Help is Available in Upstate New York if Your Child is Struggling in School

Written by Dr. Sheila Clonan
September 27, 2015 @ 9:30 am

Recent neurological studies have given us greater insight into brain plasticity, or the brain’s ability to adapt or change in response to experience.  This is the science behind such popular brain exercise apps like LumosityTM and CognifitTM that aim to re-train the brain by making new connections in neural circuits.  The idea is that by engaging in intensive and repetitive exercises that are tailored for specific goals, skills like memory, cognitive processing, and attention can be improved.  The jury may still be out on the effectiveness of some of these self-administered apps, but there is good research and evidence that brain plasticity is real. There is also substantial evidence that working memory, the part of the brain function that is key in handling processing, can be definitively improved through intensive intervention.  This is good news for all, but especially for children who are struggling in school as a result of a learning disability that may have a direct connection to working memory.  Such learning disabilities among children include ADHD, Dyslexia, Auditory Processing Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders.   

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​So, why is working memory so important for a child’s education?

• It is one of the best predictors of academic achievement.
• 80% of children who scored in the lowest 10% for working memory also experienced substantial problems in math, reading or both.
• Working memory is commonly impaired in people with ADHD, dyslexia and other learning disabilities, and even in about fifteen percent of typical learners.

Does your child have working memory issues?
Consider the following. Does your child…

• Have difficulties remembering long instructions or a chain of instructions (e.g. following directions or a cooking recipe)?
• Have a hard time staying focused on (school) work if he/she isn’t extremely motivated?
• Have a hard time with problems that require holding information in mind, such as math word problems or mental arithmetic?
• Make more mistakes than other kids his age when trying to complete a task in a hurry?
• Often seem to be on the go or hyperactive?
• Have difficulty organizing tasks (e.g. planning the order in which tasks should be done, and knowing how long each will take to complete)?
• Have difficulty taking in information in longer sentences, and need to read it several times to remember and understand content?
• Very particular – so much so that everything takes a long time?
• Have problems staying with the thread of a conversation or story (both listening and speaking)?
• Often daydream in situations when she is expected to listen?
• Have trouble organizing the daily details, such as starting and completing tasks, and arriving to places on time prepared?
• Become easily distracted?
• Have difficulty being on time or have a poor concept of time (e.g. has a poor understanding of how long an hour is and/or lose track of time easily)?
• Often fidget and become restless or bored in situations that require focus and concentration?

If you answered yes to more than 4 items your child may have a working memory issue and be a candidate for brain re-training.

​One of the best interventions to come out of the field of brain plasticity has been Cogmed Working Memory Training. Cogmed is an evidence-based, computerized training program designed by leading neuroscientists to improve attention, concentration and focus by effectively increasing working memory capacity.  It is administered by certified professionals.  Eighty percent of Cogmed users improve their working memory by an average of 30%.  That is significant to a child who may need just a little help in turning learning, concentration and organization from a struggle into a pleasure. Here is a great story of a 4th grader that was on verge of changing schools until he received Cogmed help.

Dr. Sheila Clonan is a certified Cogmed Working Memory Training Coach and a Licensed Psychologist practicing in the Upstate New York areas surrounding Syracuse, Rochester, Utica, Binghamton and Watertown. By integrating Cogmed into her practice, Educational Solutions CNY, for child and adolescent testing, assessments, and reading interventions, Sheila can go beyond identifying learning problems and help set students on a path to success.  Cogmed can be administered remotely via internet and weekly coach calls by phone, so call Dr. Clonan now at (315) 320-6404 or visit the website to set up a free consultation.

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