Background
A nine-year-old female student came to BRAINfitU after years of struggling in school despite multiple interventions. She had a documented history of:
- ADHD
- Speech and language delays
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- An IEP and 504 accommodations
Before coming to BRAINfitU, she had received a wide range of support, including:
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Special education accommodations such as quiet testing environments, small group instruction, and read-aloud supports
- Extra tutoring with multiple organizations, private and school based
- Counseling services
Despite these efforts, her academic performance remained low, and her confidence was fading. Traditional methods weren’t helping, she was tired, emotionally withdrawn, and resistant to working with anyone new.
Challenges
When she arrived at BRAINfitU, she exhibited:
- Severe difficulty with phonetic awareness and reading
- Limited ability to memorize or retain information
- Resistance to instruction and lack of engagement due to ongoing struggles
- Resistance to parental guidance
- Emotional withdrawal and an unwillingness to work with trainers outside of her comfort zone
BRAINfitU provides a survey for the parents as part of the intake process. This helps BRAINfitU to identify the areas of concern for the parents. This survey is completed by the parents while the student is completing their initial testing with the Board Certified Exam Administrator. Together, these steps give our team a clear picture of the student’s strengths and struggles from both a data-driven and family perspective, allowing us to design a program that truly addresses the child’s unique needs.
Chart A shows that eight out of nine of her learning skills were a concern, showing widespread struggles in critical areas such as memory, attention, and processing speed. This meant that learning felt harder than it should in almost every subject, and simple tasks often left her feeling frustrated and defeated.
Individual Assessment
At BRAINfitU, cognitive testing helps identify not just where a learner is struggling, but also where their strengths can be used to strategically support their weaker skills. Chart B visual shown below provides a clear, color-coded breakdown of performance across nine critical areas of cognition, highlighting how unique each learner’s profile can be. BRAINfitU’s executive director personally reviews each chart to help determine the best course of action.
What Chart B/Individual Assessment Shows For This 9-Year-Old
Green/Yellow (Strengths)
The learner demonstrates Above Average to Average performance in several key areas like:
Working Memory – they can retain information briefly and use it effectively (77th percentile).
Auditory Memory – they can store and recall orally presented material.
Visual Memory – they have strong recall for visual information.
Cognitive Efficiency and Attention Composite – despite some low scores elsewhere, their ability to focus and maintain mental efficiency is intact.
Red/Orange (Areas of Need)
Significant challenges exist in:
Auditory Processing (1st percentile) – This may impact phonemic awareness, reading fluency, and verbal comprehension.
Logic & Reasoning (5th percentile) – May make problem-solving or applying rules more difficult.
Visual Processing (22nd percentile) – This could affect reading speed and spatial understanding.
Word Attack (10th percentile) – Points to difficulty sounding out unfamiliar words, likely influenced by low auditory processing.
Processing Speed – Though only slightly below average, it can contribute to slower completion of academic tasks.
Why Individual Cognitive Assessment Results Matter
These results confirm that cognitive performance isn’t one-size-fits-all. A student can excel in memory and focus but still struggle with processing and foundational reading skills. At BRAINfitU, this data informs customized training programs that:
- Leverage strengths (like memory) to improve weaker skills (like logic and processing).
- Use targeted, research-based exercises to build new neural pathways where deficits exist.
- Track progress over time, not just through grades or behaviors, but with cognitive metrics.
She initially required specialized support including modified instruction, quiet environments, and tailored communication strategies to build rapport and engagement. Even with these supports she required the one-on-one attention that the BRAINfitU Trainers are so skilled at providing.
The BRAINfitU Approach
BRAINfitU designed a 120-hour, one-on-one brain training program tailored to her unique cognitive needs. The focus areas included:
- Phonemic awareness and articulation correction
- Auditory and visual memory development
- Attention and processing speed
- Logic and comprehension
- Gradual exposure to sensory environments to build resilience and flexibility
The process began slowly, adjusting the pace and method of instruction to help her feel safe, understood, and successful. Over time, the student was transitioned into standard BRAINfitU learning environments with fewer modifications, as her cognitive stamina and emotional regulation improved.
From Struggles to Strengths
By the end of her 7.5-month program, the transformation was dramatic:
✅ She became an independent reader
✅ She gained confidence in social settings, interacting freely with both peers and adults
✅ She mastered multi-step math processes
✅ She reached superior-level performance across all cognitive skill areas, including auditory processing
✅ She improved memorization and logic skills significantly
✅ She surpassed her previous academic records, which had shown no measurable improvement for years
Most importantly, her attitude toward learning changed. She was no longer avoiding work or shutting down; she was engaged, curious, and proud of her progress.
The dramatic gains shown in the Cognitive Skills Profile reflected the progress the student and her parents had been working so hard to achieve. With stronger auditory processing, improved processing speed, and increased attention, the missing pieces finally began to fall into place. For the first time, what was being asked of her started to make sense. It was not a lack of willingness to perform. She had simply been missing the skills needed to succeed.
What the Family Said
Her parents were ecstatic. After exhausting every traditional option with minimal progress, they finally saw real change. What they had been hoping for over the course of years happened in less than eight months at BRAINfitU.
A Future with Confidence
This case exemplifies how targeted, one-on-one cognitive training can break through the barriers that traditional educational approaches sometimes cannot. It’s not just about improving test scores, it’s about restoring hope, confidence, and joy to students and families who’ve been living with learning challenges for far too long.
Interested in learning what’s possible for your child?
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