Can you be smart but have slow processing speed?
There's also a common misunderstanding that individuals with slow processing speed may not be smart. However, we know that this isn't the case. Many people with slow processing speed possess high intelligence and may have a high IQ. It just takes them longer to process information and articulate a response.
Speak more slowly. According to research, you sound more intelligent if you speak relatively slowly. (Think of it as the Jeff Goldblum effect.) Speaking at a measured pace makes you seem smarter--as if your words are better thought-out (even if they aren't).
Some people take longer to process information than others. Slow processing speed isn't related to intelligence.
Slow thinkers may exhibit some of the following traits: Difficulty with on-demand writing or responses. Physical signs of trying to concentrate: looking up at the ceiling, sighing, rubbing their eyes or face, laying their head on their desk, and even pounding gently on the paper.
1. The IQ of Slow Learner is between 80 and 90 (as per Stern and Terman).
The smarter the person, the faster information zips around the brain, a UCLA study finds. And this ability to think quickly apparently is inherited. The study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, looked at the brains and intelligence of 92 people. All the participants took standard IQ tests.
- Good memory and thinking ability. ...
- Good attitude and hard-working nature. ...
- General and Tacit Knowledge. ...
- Good language proficiency and reasoning skills. ...
- Reliable decision-making. ...
- Trusted by others. ...
- High Creativity. ...
- High Achievements.
- You're Empathetic & Compassionate. ...
- You're Curious About The World. ...
- You're Observant. ...
- You Have Self-Control. ...
- You Have A Good Working Memory. ...
- You Recognize Your Limits. ...
- You Like To Go With The Flow. ...
- You're Passionate About Things That Really Interest You.
It's not unusual for gifted students to have slow processing speed. Of itself, slow processing speed is not a formal learning disability, but having it can frustrate students, teachers, and parents.
Scientists have long known that our ability to think quickly and recall information, also known as fluid intelligence, peaks around age 20 and then begins a slow decline.
Why do I think so slowly?
Diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, and other vascular risk factors can starve the brain of oxygen and glucose, resulting in slower thinking. What is this? Slow thinking can be a lingering side effect of a traumatic brain injury or stroke, or a sign of multiple sclerosis, dementia, or Alzheimer's.
Researchers then processed the results alongside details of each person's genome to identify genetic variants or changes associated with speed of thinking skills. People with slower processing speed overall were found to have variants near a gene called CADM2 - also known as Syncam2.

Deep thinkers are people who engage a lot in slow, rational, and analytical thinking. This type of thinking breaks a problem down into its components.
Intellectual disability (ID), once called mental retardation, is characterized by below-average intelligence or mental ability and a lack of skills necessary for day-to-day living. People with intellectual disabilities can and do learn new skills, but they learn them more slowly.
- 1 to 24: Profound mental disability.
- 25 to 39: Severe mental disability.
- 40 to 54: Moderate mental disability.
- 55 to 69: Mild mental disability.
- 70 to 84: Borderline mental disability.
- 85 to 114: Average intelligence.
- 115 to 129: Above average or bright.
- 130 to 144: Moderately gifted.
In an extremely rare condition called anencephaly, a child is born without a brain and thus has an IQ of zero.
The average child's IQ is not stable until around four years of age. It may be much later in children who were born early or who have significant health issues.
Souza's study demonstrated that an individual with an IQ of 126 or higher can often learn in one hour what it would take someone with an IQ in the standard range 4-5 hours to learn. This means that gifted people can truly read and understand faster than an average person.
The smartest people in the office are often the most distracted, according to new research. A new study from Steelcase, a workplace solutions company, surveyed more than 10,000 employees across 17 countries and found the most intelligent workers were often the ones who had problems focusing.
People who struggle with their time keeping are actually more intelligent, claims a new study. Time management expert and author Diana Delonzor explains that the reason people tend to be late is that they are both "optimistic and unrealistic".
What are signs of above average IQ?
- Intense need for mental stimulation and engagement.
