Processing Speed

A cognitive ability referring to how quickly a person can perceive, process, and respond to information. Processing speed affects how rapidly someone can read, understand instructions, react to stimuli, and complete timed tasks. It naturally declines with age, beginning in middle adulthood, and can be affected by various conditions including traumatic brain injury, stroke, ADHD, and dementia. In accessibility contexts, reduced processing speed means users may need more time to read content, respond to prompts, complete time-limited tasks, or process spoken information—making timeout extensions, adjustable pacing, and the ability to pause or replay content important accommodations.