Dyslexia, dyscalculia, and the Brain
Our brain is the most complex organ in the human body since it serves as the center of the nervous system. Scientists have discovered tremendous amounts of information about the brain and how it works. But there’s still at least as much that is unknown about this amazing part of our body.
What we do know is that when our brain is functioning at its best, life comes easier to us. And when our brain isn’t in an optimal state, we end up struggling, usually in several areas of our lives.
What Are Dyslexia and Dyscalculia?
When the brain doesn’t function at its most optimal state, the struggles can present themselves as learning disabilities, or rather learning differences. These challenges include dyslexia and dyscalculia.
Dyslexia involves trouble connecting the sounds that create words with the letters that represent those sounds. When we read, there are several different parts of the brain that need to be activated and work well together:
Occipital Lobe
Temporal Lobe
Frontal Cortex
Parts of the Parietal Lobe
Dyscalculia refers to difficulty in learning math concepts. It can include challenges in the following areas, among others:
Numerical Recognition
Arithmetic Calculations
Telling Time
Counting
Sequencing
The parts of the brain involved in math are the frontal and the parietal lobe.
About 10% of the population experiences either a reading or math learning disability. About 40% of those who have one will also have the other. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a frequent co-occurring issue, as well.
A Harder Road for Some
Children who live with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and/or ADD must work much harder than their peers just to keep up. Other children may cruise through their homework, or have none at all. But it can be a different story for those who experience one of these differences.
They may spend evenings and weekends with tutoring or tons of additional instruction time, but that isn’t necessarily the answer. They don’t need more instruction and work. They need different support methods. These types of learning disabilities do not go away as children get older and mature into adults, so finding the right tools is essential.
It’s crucial to remember that having one or both of these learning challenges is NOT an indication of low intelligence. There are many well-accomplished and highly-educated individuals with either dyslexia or dyscalculia.
While there’s no cure for either of these learning differences, we do know that both conditions involve atypical processing in the brain. Both conditions appear to have a genetic component. So if a child has it, it’s highly likely that at least one close relative has it, too.
Neurofeedback Can Help the Brain Organize Itself
At Beaverton Neurofeedback, we focus on optimizing all the brain functions. We offer NeurOptimal neurofeedback and the Neuro Organizational Technique (NOT). With these modalities, the brain gets an opportunity to find the “weak” areas and strengthen the neurological connections.
These pathways bring improved cognitive processing speed for more effective learning experiences. Faster brain processing equals less time spent on homework and more time pursuing other hobbies and activities.
As the brain begins to work and process efficiently, many clients experience improvements in:
Self-Esteem
Emotional Health
Stress Resilience
Anxiety
Focus
Attentiveness
Memory
If you or a loved one experiences struggles with learning, integrative brain work can make your life easier, more enjoyable, and less stressful. Reach out today for an appointment at Beaverton Neurofeedback. Save yourself from the struggle and enjoy something better.
Other resources:
How to study with dyslexia: a comprehensive guide
20 apps for kids with dyslexia and learning disabilities (https://www.wizcase.com/blog/
