Frequently Asked Questions
It's only natural to have questions.
Let's help you with the answers!
What Are Cognitive Skills?
Cognitive skills (also referred to as brain skills or the foundational skills for information processing) are the core skills your brain uses to think, read, learn, remember, reason, and pay attention. Working together, they take incoming information and move it into the bank of knowledge you use every day at school, at university, at work, and in life.
Each of your cognitive skills plays an important part in processing new information. That means if even one of these skills is weak, no matter what kind of information is coming your way, grasping, retaining, or using that information is impacted.
Here’s a brief description of each of your cognitive skills:
Sustained Attention
What it does: Enables you to stay focused and on task for a sustained period of time
Selective Attention
What it does: Enables you to stay focused and on task despite distractions
Divided Attention
What it does: Enables you to remember information while doing two things at once
Long-Term Memory
What it does: Enables you to recall information stored in the past
Working Memory
What it does: Enables you to hang on to information while in the process of using it
Logic & Reasoning
What it does: Enables you to reason, form ideas, and solve problems
Auditory Processing
What it does: Enables you to analyze, blend, and segment sounds
Visual Processing
What it does: Enables you to think in visual images
Processing Speed
What it does: Enables you to perform tasks quickly and accurately, especially when under pressure
Word Attack
What it does: Enables you to apply phonic and structural analysis skills to pronounce unfamiliar printed words(Although Word Attack is not a cognitive skill, we include it in our battery of tests as it is an important reading fluency skill for both children and adults alike.)
What Sets BrainRx Programs Apart?
Results driven. Research based. One-on-One.
BrainRx is both a pioneer and leader in the field of cognitive training:
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BrainRx programs are based on the latest in neurocognitive research.
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We test the cognitive skills of every client before and after training, using the gold standard in cognitive skills testing, The Gibson Test of Cognitive Skills.
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More than 100,000 brains trained (and counting).
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Backed by more than 35+ years of research.
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Centres licensed to offer the BrainRx programs in 46 countries around the world, and growing (even during COVID-19 period).
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More than 100+ published white papers.
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Experts and a leader in the field of applied neuroplasticity.
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Ongoing clinical research on programs and results through independent studies as well as our own active research institute, The Gibson Institute of Cognitive Research, established in April 2014.
Why Is It Important To Test Individual Cognitive Skills?
Each person has a unique cognitive skills profile.
A cognitive skills weakness is internal and specific - and differs from person to person.
One person might be weak in Visual Processing skills and another weak in Long-term Memory, but on the surface both may seem to struggle in a similar way. You must measure each person's individual cognitive skills to identify cognitive strengths and weaknesses, which in turn will confirm the cause of his or her particular learning-, attention or memory problem(s).
The Gibson Test of Cognitive Skills is a non-invasive way of clinically measuring current cognitive brain function, and is therefore the right place to start.
It is also the foundation on which to formulate the right training program not only for struggling students, but also for average and even advanced students looking for further enhancement.
Untested, cognitive weaknesses can remain undetected for years while hindering a person's ability to learn or concentrate or read successfully. Guessing at the cause without testing can lead to frustration and wasted time and money.
Why Should I Strengthen My Child's Cognitive Skills? Should We Not Wait And See What Happens?
Answer these two simple questions:
What will happen if you strengthen your child's learning skills?
What will happen if you don't?
So, one day or day one. You decide.
How Is BrainRx Brain Taining Different From Tutoring?
Tutoring simply attempts to re-teach (academic) material/information what should already have been learned or understood but was not.
Before deciding whether tutoring or cognitive training is what is needed, you should ask: "Why didn't they learn this information the first time (or even the second time) it was presented?".
Unless the answer is obvious - such as missing school/university for a period of time - tutoring will likely be a frustrating, ongoing and expensive choice.
Cognitive Training is radically different. Especially the BrainRx program. We seek solutions with a different question: "How strong is your brain's ability to learn, read, remember or concentrate?"
That is why we start off by pinpointing the WHY behind someone's need for ongoing tutoring, then work on strengthening those weak underlying cognitive skills causing the problem(s).
Once weak cognitive skills are strengthened through brain training - to enable faster, easier learning so that you can catch up and keep up - if needed, tutoring can be considered as a next step to help you catch up on any academic work.
Difference between BrainRx and Tutoring
Who Can benefit From Cognitive Training?
Our clients include:
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struggling students of all ages (from the age of 6 years to 106 years)
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high-performing and gifted students wanting to further enhance their cognitive ability
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children and adults diagnosed with ADHD
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children and adults diagnosed with a learning disability
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children and adults struggling with memory, attention or reading problems
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career adults, from junior to senior executive level, wanting to get ahead
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high school and university level students looking for an edge
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senior adults wanting to stay sharp
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children and adults diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
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children and adults diagnosed with Dyslexia
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children and adults diagnosed with Dyscalculia
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children and adults who had a concussion(s)
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children and adults who regularly take part in any type of contact sport
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victims of stroke or brain injury (*dependent on severity and type of stroke or brain injury)
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recovered chemotherapy patients
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professional and amateur sportsmen/women looking for an edge on the sports field
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sports- and corporate teams wanting to understand and improve their team's cognitive abilities
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anyone interested in understanding and/or improving their cognitive profile
How Is Testing And Training Done?
