4 Truths about the Teen Brain

There’s a lot to understand about the teen brain, which has been shown to have some significant differences compared to the brains of children and adults. But for the sake of simplicity, let’s start with some simple truths that focus on learning struggles during this critical stage of development.  

Truth #1: Even smart teens can have a learning struggle. 

If you’ve ever wondered why your teen’s intelligence isn’t reflected in their report card, it could be due to their cognitive skills. Also known as “brain skills,” cognitive skills are the foundational tools we use to think, learn, process, pay attention, read, and remember. These skills include processing speed, logic & reasoning, attention, auditory and visual processing, and memory.   

Need an example of an intelligent teen who might still have one weakened cognitive skill impacting learning?   

Imagine a brilliant student who has a slower processing speed than their peers. They will typically take longer than others in their class to complete tests, take notes, and read and memorize information.  

Or they may struggle to stay focused on what the teacher is saying or the task at hand, indicating that their attention skills could use some sharpening.   

Truth #2: There are two parts to smart. 

 Many parents come to LearningRx after having tried tutoring for their struggling teen. Often, tutoring seems to help a bit, but the successes fade away with time. That’s because tutoring reteaches information missed the first time. Reteaching material due to a family move or extended illness or injury that left the student separated from the classroom only works if the teen’s cognitive skills are strong to read, learn, process, and remember that information. But if those cognitive skills are not connecting, no amount of rehashing material will help.   

That’s because the two parts to smart are knowledge (academic material) and processing skills (how you read, learn, remember, and apply that material) are two different parts to smart.  

Truth #3: Neuroplasticity allows the brain to build and adapt at any age.  

Scientists now know that the brain’s ability to build and adapt can change over time, and that means that our mental skills and IQ are never “set in stone” from birth as was once thought. Knowing this helps explain why people with age-related cognitive decline can often strengthen their mental abilities with targeted personal brain training, strengthening cognitive skills at any age. It also sheds light on the concept of cognitive skills training for victims of traumatic and acquired brain injury, many of whom have been significantly helped by one-on-one brain training.  

Truth #4: Other factors can affect a teen’s brain. 

 The developing teen brain is particularly vulnerable to other influences, including obesity, depression, cardiovascular health, and concussions.   

For example, studies have found that teens’ brains are particularly susceptible to the effects of concussions because even losing a small number of brain cells can change the trajectory of the brain’s development.   

Likewise, teen boys who had poor cardiovascular fitness at age 18 were 2.5 times more likely to develop early-onset dementia later in life. Young men with a lower IQ had four times the risk, and men who had a combination of poor cardiovascular fitness and low IQ had SEVEN times the risk.    

How Personal Brain Training Helps Teens

One-on-one brain training helps make learning information easier the first time. We start every consultation with a Brain Skills Assessment, which provides valuable information on which cognitive skills are strong and could use a boost.  

Using the results of the Brain Skills Assessment, we create a cognitive skills training program that targets and trains weak cognitive skills. Students work with their brain trainer for the duration of the program, which uses fun but challenging mental exercises to strengthen those foundational brain skills. In many cases, the teen’s self-confidence soars soon after starting the program, as they discover their “inner Einstein” and realize that it’s possible to tap into their brain’s full potential.  

Best of all, when cognitive skills are strong, learning is faster and easier in ANY subject—and the newly tapped into intelligence can be carried with them throughout school, college, work, and life.   

If you’ve noticed that your teen doesn’t seem to be living up to their full potential in school or they’re taking longer to complete homework, tests, or other projects, consider scheduling a Brain Skills Assessment at your nearest LearningRx.   

There’s no obligation to sign up for a personal brain training program, and the results of the assessment may shed some light on why your bright teen is struggling more than they should.