Auditory processing disorder (APD) happens when your ears and brain don’t sync properly. This can cause an array of challenges. People with APD often struggle with auditory discrminiation, which is the ability to recognize, compare and distinguish between distinct and separate sounds. APD can make it difficult to remember what you’ve heard and recall sequences of words that are spoken. APD can also interfere with learning, but does not directly correlate with someone’s intelligence. It can also make it difficult for someone to communicate, but does not appear on a traditional test for hearing ..read more

Your concerns are more common than you think! Here are the top five concerns that we hear from parents: “My kid is smart BUT…” – he’s struggling in math, he doesn’t sound out words he doesn’t know, he just doesn’t retain it, has to study so hard but still fails the test, etc. “It takes 2 hours to do 30 minutes of homework.” “She could read it several times and still not understand what she read.” “He is behind in reading and math.””I just want her to be ready for middle school/high school/college.” The reality is most learning and performance struggles are caused by a weakness in one or more o ..read more

Executive function is the process that allows us to organize, prioritize, and analyze. ADHD and other neurobiological problems can inhibit a person’s ability to do these seemingly normal tasks due to an abnormal dopamine level in their frontal lobe. Children with ADHD can struggle with organizing or remembering which books or supplies they’ll need for future tasks. It can be frustrating to a parent or teacher, and punishment isn’t helpful. If your child struggles with staying organized, here are some tips for in the classroom to help them stay on task: Have separate sets of supplies at home a ..read more

You may be wondering what the difference between brain training and tutoring is, and that’s a really great question that we’d love to answer. Each has their own purpose and understanding how they are different can benefit you or your child.  Tutoring is ideal for students who: Have missed class and need assistance catching up  Recently moved to a new school  Benefit from having extra reviews of the materials  Brain training would be a good fit for students who:  Seem to need to work harder than their peers  Have trouble focusing in class/lessons and assignments ..read more

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity and inappropriate age behaviors. ADHD has been portrayed as a behavior problem mostly in boys. It was thought that the child was being hyper or not listening. We now know that it is just as common in girls and the main challenge is attention. This problem with attention translates to problems with executive function.  The skills of executive function develop over time, from childhood into someone’s early 20s. Everyone develops at different rates; howev ..read more

What is Executive Function? Executive function is the cognitive skills that help us make decisions, prioritize tasks, organize thoughts and activities, and manage time efficiently. People with executive dysfunction typically struggle with these things, and sometimes don’t complete tasks at all, they can easily misplace items, materials or prioritize the wrong things; it’s also easy for these types of people to become overwhelmed by big tasks or projects. Core Executive Function Skills There are seven skills that can help us judge executive function: Self-awareness. Self-control. Non-verbal wo ..read more

Sometimes it’s hard for parents (and even teachers!) to determine if certain struggles or behaviors are just a normal part of the learning process, or an indicator of a deeper issue. Certain problems can serve as red flags that a cognitive skill weakness may be causing serious learning struggles and holding a child back. Cognitive skills are the underlying mental tools that make up IQ and include skills like logic & reasoning, attention, memory, processing speed, and auditory and visual processing. If one or more of these skills are weak, reading and learning can be difficult. If a cogniti ..read more

October is Dyslexia Awareness Month – Is dyslexia affecting you? Five to fifteen percent of Americans have dyslexia, and 780 million people globally may have some form of it. October is Dyslexia Awareness Month and the more you know and understand about dyslexia as a disability, the better equipped you can be if you or someone you know has dyslexia. Breaking it down, one in every thirty students could have dyslexia. Dyslexia can manifest itself in many different ways, but it most greatly impacts reading. When reading, someone with dyslexia sees words and letters mixed around, which can cause ..read more

Love them or hate them, parent teacher conferences are right around the corner. They may be dreaded, but they are a great opportunity for parents and teachers to get one-on-one time to talk individually about a student’s progress or where they could use some extra support. Here are some tips to help both parents and teachers to conquer their fears and make these conferences a productive and enjoyable experience. Show up. If a teacher has requested a conference with you, it means they care about your child and their education. If time is tight, make sure it’s a time of day that works best for ..read more

It should come as no surprise that COVID-19 has dramatically stunted American education. Our nation’s 9-year-old’s saw the largest decline in reading and math scores for the first time since 1990. These kids went through a pandemic, so it’s probably not shocking to know their education suffered. A report released by the National Center for Education Statistics outlines just how our children’s education was affected: The lowest-performing students saw a 12-point decrease compared to the 3-point drop for the high-performing students. But both groups saw declines. Black students saw a 13-point d ..read more