Both testing and training is clinically researched, one-on-one and non-invasive.
Your cognitive assessment can be completed either in-centre at one of our centres, or online from the comfort of your home or office.
The assessment fee includes a 1-hour feedback consultation, which can be scheduled in-centre or online via Zoom.
Once you sign up for your cognitive development program, your training sessions will be done on a one-on-one basis with your dedicated Cognitive Trainer. With the exception of the BrainLeap Attention Arcade program, for most of our cognitive development programs, you have three options when it come to choosing how you'd like to complete your training sessions - you have the option to complete all your sessions in-centre, all online, or a combination of the two (our hybrid model) where some sessions are completed online and some in-centre.
Your exercise procedures consist of well-researched, intense mental exercises that are also really fun to do. This is because our Cognitive Trainers know exactly how to encourage and challenge clients past their comfort zones and into the thrill of new accomplishments.
Cognitive Training at BrainAbility
How Often Is Training Done?
This depends on the specific program you've signed up for, and the minimum number of weekly training hours required per program.
When it comes to cognitive training, intensity is of great importance. Therefore, on average, training sessions are normally three to four times per week.
Am I Too Old To Improve My Cognitive Skills?
You can have a better brain at ANY age!
There's even a scientific name for it: Neuroplasticity.
Discover what over 100, 000 clients in 46 countries already know. You CAN train the brain to learn easier, think faster, and perform better. At any age.
Watch this video to learn more!
A better brain at ANY age
Why Do I Need To Work With A Personal Cognitive Trainer?
The client/trainer relationship is foundational to your cognitive training experience.
During your cognitive training program, you’ll do fun, challenging exercises for your brain with the help of your own personal Cognitive Trainer.
To understand the impact of working with a personal Cognitive Trainer, physical fitness training provides a great analogy. Think about what it’s like to commit to working out three or four days a week at the gym with a personal trainer who customizes your workouts, holds you accountable, and encourages you beyond your comfort zone.
Now compare that with the experience of purchasing a self-driven workout program with the good intentions of making time to work out when you feel like it. See the difference? That’s the difference a training relationship can make.
The one-on-one training relationship can truly be a game changer in your cognitive training experience. The face-to-face nature of the training relationship allows our Cognitive Trainers to:
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focus on results by customizing each training session and encouraging clients to work past their comfort levels
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focus on attitude by challenging clients to recognize and pursue their potential, learning to see failure not as something to be avoided at all costs, but as a temporary stepping stone to greater success
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focus on confidence by encouraging struggling children and adults to fully engage, embrace challenges, recognize improvements, and celebrate gains
Do You Teach Or Tutor Students Academic Content?
No, we don't teach any academic work or tutor students to re-teach academic content.
Instead, we first test and then, on a one-on-one basis, train the cognitive skills (brain skills) a person uses for learning, reading, remembering, comprehension and concentration.
In other words, while school/university/tutors teach your academic content, we on the other hand work on improving how you're able to process, store, recall and apply that information.
Want to learn how to study correctly (now that your ability to learn has been strengthened)? Ask us to refer you to organisations within our network that use research based learning strategies and tactics to teach you how to correctly study.
Are All Brain Training The Same?
Not all brain training is created equal.
While there are many levels of workouts for the brain, working one-on-one with a certified Cognitive Trainer in a research based cognitive development program, provides the greatest intensity and the most productive workout for your brain.
In fact, one-on-one cognitive training (brain training) is a completely different process - with completely different goals and results - than so called "brain training" you do through apps on your computer or phone.
I'm Seeking Real Solutions To My Child's Learning Struggles. Will This Help?
Simply changing schools, using another study method, tutoring, homeschooling or working harder will not address the root cause(es) of a learning struggle.
What needs to be addressed is the brain's ability to absorb, process and remember.
Completing a Cognitive Assessment is the 1st step in that process.
The Gibson Test of Cognitive Skills identify the weak cognitive skills behind a memory, attention, reading or learning struggle...and then we strengthen those weak cognitive skills with the extensively researched, and internationally acclaimed BrainRx cognitive development program.
Take the first step and schedule your child's Cognitive Assessment TODAY. Let's start this journey together.
Dylan's BrainRx Story
What Is Neuroplasticity?
Research has shown that the brain never stops changing.
Neuroplasticity defines the brain's ability to change and modify neuron activity and connections in reaction to increased learning demand.
Gray matter can actually shrink or thicken, plus neural connections can be forged and refined or weakened based on certain environmental activities.
Cognitive Training takes advantage of Neuroplasticity by engaging you in intense, researched and specially designed combined one-on-one & digital exercises to promote rapid strengthening and growth of these neuronal connections.
Your cognitive abilities - such as Memory (Short- and Long Term, and Working Memory), Attention, Visual Processing, Auditory Processing, Processing Speed, and Logic & Reasoning - can be improved with the right cognitive training program.
Maak Dit Saak As My Huistaal Afrikaans (Of 'n Ander Taal) Is?
Glad nie! Ons werk elke dag met mense wat verskillende huistale praat. Om 'n BrainRx program te doen, hoef jou huistaal nie spesifiek Engels te wees nie. Die nagevorsde program-inhoud is nie taal-spesifiek/taalgebonde nie.
Selfs die Kognitiewe Assessering is in meer as 23 tale beskikbaar, onder andere Afrikaans!