- Ability to learn new topics quickly.
- Ability to process new and complex information rapidly.
- Desire to explore specific topics in great depth.
- Insatiable curiosity, often demonstrated by many questions.
Characteristics of High IQ People
Adaptability: High IQ people are flexible and willing to try new things and explore different ways of approaching a problem. Curiosity: Highly intelligent People are curious about the world and want to learn more about how it works.
Intelligence can sometimes lead to people being intimidating. This can make people uncomfortable and make them think of you as an arrogant person, even if you are not. You may also experience that concern, leaving you a little uncomfortable.
Some psychologists believe that the ability to listen to another person, to empathize with, and to understand their point of view is one of the highest forms of intelligent behavior.
One possibility is that the genes associated with intelligence also make you more prone to mental illness, but intelligence doesn't directly increase your risk of mental illness. Another possibility is that people with higher IQs are often more socially isolated, which leads to more anxiety and depression.
For what can now be considered a brilliant news for your social stature, talking to yourself may indicate a higher level of intelligence. According to scientists at the Bangor University, speaking out loud to yourself was “found to be a trait of higher cognitive function”.
IQ tests are made to have an average score of 100. Psychologists revise the test every few years in order to maintain 100 as the average. Most people (about 68 percent) have an IQ between 85 and 115. Only a small fraction of people have a very low IQ (below 70) or a very high IQ (above 130).
Although science is on the fence about whether you can raise your IQ or not, research does seem to suggest that it's possible to raise your intelligence through certain brain-training activities. Training your memory, executive control, and visuospatial reasoning can help to boost your intelligence levels.
Like most aspects of human behavior and cognition, intelligence is a complex trait that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Intelligence is challenging to study, in part because it can be defined and measured in different ways.
They Have Higher IQs
Studies have shown that people with higher IQs are likely to deviate from familiar evolutionary traits, such as circadian rhythms. Night owls who opt to wake up in the later hours of the day and stay awake until the wee small hours of the morning may be exhibiting a form of evolution.
Is genius learned or born?
Summary. Geniuses are both born and made. While genetics can explain up to 75% of variations in IQ levels, factors like socioeconomic status and home environment decide whether a person achieves their full genetic IQ potential.
They conclude that humans reach their cognitive peak around the age of 35 and begin to decline after the age of 45. And our cognitive abilities today exceed those of our ancestors. “Performance reveals a hump-shaped pattern over the life cycle,” report the authors in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Nevertheless, alcohol‐related disorders were associated with a decline in IQ test scores between −4 IQ points (self‐reported treatment for alcohol problems) and −5 IQ points (alcohol‐related hospital diagnoses), corresponding to between ¼ and ⅓ of the standard deviation of 15, which underlines the importance of our ...
Researchers have previously shown that a person's IQ is highly influenced by genetic factors, and have even identified certain genes that play a role. They've also shown that performance in school has genetic factors. But it's been unclear whether the same genes that influence IQ also influence grades and test scores.
Slow processing speed is not a formal learning disability, but it can play a part in learning and attention issues like dyslexia, attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD), dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and auditory processing disorder.
John's Reviews > Thinking, Fast and Slow. An unrelentingly tedious book that can be summed up as follows. We are irrationally prone to jump to conclusions based on rule-of-thumb shortcuts to actual reasoning, and in reliance on bad evidence, even though we have the capacity to think our way to better conclusions.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, often simply called ADHD, is a common condition that impacts many children and adults. In some people, slow processing speed (taking longer than others to complete tasks or thoughts) is an indicator of ADHD.
The expression Slow Learners did not just come to exist on its own. Educational psychologists describe a slow learner as an individual who does not assimilate as fast average students do. The description is very clear.
The slow thinkers will not be able to adjust their mental activities as per rapid pace of modern world and will be left behind. 2) Slow thinker will not be able to take quick decision thus will be left behind and other people will win the race. 3) Slow thinkers are not able to cope up with competitive job environment.
