Brain Training for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum
There’s a reason that autism is described as being a spectrum. There are so many varied skills, needs, and experiences within this diagnosis. While it has its challenges, individuals with autism are set up to experience the world in a unique way—and supporting brain skills with brain training has helped many individuals with autism excel in many areas of life.
Please note: we do not diagnose autism spectrum disorder. Our program has been helpful for many individuals on the spectrum, but brain training is not a cure for autism and outcomes may vary.
HOW AUTISM IMPACTS LEARNING
According to a 2014 study published in the journal Neuron, researchers believe that the effects of autism are caused by having too many connections (synapses). As your brain grows, there is a natural “pruning” of connections that help you develop in a more neurotypical way.
When this pruning doesn’t happen, individuals begin to exhibit some of the symptoms of being on the spectrum. These things include:
- Delays in language or motor skill development
- Delayed cognitive skills (leading to lower academic performance than their peers)
- Hyperactive or impulsive behavior (or, conversely, inattention)
- Unusual eating or sleeping habits
- Higher emotional reactivity
HOW HAS BRAIN TRAINING HELPED INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM?
Our one-of-a-kind training plans are a critical part of our approach to Brain Training. After all, no two people with autism think the exact same way or have difficulties in the exact same areas!
By customizing our training plans, we embrace the neurodiversity that characterizes autism. More importantly, this approach allows us to tailor brain training to each learner’s individual needs.
Here are some areas where brain training has helped people on the spectrum*:
#1: Social interaction and language development.
Things like eye contact, peer conversations, social cues, and language are much harder for individuals with autism.
For many people, brain training has been a way to easily support individual expression, train eye movement and fixation, and support the brain’s ability to hear and process language effectively!
#2: Academic support
Whether your child is in a conventional classroom or specialized one, cognitive skills are a critical piece for learning and functioning efficiently.
Our experience shows how brain training programs have helped kids, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum. Between 2010-2018, kids and teens with autism improved learning and thinking skills by 3.2 years on average after brain training! During the same period, adult clients with autism made similar across-the-board gains in cognitive skills.
#3: Reading and comprehension
While reading comes easily for some individuals on the spectrum, it can be a huge challenge for others. Our ReadRx program is a foundational sound-to-code reading program that gets down to the basics to help all individuals become confident readers.
Brain Training FOR KIDS & ADULTS
If you or someone you love is on the spectrum, we’d love to hear your story and share how people in similar experiences have experienced great gains through brain training. Everyone’s experience is unique, and we are here to support you! Contact us today to learn more.
*Results from surveys and studies of past clients. Outcomes may vary.
