Attention & Focus

“Living with ADHD is like walking up a down escalator. You can get there eventually but the journey is exhausting.” ― Kathleen Ely

© Can Stock Photo / nehru

What can cause a person to not pay attention or to lose focus?

Many blockages to learning can cause a person to struggle with sustained focus and attention. Some of these are:

Brain Injury

Long Covid

Irlen Syndrome, a visual perceptual disorder (See our page dedicated to The Irlen Syndrome)

 Poor working memory

Slow processing speed (See our page dedicated to Interactive Metronome therapy)

canstockphoto14989010Children: Inattention is one of the most common symptoms encountered in clinical psychological evaluations. It manifests as the inability to focus, keep instructions in mind, or plan. The inattentive child has problems focusing on the content while reading and has a hard time keeping on task in a class or doing homework. This impairs the ability to learn and lead a satisfying life. When students are alert, prepared, and ready to listen, they have more of an opportunity to think critically about the educational material and ask appropriate questions to further their knowledge.

 

The inability to focus and sustain attention can rob us of relationships, deeper knowledge, a sense of accomplishment, and higher test scores.

© Can Stock Photo / hKuprevich

 

Adults:   Inattention is one of the most common symptoms in counted encountered in psychological evaluations. It’s manifested as the inability to keep instructions in mind, plan ahead, focus on contact while reading, or keep on task at work. This impairs the ability to learn and execute or perform at work. Inattention is also frequently present after a stroke or with a traumatic head injury.

Cogmed Working Memory Training Home Program:  is a method based on the principles of neuroplasticity, specifically targeting the frontoparietal networks for attention and working memory, as reported in high-impact scientific journals. The enhancement of attention has been demonstrated in several randomized controlled studies by independent research groups. These studies show clinically meaningful long-lasting effects using standardized rating scales. Cogmed entails 30 sessions, 35 minutes a day monitored by a U CAN LEARN coach. The children’s version has rewards and a motivational build-your-own-island component. 
Brain training vs. Cogmed: A typical brain-training app may have wide claims of benefits with only weak scientific evidence. *  Cogmed has specific claims of benefits based on clear and repeated scientific publications. There are been over 100 peer-reviewed articles. Brain training is often created by a corporation and is used for app sales and profit. Cogmed was created by doctors and neuroscientists and was optimized for growing specific cognitive capabilities with long-term effects.
For more research information visit www.cogmed.com

* As an example of such excessive claims, makers of the popular brain training app called Lumosity were found to have deceived their users and were fined $2 million in 2016. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-cracking-down-on-brain-training-games/

Call U CAN LEARN at 801-683-5999 to ask questions or to get started.