Has my DD 15 got slow processing disorder?

[Bananasarefruit]

Sorry I’m really not sure where to put this.

DD has GCSES coming up this year. I’ve been helping her with some revision, mainly sciences. She’s very compliant and wants to revise and do well but it seems like the things she’s learning go in one ear and out the other. She can literally just have read or listened to something and when I question her she has no idea. We basically have to go over stuff again and again and again before it sinks in. I don’t know if that’s normal and I’m being unfair as I have an older dc who literally can read something once and know it.

Different people have different learning styles, some can read something once and remember it, some need to read and take notes and some need a more visual/practical way of learning. There’s nothing disordered about it - just different ways of retaining information. Do you have other ways of her learning the stuff she needs eg podcasts, educational tv, demonstrations etc she may just need it presented in a variety of ways.

No, everyone has different learning styles one child may retain info from reading, where as one may retain it from a podcast and another may from a TV programme.
I retain mine from images. Doesn't mean she has slow processing disorder just means you can't treat children all the same. Everyone's unique.

Not everyone is the same. I can read something a thousand times and still won’t retain the information. If I actually do something e.g and experiment or the information is given to me in a way I understand or formed in a way I can relate it to something I know it will sink in first time. I remember at school a teacher getting frustrated because I just wasn’t getting what she was trying to tell me, a girl in my class pipped up and explained it in plain words in a way I understood, boom I got it.

My DH can read something once and he’s done he understands it and won’t forget it.

You need to find a way that works best for your DD.

I found when I went back to school as an adult (failed all my GCSEs) that flash cards with just key bits of information worked best for me.

sorry @Jellycatspyjamas but research has shown that 'learning styles' don't really exist. everyone can learn stuff, they learn better having more versions (visual + auditory + interactive) and more repetitions = more learning.

@Bananasarefruit - does your DD find it hard to concentrate when reading or listening? does she zone-out? she might do better with little quizzes and bite-size bits of info. In general, frequent testing on material (i.e. having to produce the answer yourself or fill-in-the-gaps) leads to much better learning than just reading.

It's possible that she is not transferring information from her short term memory to her working memory. This is not unusual in people with ADHD. She may need to go over things many times to be able to recall the information.

I was wondering about inattentive ADHD (ignore the H, you don't have to be hyperactive to have it there's just no ADD anymore, just like there's no Asperger's syndrome, they like to lump everyone in together). You can have slow processing disorder without ADHD though.

It's funny that people are horrified when others suggest someone may have ASD or ADHD but they have no problem telling you that your daughter definitely doesn't have slow processing and probably just needs more pictures.

Anyway, here's some info to give you an idea on what slow processing disorder looks like,
www.understood.org/en/articles/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-child-with-slow-processing-speed

Oh - it might be tricky to get any where with it though unless school have noticed and see it as a problem. School teachers do not tend to know a lot about this sort of thing (problems tend to only get flagged if the child's behaviour is a big problem) but if you talk to them and they've noticed similar issues at school they might support you going to see your GP about it or perhaps get someone in to observe her and talk to her (I'm thinking SEND). You can speak to your GP about it without the support of the school of course, but the school agreeing will probably be helpful.

some of these traits are hereditary - is there no sign in you or DH?

This is really interesting thank you. I don’t think she has other classic signs to indicate Inattentive ADHD although she takes a long time to get going in the mornings and other times when she’s tired.

DH and DS are the complete opposite’s so if she’s inherited it, it’ll be from me.

Sorry posted too soon. I am very organised though and don’t see any signs in myself particularly. I do struggle a bit with numbers and maths.

She sounds very much like my daughter who is dyslexic. Lots of dyslexic children have slow processing and problems with working memory.

What have her school said in the past? Have they ever mentioned her being low ability?

Google mind maps and see if these would be a good start for revision practice - as previously mentioned we all have different learning styles so you just need to hone in on what’s best suits for your child and her leaving style x

People also have to keep in mind some kids are brighter than others or at least certainly better at taking exams and retaining information. It’s not a poor reflection on your daughter or indicative of a learning condition. I have a severely autistic son so am aware of real differences. I have two other children, one is most certainly better at processing and retaining information and will do better in exams. The other is much more accomplished at art and languages, we are all different.