Day 19 of 99 Days to FASDay and it’s time to slow things down for people with FASD. One area you can really make a difference with those with FASD you support is stopping and waiting patiently for a response and action. Give your child or client time to process what you said and respond to your request. We live in a fast paced world – but this is one time you should just take a few moments to breathe and wait. Without finger tapping, foot stomping or demanding immediate compliance.

In searching for more information on processing speed I came across an article Catching the Subtle Signs of Cognitive Impairment, FASD, and other “Invisible” Disabilities written by Rene Denfield, which not only addresses this characteristic but explains some others.

Does the client have the dreaded “flat” affect? Be aware that people with FASD, in particular, function more strongly in verbal skills than in processing. Their verbal abilities, for instance, might be in the 80s while their comprehension and processing is in the 60s. A slow processing speed can be represented by a “dead” or flat affect, what can come off as defiance or anger, or a “sullen” stare. Instead of assuming, ask yourself if maybe there is a brain working at a very slow speed behind these confused eyes.

You can find the article link here.

From the FASD Network of Saskatchewan:

You may be interested  in reading more about this in the following blog post: FASD: Lessons in Processing Speed from the Turtle, Sloth and Snail

Come back tomorrow for another FASD tip!