Residential Treatment for Teens with Low Processing Speed
Everyone’s brain processes information at a different rate. There are a variety of factors that may contribute to why some teens take longer to understand concepts and complete tasks. This doesn’t mean that they are not capable of grasping this information, but rather they may process it at their own pace. Slow processing speed can happen independently but often co-occurs with ADHD, anxiety, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and learning disorders. Residential treatment centers acknowledge that low processing speed isn’t just a learning difference, it can affect one’s confidence, relationships, and personal goals. Residential treatment for teens with low processing speed can help teens practice and develop the practical life skills that they need to become more independent.
The guide is meant to be comprehensive, but as such, not every section will be applicable to everyone. Instead, we invite you to click on the links in the table of contents to jump to the sections that most interest you.
Table of Contents
- How Does New Focus Academy Help Teens with Low Processing Speed?
- What are the Causes of Low Processing Speed in Teens?
- What are the Signs of Low Processing Speed in Teens?
- How Does Low Processing Speed Relate to Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders?
- Classroom Strategies to Help Teens with Slow Processing Speeds
How Does New Focus Academy Help Teens with Low Processing Speed?
Through years of working with neurodiverse teens, we recognize that every teenager learns differently. This is why we take an individualized approach to helping teens with low processing speed. Our founder, Dr. Brandon Park, is a Clinical Neuropsychologist & Behavioral Specialist who personally reviews each child’s profile to assist with creating a specific program tailored to how their brain is wired.
Rather than offering a standardized treatment plan based on rules and a structured phase system, every aspect of New Focus treatment revolves around our Six Principles: respect, dedication, integrity, responsibility, gratitude, and community. When a student struggles, our staff take the time to teach how their behavior relates to the principles. Similarly, we reinforce positive behavior by acknowledging a student’s successful contributions to groups, activities, and social interactions using the Principles. Focusing on these core areas allows us to look at a wide range of students’ individual strengths and offer appropriate evidence-based therapies to help them improve in areas where they struggle.
Our coaching-based method helps our uniquely abled students get the extra boost and motivation to progress through the program by offering immediate feedback and positive reinforcement. During your teen’s stay, these coaches develop a therapeutic relationship based on trust, support, and understanding. They work alongside your teen to celebrate successes and offer teaching moments when times are difficult.
What are the Causes of Low Processing Speed in Teens?
Slow processing speed is caused by neurological differences, where the brain takes longer to do things. This means that a child struggles with keeping up with the pace of classroom learning, is last to finish tests, or has problems with following directions.
Some students may not begin a task due to problems organizing time or materials, or due to reluctance, uncertainty, lack of confidence, or anxiety. Other children may take more time to complete tasks because of problems maintaining focus. Whatever the source of slow processing speed, it is important to be understanding and patient with teens who are struggling.
Processing Speed Issues are common in teens with:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Learning Differences, like Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
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What are the Signs of Low Processing Speed in Teens?
Slow processing speed can apply to any kind of new information, not just academic material. For example, your teen may consistently be late to school or activities as it takes them longer to get ready. Or, it may take a while for them to respond to prompts to clean their room or turn off the TV. This is not a sign of defiance and is usually not a sign of hearing issues, but it may take them longer to receive and understand messages from others. Similarly, in conversations with others, they may put a lot of energy in trying to remember what other people are saying, but by the time it is their turn to talk, they may forget what they wanted to say or miss the last part of what someone else told them as they were preparing to respond.
Some signs of slow processing speed include:
- Slow work pace
- Easily overwhelmed by instructions and assignments
- Problems with time management
- Limited working memory
- Difficulty organizing thoughts and getting them down on paper
- Challenges with handwriting due to poor fine motor coordination
How Does Low Processing Speed Relate to Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders?
Deconstructing a diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental disorder to focus on specific symptoms can help professionals and parents understand specific areas where a child is struggling. Thinking of processing speed as a separate neurodevelopmental issue is a more effective way of finding appropriate tools to either improve processing speed or accommodate for slow processing.
For example, when working with teens who have sensory processing issues, one of their main treatment goals is identifying triggers and scenarios that escalate emotion dysregulation. Crowded stores, loud music, and even the sound of air conditioning units may trigger an emotional meltdown. However, parents often try to support their child by avoiding these scenarios or purchasing noise-reducing devices rather than understanding what it is about them that can be so uncomfortable. Taking a neurological perspective, psychologists can identify whether teens are hypersensitive to sensory input or if they experience delayed processing, which helps parents brainstorm more effective ways to support their child.
This approach is also useful for teens with the inattentive subtype of ADHD, who show patterns of under-arousal in the portion of their brain associated with focus and planning, and teens on the Autism Spectrum who struggle with rigid processing.
Classroom Strategies to Help Teens with Slow Processing Speeds
Small class sizes at New Focus Academy help teens with learning differences build independence and relationship skills. Learning isn’t just about math, English, and the other usual subjects–it’s also about practical skills that will aid our students in their daily lives. We recognize that listening to classroom lectures just won’t work for most of our students. They perform better in a more hands-on, experiential setting.
Some strategies that we recommend for teens with slower processing speeds include:
- Taking regular “brain breaks” to avoid burnout. It is unrealistic to expect teenagers to stay focused for large chunks of time, as they are easily restless. We encourage students to take regular energy breaks while working on assignments, allowing them to get up and move around before getting back to work. Sensory toys are available in classrooms to assist with focus and self-regulation. Our school schedule is structured so that teens also have time during the school day to participate in individual and group therapy and recreation activities.
- Allowing the use of educational technology in the classroom. At New Focus Academy, we have a “technology success” program that encourages appropriate use of technology as a tool for learning and communication. Some students find it easier to type notes and write papers online compared to on paper, as they have more tools for editing and organization. We try to accommodate for students’ learning styles wherever possible.
- Offering additional tutoring outside of a classroom setting. The structure of a classroom can feel overwhelming for some students, even with small class sizes. Outside of school hours, we offer additional study halls so students can work on assignments at their own pace. These study halls are monitored by staff to ensure that students are keeping track of assignments and have help available if they need it. Students can work with our teachers, Special Education coordinators, and Speech & Language therapist outside of the classroom for additional support.
