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Symbol Recognition

The Symbol Recognition cognitive function is responsible for visually recognizing and remembering symbols and words.

Symbol Recognition
  • Description

    Symbol Recognition is Involved in:

    • visually recognizing and remembering words 
    • reading accurately and quickly 
    • spelling accurately and visually recognizing spelling errors
    • remembering visual symbol patterns such as math formulae and chemical equations
  • Difficulty

    A Difficulty in This Cognitive Function Leads to:

    • difficulty in learning sight words resulting in errors in reading words and slow reading speed 
    • difficulty in recognizing and reading words correctly even if the same word has been seen and read multiple times 
    • an impact on the visual aspect of the reading process
    • low word recognition level (words that one can see and say immediately) 
    • difficulty in editing and correcting errors in written work
    • challenges in learning spelling patterns, so spelling is incorrect
    • difficulty in visually remembering math formulae and chemical equations as all learning and retention of visual symbol patterns is impacted
  • Enhancement

    Enhancing This Function Leads to:

    • improved ability to learn sight words
    • increased reading vocabulary
    • faster reading speed
    • better accuracy in reading
    • increased ability to learn spelling patterns
    • improved ability to locate and edit errors in written text

Symbol Recognition is Involved in:

  • visually recognizing and remembering words 
  • reading accurately and quickly 
  • spelling accurately and visually recognizing spelling errors
  • remembering visual symbol patterns such as math formulae and chemical equations

A Difficulty in This Cognitive Function Leads to:

  • difficulty in learning sight words resulting in errors in reading words and slow reading speed 
  • difficulty in recognizing and reading words correctly even if the same word has been seen and read multiple times 
  • an impact on the visual aspect of the reading process
  • low word recognition level (words that one can see and say immediately) 
  • difficulty in editing and correcting errors in written work
  • challenges in learning spelling patterns, so spelling is incorrect
  • difficulty in visually remembering math formulae and chemical equations as all learning and retention of visual symbol patterns is impacted

Enhancing This Function Leads to:

  • improved ability to learn sight words
  • increased reading vocabulary
  • faster reading speed
  • better accuracy in reading
  • increased ability to learn spelling patterns
  • improved ability to locate and edit errors in written text

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Our Brain’s Camera

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We can liken this cognitive function to that of a camera in our heads. In our left hemisphere, this cognitive function is responsible for remembering symbols – letters and numbers (see Object Recognition for the parallel function in our right hemisphere). Think of taking a picture of a word you see for the first time. Your camera captures its detail, takes a template of the image. When you see the word again, for the second time – your brain searches for the template. 

How quickly can you find a match? How clear was the template? Was every detail, the shape and order of the letters captured? This is your Symbol Recognition at work. 

Does it take you or your child longer to learn the new word? Does it require multiple repetitions? Is the picture vague? Letters incorrect or misplaced? Do we have to sound out the word all over again?

Essential in Skills Such As:

  • Spelling

  • Reading

  • Retaining mathematical and scientific formulae

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