Delay in Processing

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I was looking for a way to ask this and found this on the web :

“ Delay in Processing: problems quickly processing input and making a quick and reasonable response. Delay in processing is a documented feature in ASD and can vary from 2 seconds to hours. It accounts for most “non-compliance” and can be misinterpreted as stubbornness. People in the autism spectrum have difficulty trying to process new information while working to process what is already there.”

and this:

"The individual with ASD may have a “delay in processing” information that is told to them. This delay may result in not immediately responding to orders or commands and may lead others to assume that the individual is refusing to comply and unnecessary punishment or force may be used. The delay in processing usually increases in times of stress or in unfamiliar circumstances"


I have this problem except it doesn’t make me look non-compliant(!??) it makes me look dumb. And difficulty in switching my attention makes it even worse. My IQ is somewhere between 132-135 so I’m not stupid or anything.

I was wondering if anyone else here is like that? Or has any delay in processing sensory input?

Last edited by M_LibertyGirl on 12 May 2007, 12:05 pm, edited 3 times in total.

I have this and it's incredibly inconvenient as I am teacher training. One of my biggest failings is that I don't alter my plans to fit the lesson. I take a while to realise how the class are finding the work so I just leave it as it is.

Also, if someone asks me a simple question like How are you? it takes me at least a few seconds to think of an answer.

In other things though I think really quickly.

Wow, this describes me at times.

Let's just say I'm nowhere near stupid either. YEP, I have the same problem! It is usually a delay of a fraction of a second, and USUALLY not noticable to others, but on some more subtle things, I guess 2Hours isn't that out of line, although I would say on average it is between .3seconds and 10minutes.

Steve

THanks for answering. At least I'm not the only one. Mine doesn't take two hours either


check this out. this is so true of me!


http://www.newhorizons.org/spneeds/autism/doyle_communication.htm

"5. WAIT. Individuals with ASD often demonstrate a delay in processing. Individuals often need an additional few seconds after being spoken to before they can respond. This means that we need to learn to quietly wait a few seconds after speaking or showing something so that the individual can think, react, recall and respond. Be careful not to add quick additional verbal information while the individual is processing what you have already said.

If the person has difficulty in processing what is said, non-verbal additional cues may delay understanding and responding as well. Gestures, facial expression, eye contact or moving towards the individual may "distract" and slow down processing. Additional information delivered without giving the individual some processing time can result in confusion/frustration for the individual, and the loss of the information the individual was trying to process."

Yes,me too.I can feign "mulling things over" or "thoughtful consideration" but it's really just trying to make sense of the information at hand in a timely manner,pacing the process without getting rattled and losing my train of thought.I'm not "low IQ" either.

same here
my boss is quite good though and doesn`t ask me for instant decisions but does sometimes talk too fast with too many ideas at once.

I have that in a way too.

Say I hear an instruction: "Go and find the cups."
I will think of finding the cups.
But suddenly I will not know how to find them.
And I will just stand there, thinking "where are the cups?"

I also have a slower reaction time than before my AS developed.

well my iq is 86, and im pretty shure it doesnt have anything to do with iq at all. its a side affect of as

Yes, I definitely have this too. Do you think it also accounts for those times when we can't think of the right word to use? I know NT's have that problem too, but I do it embarrassingly often. As I'm struggling to find the word, the NT is looking at me, trying to figure out what's wrong with me. My processing time seems much quicker with the written word than the spoken. It's especially bad when I have to process NT jokes in person. It's one of the main problems I have socializing with them. I wish I could develop a hearty laugh that I could use on demand, so it wouldn't be so noticeable. I could join the laughter and process it at the same time.

Actually, I think that is what everyone meant. IQ is almost like memory and available programs, and speed is like clock speed on a computer. An identical computer system that has a slower clock can generally do the same things, it just can't do them as fast.

I WILL say that, with me, the slow processing is USUALLY due to looking for hidden meanings, not originally earlier finding subtle intent, being misled by improper word choice/grammer, or social convention. In otherwords, AS thinking style and the typical places where most here, INCLUDING ones with IQs well over 140, ARE pretty stupid. 8-( BTW I don't say that to insult. I'm pretty stupid with social things. 8-(

Steve

I tend to write what I want to say on paper if it is lengthy, because I just know that if I say it, it will come out as garbage.

Good insight.I too "scan" an interaction to suss out what might be conveyed,how to understand the delivery,and in doing so often miss the message itself.Marshall McLuhan said "the medium is the message";I'm not sure how accurate that is for all things,but maybe it has a parallel here(that is,if I'm understanding what you mean ).

What I mean is:

the slow processing is USUALLY due to looking for hidden meanings-- After being too literal and not seeing sarcasm, you almost subconciously ask if such things are being used.

not originally earlier finding subtle intent-- Someone might say aomething that, in one way, makes sense. You stop trying to parse the statement, and later piece together other statements and realize they meant something totally different.

being misled by improper word choice/grammer-- Sometimes they say something that may make, or almost make, sense, but they meant something different.

or social convention-- It may have some social meaning we just can't discern.

Steve

I'd never heard this as a characteristic of Aspie's, but I definitely have it much of the time. Normally when I get input "out of band", meaning off the topic I'm currently working on or thinking about. For example, if I'm discussing a computer programming related issue with someone, and someone suddenly asks who I think is going to win the big game this weekend, I can appear momentarily stumped.

Yes yes yes yes yes. I'm in the same boat as the rest of yahs.

And I hate hate hate it.