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When is a Tutor the Wrong Solution to Your Child's Learning Problems?

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www.learningrx.com/akron-bath
Find Therapy and Treatment Options for Kids with Learning Differences across the United States

"No-Brainers" are generally defined as concepts and tasks that are simple, easy and obvious to most people. But for people with learning struggles, things like reading, balancing a checkbook, managing time, staying organized or just paying attention for an extended period of time can be painfully challenging.

So why do these so-called "simple" tasks for the average person often prove to be much more difficult for others? The answer can be summed up in three words: weak cognitive skills.

Here are some examples of tasks, as well as the weak cognitive skills behind the difficulty.

  1. DIFFICULTY: Reading fluently or remembering what you read REASON: Weak phonemic awareness and working memory skills
  2. DIFFICULTY: Completing projects, multitasking or paying attention for an extended period of time REASON: Weak divided, selective or sustained attention
  3. DIFFICULTY: Managing time, planning, prioritizing, staying organized REASON: Weak executive processing skills
These are just three examples of how weak cognitive skills can affect our ability to do even the most "normal" tasks, but there are plenty more.

Cognitive skills are the core brain skills we use to learn, think, reason, read, remember and pay attention. Most learning struggles are caused by one or more weak cognitive skills. But personal brain training programs can target and train those weak skills based on the individual's cognitive assessment results.

Whether you're a child with learning struggles, a teen with reading deficits, a soldier with a traumatic brain injury or a senior with age-related memory decline, one-on-one brain training can target and strengthen the brain skills you need to succeed in all aspects of life.

How is personal brain training different than tutoring?

Although both tutoring and personal brain training have their place, they are different solutions to different problems.

Tutoring is best for reteaching difficult content that wasn’t grasped the first time; one-on-one brain training strengthens weak cognitive skills to make it easier to grasp new information.

Need some examples? Let's look at a struggling student.

Tutoring is best for students who:

  • Didn't learn classroom content due to an extended absence or family move
  • Were distracted in school by outside elements (e.g., loud construction outside the window)
  • Benefit from reviewing material a second time
Personal brain training is best for students who:
  • Have continual, long-term struggles in school
  • Experience difficulties in multiple subjects
  • Have poor reading comprehension
Of course, personal brain training isn't just for students. It can benefit people of all ages, from 5 to well into their 80s. Since cognitive weaknesses don't go away with age, everyone can experience struggles at an age. Kids who don't address their struggles today can experience further difficulties when they are older. The best way to understand learning struggles is to observe if they are impacting quality of life, confidence or learning enjoyment. If they are, personal brain training may be able to help.

LearningRx Akron-Bath is a one-on-one brain training center that focuses on the underlying skills that are critical for learning and performance. Our cognitive enhancement center puts clients with their own brain trainers for mental workouts that are challenging, enjoyable and consist of game-like exercises. www.learningrx.com/akron-bath/

Disclaimer: Internet Special Education Resources (ISER) provides this information in an effort to help parents find local special education professionals and resources. ISER does not recommend or endorse any particular special education referral source, special educational methodological bias, type of special education professional, or specific special education professional.