Cross Training Your Brain

“Too often, parents and experts look at behavioral and learning disorders as if they existed separate from sensory impairments; separate from attention difficulties; separate from early childhood deprivation, neurological damage, attachment disorders, post-traumatic stress, and so on.”

Dr. Karyn Purvis “The Connected Child”

What are the right tools and instructional methods to train the brain?  This is a question we address daily at our center.

Many children and adults tried tutoring, medication, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and vision therapy.  However, they typically have done these in isolation and were only seen twice a week for 30-60 minutes. While there has been some improvement, we have seen that the combination of “cross training” the brain in many areas five-seven days a week for an hour a day over three-four months allows the neuropathways to connect.

When cross training the brain, you should:

1. Begin each day with primitive reflex exercises for 10-15 minutes. An excellent program is Maintaining Brains Everyday at Pyramid of Potential.
2. Include sound therapy.   Sound Therapy Synergy can be used when doing regular activities and has been used successfully for over 20 years. 
3. Eye training exercises are often beneficial too.  Eye Q Advantage and Eye Can Learn provide visual processing exercises for all ages.  
4. Implement cognitive exercises that increase working memory, comprehension, attention, processing, and thinking skills.  As an added benefit you can continue to wear your sound therapy while doing cognitive exercises. 

We know that physical, cognitive, behavioral, and relational skills develop together rather than in isolation. Providing a more holistic approach to build challenge areas and enhance strengths increases confidence, communication skills, memory skills, comprehension, processing skills, and relational skills. Treating the whole person through a multidisciplinary approach will give the best results. Contact us for more details about our approach and cognitive development curriculum for children and adults.

Carol Brown

Equipping Minds
www.equippingminds.com