Intellectual disability (ID), previously known as mental retardation, is a term that is used when an individual has below-average intelligence or mental ability. Lack of skill necessary for day-to-day living are also commonly associated with this type of disorder.
Is it better to think fast or slow?
Slow thinking is more work for our brain and consumes more resources. Fast thinking enables us to get through the day by handling routine decisions with minimum fuss. When we make important decisions, both systems can be engaged even though we are mainly aware of the slow thinking part.
The researchers found that both intelligence and critical thinking predicted the occurrence of negative life events, but critical thinking ability was a stronger predictor than intelligence. This means that you can have high IQ but still make decisions that may lead to negative life outcomes.
A thinking or feeling preference has nothing to do with how intelligent you are, but it does have everything to do with how you make decisions. There's a certain order that each of us take when we make decisions. The feeling type will consider their values and the impact of their decision on people.
- sit up, crawl, or walk later than other children.
- learn to talk later, or have trouble speaking.
- find it hard to remember things.
- have trouble understanding social rules.
- have trouble seeing the results of their actions.
- have trouble solving problems.
a) Learning disabilities are heterogeneous conditions, but are defined by 3 core criteria: lower intellectual ability (usually defined as an IQ of less than 70), significant impairment of social or adaptive functioning and onset in childhood.
Slow or poor processing speed is not related to intelligence, meaning that one does not necessarily predict the other. Slow processing speed means that some determined tasks will be more difficult than others, like reading, doing math, listening and taking notes, or holding conversations.
Processing speed has always been included in IQ scores. Within the battery of tests, the processing speed evaluates how you process visual information and how you process auditory information.
It might be related to other physical problems such as lack of adequate sleep or reaction to medications. It might also be part of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), learning disorders, and/or emotional factors. We'll take a look at some of these possible causes.
In some people, slow processing speed (taking longer than others to complete tasks or thoughts) is an indicator of ADHD. In other cases, the slower processing speed can be unrelated to an ADHD diagnosis.
This can be caused by overworking, lack of sleep, stress, and spending too much time on the computer. On a cellular level, brain fog is believed to be caused by high levels inflammation and changes to hormones that determine your mood, energy and focus.
What jobs can people with slow processing get?
FAQ. There are many jobs that suit slow learners adults such as: Acting, Financial Auditing, Counseling, Film Making, Public Speaking, Nursing Assistant, Photography, Computer Programming, Heavy Equipment Operation, Art Restoration.
Like most aspects of human behavior and cognition, intelligence is a complex trait that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
According to the study, impaired processing speed is likely due to inattention dimensions in ADHD rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity. Inattention might reduce how efficiently you can process information, while hyperactivity and impulsivity can speed up your overall performance.
Intelligence test scores and educational duration are positively correlated. This correlation could be interpreted in two ways: Students with greater propensity for intelligence go on to complete more education, or a longer education increases intelligence.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not a learning disability; however, it does make learning difficult. For example, it is hard to learn when you struggle to focus on what your teacher is saying or when you can't seem to be able to sit down and pay attention to a book. You can have both.
- Has trouble following directions with multiple steps.
- Takes a long time to copy down their name.
- Struggles to answer questions, especially when asked something over the phone.
- Often stares off into space during circle time.
The Processing Speed index score can be interpreted using the following scale: 130 or above: Very Superior. 120-129: Superior. 110-119: High Average.
On average, the brains of ADHD children matured about three years later than those of their peers. Half of their cortex has reached their maximum thickness at age 10 and a half, while those of children without ADHD did so at age 7 and a half; you can see an evocative Quicktime video of this happening online.
Findings support that prescription stimulant medication may indeed act as a neurocognitive enhancer for accuracy measures of processing speed without impeding other areas of cognition.
Engage in sports that move slowly or at an individual's pace. Good examples include golf, bowling, and track-and-field events such as the javelin, hammer, and long jump. Encourage video game play within specific game genres in which speed is less important than plot, strategy, and discovery.