Written by Daisy Watson and Heidi Barker
What can parents do to help their struggling child?
Background
After years of frustration and slow progress, one determined family brought their child to BRAINfitU looking for answers. At just six years old, their bright and curious learner was already facing challenges that traditional tutoring could not fix.
During testing, BRAINfitU uncovered what was really holding this student back. It was not a lack of effort, but deeper vision, hearing, and language processing issues that were quietly disrupting learning.
When this family first came in, two years earlier, BRAINfitU had recommended vision therapy, a hearing evaluation, and speech and language follow up before beginning intensive brain training. These steps were not just checkboxes. They were essential foundations for success. Without addressing them, no amount of tutoring or repetition could truly make a difference.
Challenges
- Slow processing speed
- Limited focus and sustained attention
- Weak working memory
- Auditory processing difficulties
- Weak word attack skills and phonics
- Performing well below age expectations
- Minimal progress despite years of tutoring and multiple programs
The student continued to face challenges across multiple areas of learning. Despite years of tutoring and multiple programs, progress remained minimal for this young child. By the time of referral, the child was performing well below age expectations and continuing to fall behind.
Individual Assessment
At BRAINfitU, every journey begins with a comprehensive, individualized assessment that examines the whole learning profile. We look closely at cognitive skills such as processing speed, memory, and attention, as well as auditory and visual processing and academic application.
BRAINfitU believes that true progress starts with understanding, not guesswork. That is why BRAINfitU does not move forward with training if a child’s underlying needs are not being met. When the assessment reveals areas that require outside support, such as vision or speech therapy, BRAINfitU pauses and guides families toward the right specialists before continuing.
BRAINfitU’s goal is not to simply enroll students in a program, but to ensure that each child has the right foundation for success. BRAINfitU takes pride in recommending what is best for the learner, even if that means waiting to begin training until the time is right.
In 2023, the assessment data identified multiple areas impacting learning. Weaknesses were noted in working memory, visual memory, processing speed, and attention, with pronounced deficits in auditory memory, auditory processing, visual processing, and word attack, while logic and reasoning were average.
Two years later, the family returned to get more answers; their child was still struggling, and they wanted to start brain training. Unfortunately, there has been little measurable improvement, indicating that the original recommendations, particularly vision therapy, were not implemented, and the root causes remain unaddressed. BRAINfitU cannot begin brain training until these recommendations are followed.
Why Individual Cognitive Assessment Results Matter
When a child is not making expected gains in tutoring, the problem is often not motivation or effort. It is that the brain’s basic learning systems are blocked. For example, a child reporting “letters don’t make sense” may be experiencing a disconnection between what they see and what they hear. In this particular case the child’s reading comprehension and phonics work like noise rather than clear signals. Standard tutoring repeats the same tasks without resolving the underlying breakdown, which leaves the child stuck. Individual cognitive assessments tell us exactly where those breakdowns occur so we can target them directly instead of applying one-size-fits-all solutions.
The BRAINfitU Approach
The BRAINfitU model combines targeted assessment with one-on-one brain training tailored to the whole learning profile.
Key elements for brain training:
• Comprehensive assessment: BRAINfitU evaluates visual and auditory inputs, memory, processing speed, attention, and academic skills to create a full picture.
• Individualized training: Sessions are one-on-one and designed to use the student’s strengths to strengthen weaknesses.
• Whole-child focus: BRAINfitU does not treat in isolation. If vision, hearing, or speech issues are suspected, BRAINfitU recommends the specific next steps and pauses training until those are addressed.
• Transparent progress monitoring: Trainers keep detailed records and communicate clearly with families. BRAINfitU prioritizes effective solutions, providing guidance and referrals to other experts when current training is unlikely to achieve results.
This approach prevents clients from spending time and resources on ineffective training. BRAINfitU follows science- and research-backed processes, ensuring that guidance and referrals are aligned with achieving meaningful results.
A Future with Confidence
This child could have been reading independently and keeping pace with peers if the full recommendations had been followed earlier, especially vision therapy. While earlier intervention often shortens the path to success, it is not too late. With a comprehensive assessment and coordinated interventions that address vision, hearing, speech, and the core cognitive skills, the trajectory can be changed. BRAINfitU’s goal is to turn confusion into clarity, frustration into confidence, and stalled progress into measurable gains.
If you are starting to wonder why tutoring alone is not working, it may be time to look deeper. When a child struggles to make progress despite effort and support, there is usually an underlying reason that has not yet been addressed.
BRAINfitU looks at the entire learning system to uncover what is really standing in the way. The BRAINfitU team explains every finding clearly, without jargon, and provides a personalized plan designed to help your child move forward with confidence.
Real progress begins when you understand the whole picture. Reach out today to take the first step toward lasting change.
Interested in learning what’s possible for your child?
Learn more or schedule an assessment at brainfitu.com
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