Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Parenting and Advocacy very fast processing speed

Yep, sounds familiar. I was that guy who could work through a complex trig problem, hit all the operations exactly right, and end up with the wrong answer because somewhere along the line I didn't carry a one, or slipped in a 9 / 3 = 2.

What's interesting is that this could happen whether I slowed down or not. And checking my answers had a less than 50% chance of catching it, because I had already laid the path to the wrong answer, and it was all too easy for my brain to follow it again.

So yeah... going fast doesn't quite explain it for me. I think it's more of a forest over trees type thing. I just don't notice the details sometimes.

The most effective method for me to catch errors is to stay at my normal pace, but use some time after to check the answer using a different process.

That's the method that seems to work best for my DD, as well, Dude.

"Slowing down" doesn't help-- except that it can exacerbate her anxiety over perfectionism.

FWIW, I just wanted to clarify what I'd posted about having my dd who makes careless errors because she flies through work at warp speed and doesn't notice things - we aren't asking her to check and re-check her work. I do think it's reasonable (and a good habit to get into) to check your work once over, and I don't think checking once is going to turn a non-perfectionist child into a perfectionist. Although it's next to impossible to achieve 100% in any type of endeavor (realistically) the reality is that in the working world it *is* important to check your work - would you not want to be sure you had the correct prescription when you pick it up? Would you want the engineer who designed the building your office is up on not to double-check to make sure he didn't accidentally drop a digit somewhere before you ride the elevator up to the 10th floor? Maybe it's the profession I'm in, but checking work once is routine. And way back in school... we don't want to think it, but grades do count and test scores do count, and checking our work once helps - for most kids. (Not necessarily my dysgraphic kid but that's another thread entirely :))

polarbear

To some degree, you have to learn how to engage while you check. If If DD "checks" herself, I think she just runs her eyes over it all. If I see a mistake, though, usually all I have to say is "Look at this one again," and she's like, "OH! Duh," and fixes it.