Structural Processing

Structural processing refers to analyzing the physical features of a word—like its appearance, arrangement of letters, or spelling—to understand or recognize it. This approach focuses on the visual and formal aspects rather than meaning or context. For example, when reading unfamiliar words, the brain might first examine letter patterns or letter order to identify the word before considering its meaning. Structural processing is essential for recognizing words quickly and accurately, especially in early reading development or when encountering new words. It works alongside other processing methods, such as understanding the word's meaning or phonetic sound, to support reading and comprehension.