Addressing the Root Cause of Attention Issues
Mary’s parents were focused on addressing the root cause of attention issues. She is a fun, enthusiastic 1st grader who was struggling, but they did not want to address the symptoms but identify and address the root cause of her attention issues.. The first step for Mary was to complete a cognitive skills assessment which identified the root cause as to why she was struggling. Not surprising, her main cognitive weaknesses were in working memory, processing speed and auditory processing. This is consistent with LearningRx peer-reviewed research that shows that for most individuals who struggle with attention or are diagnosed with ADHD, the actual issue is not attention, but other cognitive weaknesses causing the attention issue.
As parents look for attention or ADHD help, the key is to focus on interventions that address the root cause vs. providing accommodations or treating the symptoms.
Mary completed her 1-on-1 training with LearningRx in Eagan which was focused on improving the skills that were impacting her attention and academics.
Her parents were thrilled with the improvements they are seeing.
They shared, “We appreciated the individual attention and the training sessions with the same trainer throughout the process. Mary has a longer attention span and has the patience to keep on tasks that she didn’t have before. We are so happy with the positive changes in her abilities and excited for how her training has applied in school and real life.”
Attention issues usually show up in the following ways and it is important to address all three:
- Sustained attention – this is the ability for sustained mental effort on tasks the child would not choose to do – like academics and homework. For tasks we love – sports, dance, Legos – we can all stay on task. Attention issues or ADHD manifests on tasks we would not choose to do. This can cause confusion as I will often hear parents comment – “My child can play Legos for hours and not be distracted, but doesn’t focus on homework.” This can make attention and focus seem like a choice. But we are all able to focus on the tasks we love and are drawn to.
- Selective attention – this is the ability to tune out distractions. If you or your child gets easily frustrated when there are distractions, selective attention is the issue.
- Divided attention – this is the ability to multi-task. Academically, this shows up during note-taking or older students who must track multiple teachers and assignments. It can also relate to executive function. Often students are overwhelmed when this skill is weak.
As shown by research, it is critical to address the root cause . For example, when processing speed is weak, the individual must exert significant mental energy to complete the task. Over time, they are less able to sustain such a high energy level and zone out or get distracted. Can ADHD medication or coaching help, in some ways, but these options are not addressing the root cause or usually long-term solutions.
If you are looking for attention or ADHD help , call the LearningRx Eagan location. We can schedule an assessment for your child (currently $100 off) to identify why they are struggling with attention, and more importantly, help them thrive!
