Dyslexia is a learning disability that from a traditional viewpoint is believed to be lifelong. For individuals who are diagnosed with it, workarounds and accommodations are put in place to help them circumnavigate their challenges - but these do not allow them to overcome the underlying source of their difficulties.
Here at Arrowsmith, we understand that by harnessing the power of neuroplasticity through targeted cognitive exercises, we can strengthen an individual’s brain and help them to overcome learning disabilities such as Dyslexia.
In this case study, we look at the story of Emma who was able to overcome her challenges with Dyslexia by enrolling in the Arrowsmith Program.
Age: 12
Learning Difficulty: Dyslexia
Program type:
Time in program: Part-Time 2 years, Cognitive Intensive Program 2 summers
Location: Canada
Emma's journey with Dyslexia began at a young age when her struggles with recognizing letters became apparent. Emma’s mother (Rachel) vigilantly monitored her progress and requested a psychoeducational assessment to be performed on her daughter.
This psychoeducational assessment confirmed Emma's dyslexia, highlighting difficulties with:
As a result of the psychoeducational assessment, educators delivered a disheartening prognosis, suggesting Emma's reading abilities might never surpass a grade one level due to the severity of her Dyslexia diagnosis and phonemic memory issues.
Rachel was now faced with a daunting reality, where it seemed there were no viable solutions to help her daughter overcome her learning difficulties.
I noticed when Emma was very young she was having difficulty recognizing letters. And so, I started to monitor quite closely what was happening with Emma at school. And when she was six, we actually had her taken in for a psychoeducational assessment which diagnosed that she had a learning disability.
When I got Emma's psychoeducational report, I found it to be a very disappointing document. It was helpful in terms of identifying the problem, it was not helpful in terms of identifying any recommendations or any solutions. I was basically told, ‘This is your child, this is her learning profile. It's fixed. There's nothing that can be done to change that. And here are the accommodations that you need to put into place in order for her to be able to manage the school system’.
This is when Arrowsmith emerged as a beacon of hope in Emma’s educational journey. Rachel discovered the Program by happenstance and enrolled Emma in a customized curriculum that was designed to strengthen her brain and help her overcome her learning difficulties.
The Arrowsmith Program is a holistic approach to cognitive development, rooted in harnessing the power of neuroplasticity, to offer an alternative to traditional interventions and accommodations that help individuals overcome their challenges, transform their learning profile and improve their overall well-being.
Emma was enrolled in a Part-Time Arrowsmith Program, which involved dedicated cognitive programs focused on:
Emma was also enrolled in the Cognitive Intensive Program (CIP) Symbol Relations during the summer, which worked on strengthening Emma’s reasoning, processing speed, attention and comprehension skills.
Arrowsmith's emphasis on neuroplasticity instilled confidence in Rachel and Emma, fostering a belief in Emma's potential for growth and development beyond the confines of her diagnosis. As Emma embarked on her Arrowsmith journey, she found herself equipped with the tools and support needed to confront Dyslexia head-on and rewrite her educational narrative.
Note: Emma, in addition to Dyslexia, had a Non-Verbal learning disability and a Memory problem, and as a result she worked on these additional programs to address these learning disabilities - Non-Verbal Thinking and Memory for Information and Instructions.
Emma’s progress exceeded both her and her mother’s expectations, showcasing the transformative power of the Arrowsmith Program.
Within a short timeframe, Emma's reading fluency improved dramatically, rendering previous struggles with missing letters and skipping lines obsolete. Not only did Emma catch up to her peers, but she surpassed grade-level expectations, demonstrating a newfound enjoyment and comprehension of reading.
Her writing underwent a similar transformation, evolving from illegible scrawls to clear, expressive prose reflective of her burgeoning confidence and cognitive growth.
Emma’s outcomes of participating in Arrowsmith included:
Beyond academic achievements, Emma's journey with Arrowsmith catalyzed a broader personal transformation, fostering maturity and a deeper understanding of the world around her.
With each milestone reached Emma was able to break the limitations previously expressed to her in the psychoeducational assessment, paving the way for a future filled with promise and possibility.
Before I used to have to ask about every single word and how to spell it, but now I can write a short story without really needing to ask anybody about any words. Coming here (Arrowsmith) was a good idea. Sometimes you feel like you want to give up because it’s so difficult, but after it will be totally worth it in the years to come.
