Brain Traning
What is Brain Training?
IQRx Brain Enhancement Center uses a proven methodology and a patented brain training program created by BrainRx. lt was developed to train and enhance cognitive learning skills. lt is what many affectionately refer to as a workout for the brain. Brain training is like having a personal trainer but instead of for your body, for your brain.
When we learn, incoming information is processed through the brain’s core skills which are our cognitive skills (attention, processing speed, working memory, logic & reasoning, long-term memory, auditory processing, and visual processing). Like cogwheels in a machine, these skills have to work together to move information into storedknowledge and later extract it for usage. That means even one weak skill can keep information from being processed well, no matter how many times it’s explained by teachers, tutors, employers, friends, or family.
Research studies show that by using proper training methods, one can target, modify, and develop the brain to improve function and strengthen deficiencies. The fastest and most efficient way to do this is through cognitive training exercises that specifically and directly target a deficient skill.
IQRx focuses on enhancing and improving those processing skills that will have the biggest impact on learning and execution. The greatest impact can be realized by directly strengthening the deficient cognitive skills that relate to a specific opportunity. Individual testing allows training to be optimized for each student.
How does brain training work?
Brain training is an individualized program where each trainer has one on one intense sessions with the student that may be 1 hour, 1.5 hours or 2 hours long. The program requires at least 3 sessions per week for a minimum total time of 5 hours per week which is what is scientifically proven to deliver results. Sessions have to be sequenced appropriately, fast paced, intense, increasing in difficulty, and frequent. It pushes the trainee to the limit and out of his/her comfort zone.
Our programs are approximately half of the time dedicated to computer exercises (digital) where the trainer mostly ensures sequencing and efficient use of time, encourages motivation, coaches, and provides instantaneous feedback. The other half of the time, the program is dedicated to manual exercises using puzzles, cards, patterns, visuals, letters, and numbers where the trainer needs to run the exercise in addition to coaching, instantaneous feedback, motivation, sequencing, intensity and time management.
Training does not involve teaching content. The student will not be learning content but mostly drilling exercises just as when you have a routine at the gym based on drills and repetitions with little to no rest and focused on intensity (in that case high heart rate). Exercises to drill look like games rather than assignments. They will not be doing grammar, writing, reading (except during ReadingRx), science, history or math (other than basic arithmetic). It is not focused on closing content gaps but on improving skills required to learn efficiently to be able to later on close the gap on their own by exposure to material or through focused tutoring.
The duration of the programs vary depending on the skills, background, expectations, and goals but they fluctuate between 15 and 36 weeks. The first step is to assess the student's skills to determine the best approach.
Who can benefit from brain training?
Anyone can benefit from brain training, from age 4 to 100+!
Because cognitive skills training strengthens skills used in all learning situations, individuals of all ages and ability levels work with IQRx trainers for a variety of reasons. Some examples are:
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Preschool children
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Elementary school children
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Middle and high school students
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College students
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Adults wanting to improve their job performance
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Senior citizens seeking to stay mentally sharp or who want to improve mental agility and reduce memory loss
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Students in transition (moving to middle school, high school or college)
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Individuals simply seeking to enhance their skills
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High performing students (gifted, twice exceptional, or not) wanting to get further ahead
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Individuals with learning difficulties, reading problems, math problems, or slow performance (having or not having issues with grades)
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Students in need of constant tutoring
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Athletes wanting faster reaction time, processing speed, and memory
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Businesses that want to develop the skills of their employees
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Young adults wanting to better execute at college, work, standardized tests and/or board exams (law, medicine, engineering etc)
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Individuals that have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), concussion, or stroke
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Individuals with different diagnosis ranging from: Learning Disabilities, ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Auditory Processing Disorder, Autism, Down Syndrome, Asperger's, Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), Social Communication Disorder, Anxiety, Cerebral Palsy, OCD, PTSD, Alzheimer's, Dementia, and TBI. Note: it does not cure or eliminate diagnosis but it strengths cognitive skills that accompany many of these.
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Individuals that can have impaired cognitive skills due to medical treatment or conditions such as cancer, epilepsy and others.
How can brain training make a difference?
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Improve cognitive skills and academic performance
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Treat the cause
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Train the brain, unlock the potential
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Greater confidence in every area of life:
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Applies to other areas of life such as driving a car, performing tasks, athletics, art, performance, and music
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With higher confidence comes less anxiety, stress and better self-esteem
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Is different from tutoring because:
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Treat the cause rather than only the symptoms (tutoring treats only the symptoms)
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Cost less over time - tutoring is usually needed indefinitely
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Seven times more effective in less than half the time
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Provides transferable gains and delivers unmatched and permanent results
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Raises IQ which is linked to higher performance and income
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Brain Training Programs:
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BrainRx
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Core program
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Works all Cognitive skills
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Mostly ages 7 and up
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Program lengths: 60, 75, 90, 120 and 150 hours depending on age and skills
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ReadRx
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Includes all BrainRx exercises
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Involves content because it includes 25 lessons on all English phenomes for symbol to sound coding
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Includes reading drills as well as spelling and coding drills
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Should have base cognitive skills improved because ReadRx requires all 25 lessons to be complete. Therefore, it is usually done in combo with BrainRx or after a student completed a BrainRx program previously.
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In addition to all cognitive skills improvements:
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Improves reading fluency, speed, and mechanics required for reading comprehension.
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Improves spelling
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Improves vocabulary acquisition, retention, and usage
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Improvements are transferable to other languages if student knows phonetics of that language
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Very helpful for learning English
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Ages 9/10 and up
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Program length: 75, 90, 120, 150, and 180 hours (depends if it is on combo or stand alone)
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AccelerateRx
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Cognitive Skills training that takes it a notch down to the very basic skills
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Appropriate for young kids 4 - 7
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Appropriate for kids and adults with highly deficient cognitive skills
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Precursor to BrainRx
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May work in combo with BrainRx if appropriate
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Program length: 75, 90, 120, 150, and 180 hours (depends if it is on combo or stand alone)
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Additional Information, Resources and Brochures:
BrainRx training was beneficial to understand who I am, my areas of strength and weakness. It was good to work with others on the exercises. It was worth the commitment. I feel it has heled me focus on areas of weakness that I can continue to work on, to improve andhave a more fulfilled life.
- Caroline S.