Cognitive Skills Training

The ability to handle more than one thing at a time (i.e., the ability to recognize a word without sounding it out, listen to the instructor while taking notes, or to drive a car while carrying on a conversation)

The ability to link a series of input over time. This is a skill required for reading so that the beginner can blend a series of sounds to create words and the advanced reader can link a series of words in order to understand the story or idea.

The ability to reason, plan, and form ideas. To decide how you are going to solve a problem, make sure it gets done, check it for mistakes, and modify it if needed.

The ability to perform cognitive tasks quickly which is an important skill for complex tasks or tasks that have many steps (i.e., if you are dividing two numbers in your head but the processing is slow, you might have forgotten an earlier calculation before you are done and have to start all over again. You took longer to do the problem than your ability to remember).

The ability to store and recall small amounts of information about the current situation. Students with short-term memory problems may need to look several times at something before copying, have problems following instructions, or need to have information repeated often.

The ability to recall information when needed that was stored in the past. This is very important for spelling, recalling facts on tests, and comprehension.

The ability to perceive, analyze, and conceptualize what is heard. This is critical in reading and spelling because it includes hearing, identifying and blending sounds, and sounding out words.

The ability to perceive, analyze, and think in visual images. This includes visualization, which is the ability to create a picture in your mind. Students who have problems with visual processing may reverse letters or have difficulty following instructions, reading maps, doing word math problems, and comprehension.