Newsletter

Providing A Balancing Summer
Lynn Ayres, M.Ed. And Linda Narun, M.A., CCC-SLP

Summer is around the corner. For students, it's time for a break from the routine and stress of school, tests and homework. This is also a wonderful opportunity to improve your child's ability to memorize and master new skills, while reinforcing skills learned during the school year.

For students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or a learning disability (LD), they have specific cognitive challenges that can impact their success in school. They need to make functional changes in their brains so they are ready to learn. Their brains often lack connectivity, processing, speed, organization and working memory skills. No amount of traditional tutoring will fix these issues.

The concept of neuroplasticity has well been established in the last decade. That is, we can change our brain based on our experience. Programs designed by worldwide leading scientists can help ADHD and LD students build new and stronger brain pathways, improving cognitive skills and learning.

The interventions are tailored to meet each child's needs. This will empower students to become more efficient and effective learners. Activities should be selected depending on the age and specific needs of the child. Deciding on a specific program should be undertaken with parents, students, clinicians and teachers.

At the Tarnow Center, we offer the following neuro-cognitive programs:

Fast ForWord

The Scientific Learning family of proven reading intervention software products strengthens brain processing and literacy skills to increase reading proficiency in students of all ages. Fast Forword helps struggling students improve vocabulary, reading comprehension, fluency and memory

Cogmed

Cogmed Working Memory Training is a computer-based solution for attention problems caused by poor working memory. A strong working memory is essential for learning. Poor working memory can be the cause of a significant impairment for students. This is why working memory capacity is a very good predictor for academic success, and why working memory capacity is strongly correlated with students' performance, particularly in reading and math

Interactive Metronome

The interactive Metronome (IM) uses a patented auditory guidance system to systematically exercise and thereby improve a person's timing and capacity to plan action. The IM enables improvements to be clearly measured , and it progressively challenges the trainee to enable the continuing progress. Benefits of IM include attention and focus, motor control and coordination, balance and gait, language and processing and control of aggression and impulsivity.

ALEKS Math

ALEKS is founded on groundbreaking research in mathematical cognitive science known as Knowledge Space Theory. Through adaptive questioning, ALEKS accurately assesses a student's knowledge state, then delivers targeted instructions on the exact topics the student is most ready to learn. The program was developed from research at New York University and the University of California Irvine. The development team comprised of cognitive scientists, mathematicians and software engineers incorporated an artificial intelligence engine to assess each student individually and continuously

AttenPro

AttenPro is a software-based training guide for ADHD and LD students. It consists of neuro-cognitive and memory related exercises designed to improve working memory, executive functions, attention, focus and reaction time.