish you all the best in your journey. Please realise that depression, hopelessness and doubting of self-worth are likely to be an issue for you or your children at some point – recognise this and seek professional assistance where necessary to ensure that we don’t lose the unique contribution that someone with such issues can provide.

]]> By: Precious https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-21807 Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:27:11 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-21807 I have a daughter who is struggling at school because of hw slow she is and now she having a low elf-esteem and she just want to drop out of school if anything can help share for me how can i help her

]]> By: Mustapha https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-17281 Thu, 24 Aug 2023 21:31:08 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-17281 In reply to Anuradha.

You are strong. Everyone reaches the goal of life at their own pace.

Thanks for sharing and good going..

Keep well

]]> By: April V Kronback https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-17036 Fri, 18 Aug 2023 15:21:49 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-17036 In reply to Hank McFadden.

Hello! Somebody, for the first time in 41 years- expressed EXACTLY WHAT ive gone through OMG! I OFTEN STRUGGLE EXPLAINING my STRUGGLES EXACTLY, or puting into words whY i struggle with doing alot for my twin9yr olds, whom have even greater developmentL/emotional difficulties/diagnosis’! For example, i struggle doing ANYTHING directly with them, becUse im distracted by their distractions, and constant sensory disturbances so much that we end up NOWHERE and they feel directionless, ultimately ending in draining frustration and for them, more directive to escape to tablet games (which they GET easily but do little for any dysfunction)
I try to explain that they are far behind because im farther behind S a single mom, than most, the way it is. Ive never been able to complete paperwork, and dread theyre much needed appointments, all because its so exhauating just surviving the day, one minute at a time the way it is…notes? Id forget to check my notebook!
I could wake everyday with my blank state of mind- easily missing everything, for the rest of my life, yet im the ONLY advocate my kids have! Ive tried every nonsti.ulat adhd med& various doses to no avail, and due to heart condition, i cannot take stimulants over 3 years now. My final feeling is that I just never know where to begin with anything and I get overwhelmed easily. Delete, and that becomes my day. So then I feel guilty because what am I really doing for my kids?If I could change one thing, it would be definitely my ability. Or my lack thereof. And I would shift it so that I can function somewhat normally I don’t need high function.
I just need to function someone normally and be able to Follow through with simple things for my little girls! Honestly though where does One begin when everything that’s tried and suggested becomes so overwhelming and I end up missing important appointments?? I think for myself it’s cognitive mentally psychological all of the above but but at 41 years old. I make it until 8:09 o’clock. And I am exhausted. Just being me.. I really want and have a desperate need to engage with my children with my girls, But it’s so hard to deal with the same difficulties. They’re having that I’m having as well Or have had My whole life. My parents are deceased. I can no longer ask them for feedback or advice. I don’t have any siblings, no family. So it’s just really hard when people ask questions for me to come up with answers that take so much effort to really explain the core problem. Thank you, this post did help a lot and kind of open me up a little bit in the explanation department!

]]> By: Christiana ikuenobe https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-14085 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 20:08:00 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-14085 Hi am here for my child he have a slow brain and whatever he doing is always slowing in the things

]]> By: Ashley Alsey https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/understanding-diagnosing-and-coping-with-slow-processing-speed/#comment-13943 Fri, 07 Apr 2023 20:00:35 +0000 http://www.davidsongifted.org/?p=3328#comment-13943 In reply to Hank McFadden.

This is exactly how I feel. I rarely got accomodations in school. Only once when they stopped timing me during math tests and still I had to take at least 2 of the same tests without finishing in a row to take the 3rd with unlimited time so I could move on to the next. I always received A’s when I was allowed to finish on my time. I was slow paced at doing everything and I still am. I was always the last to finish. No matter how hard I pushed myself to go faster I was always the last to finish. I feel like giving me more accomodations would have made the problem worse, but at least I was able to finish a test instead of sobbing because they made me take the same timed test over and over again expecting me to eventually get faster which never happened. As an adult it took me years to get through college. I was an anxious mess the entire time. I blamed it on depression, apathy, and anxiety. I eventually got the motivation to go back to school for art and became an art teacher. I still struggle to stay on time, manage my time. My colleagues hate me for it. No one care about your issues when you get out in the real world. Not even the education community. And I don’t expect them to honestly. I just wish I had more tools to actually improve myself instead of sticking a bandaid on a gaping wound.

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