Cognitive Skills Training Improves Traumatic Brain Injury

Media coverage of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has increased dramatically over the last several years as news of war veterans to football players with this diagnosis are speaking up about the struggles and medical needs to treat their symptoms. LearningRx brain training can help anyone get smarter, at any age, by building up weak cognitive skills, and this definitely includes those with TBI. A drastic drop in cognitive ability is a common result of brain injuries. By building those mental skills back up, many people with brain injuries can regain much of their pre-injury abilities.

Long-term symptoms of TBI that are also symptoms of weak cognitive skills:

• Poor memory or memory loss

• Poor concentration and lack of focus

• Inability to perform sequential tasks

• Difficulty organizing thoughts and activities

• Poor problem-solving, decision-making and planning skills

• Poor reading comprehension

• Taking a long time to complete tasks

Below are a few of the most common questions I am asked about TBI and how cognitive skill training can improve TBI symptoms.

Does the training physically change the brain?

Basically, the training forces the brain to better utilize or grow more synapses, or pathways, so it can process information more quickly and efficiently. That’s exactly what needs to happen with people who’ve suffered a brain injury. Quite often, many of their original pathways are destroyed during or after the injury, so it’s essential that they use other brain pathways or that they grow connections again. In reorganizing or regrowing these paths, it is possible to build up the basic mental skills we need to successfully focus, think, prioritize, plan, understand, visualize, remember and solve problems.

How exactly does the training work with people who suffered a TBI?

It works the same way with TBI’s as with kids who have learning problems and adults who struggle. It starts with a cognitive skills test to determine which mental areas are weak. Then LearningRx trainers use intense, one-on-one, game-like exercises to quickly build-up those weak areas. It works because LearningRx training doesn’t just improve the symptoms, it fixes the cause of the problem, and that makes the fix permanent.

How can you tell the training is actually working?

People going through the training will know it’s working because things will get easier for them. They’ll feel smarter and will actually be able to do everyday tasks better, faster and more efficiently. They’ll be able to remember, comprehend and focus more. Then, of course, post-training tests will confirm those great results they’re experiencing every day.

If cognitive skills training is so effective, why isn’t it included in standard TBI recovery plans?

Cognitive skills training is included in most TBI recovery plans, however, it’s usually not enough. The LearningRx methodology is intense and fast-paced and targets the specific cognitive weaknesses. It really works the brain, whereas many traditional cognitive skills therapies focus on more passive therapies and are not nearly enough to get the results that most TBI sufferers are looking for.

Can this also help our soldiers returning from the war zone with brain injuries?

Absolutely! We have several soldiers going through the program now. They’re doing amazingly well. Here is a link to one of our client’s stories about returning from Iraq and coping with TBI and PTSD: “Iraq war veteran deals with effects of PTSD, brain trauma.” We’re thrilled we can give this kind of hope to the men and women who’ve sacrificed so much for our country.

If you or someone you know has struggled with a brain injury, please check out what brain training can do to improve cognitive skill weaknesses or give me a call at 303-284-6105. We love working with our TBI clients because they see such amazing results!