7 Powerful Strategies To Improve Processing Speed

1. Help students learn memory strategies so they can manage learning and access information from their memory banks at a faster pace.
2. Play games that require players to work quickly within a time limit. Here are a few of my personal favorites.

• • Rapid Automatic Naming and Processing Speed Activities
  • MPower
  • Executive Functioning Activities Library
  • Spot It
  • Hey, What’s the Big Idea
  • Blink

• Use online test preparation sites like Quizlet that help students practice the content so that the brain develops the myelin sheath needed to transmit information along the nerves. Quizlet even offers a few game-like activities (Gravity and Match) where students can try to improve their speed of processing the information they are learning.
• Use a metronome or play upbeat music, or use a timer. A metronome is a device that produces a beat, a click, or another sound at regular and consistent intervals. Slow beats can be calming, and a fast beat can increase processing speed and energy level. The trick is to use a metronome that allows a student to pick their own speed and sound preferences. If you are trying to increase processing speed, then the metronome can be increased slowly over time. To learn more about this, as well as online metronome options, CLICK HERE.  In addition, a timer can be used to motivate some learners to stay on task and increase the speed of processing. What’s more, if a student enjoys competing against themselves, then tasks can be broken into chunks, and students can try to improve their speed of completion for each chunk.
• Develop the weak cognitive processing areas that slow down learning. When we make sense of the information that we see and hear, many people with slow processing struggle with weak visual and/or auditory processing.  To address any deficit areas of processing, one can do activities to exercise these skills.  We offer cognitive-based products that address:
• Visual processing (many of these activities can be timed to improve processing speed). 
• Auditory processing  (many of these activities can be timed to improve processing speed). 
• Executive Functioning Activities Library  (many of these activities can be timed to improve processing speed). 
• Working memory  (many of these activities can be timed to improve processing speed). 
• Teach students efficient ways of completing tasks. Switching back and forth between assignments, for example, is a very inefficient way to complete homework. Instead, one can teach students the benefits of maintaining their attention on a single task until it is finished.
• Help learners manage distractions that pull their attention away from their work. For example, pings from social media, bleeps from a mobile phone, or background noise from a TV or computer device can distract attention and slow processing speed. Therefore, helping students to create distraction-free environments can help them focus their attention and improve processing speed so that they can get through assignments at a faster pace while improving their learning capacity.
• Help the student overcome anxiety that is associated with learning or taking tests.  Anxiety gets in the way of and slows the processing of information.  To learn some strategies, CLICK HERE.

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• Provide extended time for tests and assignments. 
• Offer instruction at a slower pace and check for understanding. 
• Provide a copy of the teacher’s notes. 
• Give fewer homework problems. 
• Allow extended time on standardized tests such as the ACT and SATs. 
• Help the student to use assistive technology such as voice-to-text, text-to-voice, and organizational apps such as Google Keep. 
• Monitor the students' planning, time management, and organizational skills. 

If you would like to learn about other reasonable accommodations, CLICK HERE.

Continue Your Journey

Processing speed influences reading, writing, math, executive functioning, and many everyday learning tasks. While some learners naturally process information more quickly than others, targeted practice, effective strategies, and engaging activities can help improve efficiency, confidence, and independence over time.

If you're looking for additional support, explore these Good Sensory Learning resources:

• Processing Speed Resources – Explore our collection of games, activities, lessons, and multisensory materials designed to strengthen processing speed while making learning engaging and enjoyable.
• Visual Processing Resources – Build the visual processing skills that support faster, more accurate learning.
• Working Memory Resources – Strengthen the ability to hold, organize, and use information efficiently.
• Executive Functioning Resources – Discover practical tools and activities that support planning, attention, organization, and self-regulation.

Every learner has unique strengths and challenges. With engaging instruction, consistent practice, and the right support, learners can strengthen processing speed, build confidence, and experience greater success in school and everyday life.