What is Neuroplasticity

June 01, 2016•4 min read

What is Neuroplasticity

y06/01/2016 02:00 AM

TIts name sounds like something from a science fiction movie...Neuroplasticity. It can be a little intimidating if you don’t know what it means. We get that a lot here at ADHD Learning Pathways.

Well, we can guarantee you that there are no electrodes, probes, or mind melds involved. But because it does sound so scary, we wanted to take this opportunity to explain what Neuroplasticity is and why we’re so darned excited about it!

Why Is Neuroplasticity So Exciting?

The two most important things to remember about Neuroplasticity is that

1) it works, and that

2) the results are permanent.

It's the second part that makes it so exciting.

To give you a little background, I (George Hersh, owner, and founder of ADHD Learning Pathways) have suffered from dyslexia my entire life. Once it was finally diagnosed (when I was 30), I searched high and low for something that would help me overcome it. I tried books, tapes, various programs, but nothing helped - until I discovered Neuroplasticity. The program we offer at ADHD Learning Pathways Method to help others with a variety of learning disabilities.

We have helped kids with ADHD, Dyslexia, and Anxiety actually learn HOW to learn.

So What Is Neuroplasticity Exactly?

In a nutshell, it is a program that involves physical movement and exercises that help the brain make new neuro connections.

By repeating these exercises, you can retrain your brain. Granted, these exercises are heavily researched and carefully designed, but they are nonetheless very simple exercises. If this sounds like medical mumbo jumbo, take a step back and think about people with brain damage due to stroke or trauma who have to retrain their brains to do the things they used to do automatically.

Doesn’t seem so strange or unbelievable when you put it in that context, does it?

Your brain can be weak in certain areas due to damage or development. The good news is that the brain has an incredible ability to rewire itself. Neuroplasticity taps into that ability.

Neuroplasticity: Your Brain’s Secret Weapon

There’s that “neuro” word that makes it all sound so scientific and intangible. All neuroplasticity means is that the brain can change. Our friends at Wikipedia did a nice job of explaining neuroplasticity: Neuroplasticity, also known as brain plasticity, is an umbrella term that describes lasting change to the brain throughout one's life course. The term gained prominence in the latter half of the 20th century when new research showed many aspects of the brain remain changeable (or "plastic") even into adulthood.

Almost everyone can benefit from brain training because we all have areas of our brain that are weaker than others.

At ADHD Learning Pathways we discover where the brain is weakest and needs help through a series of assessments.

Neuroplasticity Fixes Learning Disabilities

It sounds like an outrageous claim, but we see it happening every day at ADHD Learning Pathways. (Again, that’s why we’re so excited.)

Because most people don’t actually struggle with learning, they are not likely to seek help.

But, where we’ve seen the most need for this type of therapy is in children (and adults) with learning disabilities.

Because every brain is “wired” differently, not all people learn the same way.

About 20% of the population has a learning disability that keeps them from processing information usefully.

The problem is not intelligence (if you’re the parent of a child with a learning disability, you know your child is bright), but rather with how their brains process the information they receive.

It helps train the brain to process this information.

Once these new neuro-pathways are formed, they get stronger.

The brain is an amazing instrument and modern medicine is just scratching the surface when it comes to all we have to learn about it.

What we do know is that this treatment works.

Does it work overnight?...No?

It is an ongoing program that typically takes about six months.

It’s Like Tutoring with Permanent Results

With traditional tutoring, you see short-term improvement, but more help is needed to learn each new subject.

That’s because tutoring teaches them what to learn.

With ADHD Learning Pathways, we don’t just teach your child what to learn...we teach them how to learn.

That’s a skill they keep for life.

And THAT’S exciting!