What is Cognitive Attention Training?Cognitivetrainingconsistsofexercisesdesignedtohelpimproveworkingmemory(clickhereforworkingmemoryinfo),which isthegatewaythroughwhichallintellectualfunctioningandlearningisprocessed.Workingmemoryisthesearchengineof thebrain.Individualswithimpairedorjustweakworkingmemoryskillshavedifficultylearningandperformingmentaltasks.A weakness in working memory is a core difficulty for many ADHD and learning disabled individuals.TheprogramDr.SmithoffersistheCogmedWorkingMemoryTrainingprogram(clickforCogmedInfo),whichhasbeen validatedthroughscientificdouble-blindthathavebenpublishedinleadingscientificjournals.TheCogmedprogramis developedforpre-school,elementary,middleandhighschoolstudents,adultsandseniors.Theprogramis5daysaweekfor 5weeksoftraining,whichislikegoingtothegymtobuildmuscle,butinthiscaseyouwillbestrengtheningyourbrain.Studies have found that improved brain functioning is maintained even though you are no longer doing the training. The SolutionThemostpractical,costefficientwaytoprovidethistrainingistouseyourownhomebasedcomputerandtheCogmed internetwebsitethatadministerstheremedialexercises,whicharepresentedincomputergamelikeformat.Thissoftware allowsmetodirectlymonitordailyprogressandintevenewithweeklyphonecalls.Thismonitoringandprofessional supervisionbyaproviderwasacrucialpartoftheorginalvalidatingresearchthathelpedthestudentsuccessfullycomplete the program. 80% of people who complete the program showed signficant improvement in functioning.Can't I Just Buy A Program Myself?No,Cogmedcannotbepurchasedbyindividualsbecauseacrucialpartoftheprogramistheprofessionalsuperivsionbythe providertohelpthestudentcompletetheprogram.Therearesoftwareprogramsavailableforindividualpurchaseanduse, but these other systems are not validated by scientific research.Scientific American Article about Cogmed ResearchInsurance ReimbursementTheCogmedWorkingMemoryTrainingsystemisunderreviewbymanyinsurancecompanies.Checkwithyourinsuranceto see if the Cogmed Working Memory Training systmem has been approved for re-imbursement.
Robert D. Smith, PhDDiagnosis of Dyslexia, ADD & Learning DisordersChildren & Adults