Brain Training for Individuals on the Autism Spectrum

There’s a reason that autism is described as being a spectrum. There are so many varied skills, needs, and experiences within this diagnosis. While it has its challenges, individuals with autism are set up to experience the world in a unique way—and supporting brain skills with brain training can help them excel even more!

Please note: we do not diagnose autism spectrum disorder. Brain training is not a treatment or cure for autism, but you can read and hear more about our approach to supporting learners with autism here.

How Autism Impacts Learning

According to a 2014 study published in the journal Neuron, researchers believe that the sensory and cognitive effects of autism are caused by having too many connections (synapses). As your brain grows, there is a natural “pruning” of connections that help you develop in a more neurotypical way.

When this pruning doesn’t happen as effectively, individuals begin to exhibit some of the hallmark symptoms of being on the autism spectrum. These things include:

Delays in language or motor skill development
Delayed cognitive skills (leading to lower academic performance than their peers)
Hyperactive or impulsive behavior (or, conversely, inattention)
Unusual eating or sleeping habits
Higher emotional reactivity

While no 2 people on the autism spectrum are alike, there are a couple areas where support can be helpful to enable them to thrive in the world we live in.

How Does LearningRx Work with Individuals with Autism?

Our one-of-a-kind training plans are a critical part of our approach to supporting learners with autism. After all, no two people with autism think the exact same way or have difficulties in the exact same areas!

By customizing our training plans, we embrace the neurodiversity that characterizes autism. More importantly, this approach allows us to tailor brain training to each learner’s individual needs.

Here are some areas where brain training has supported people with autism:

#1: Social interaction and language development.

Eye contact, peer conversations, social cues, and language are much harder for autistic individuals than they are for neurotypical peers. In post-brain training surveys, many clients have reported that brain training has been a way to support individual expression, train eye movement and fixation, and support the brain’s ability to hear and process language effectively.

#2: Academic support

Whether your child is in a conventional classroom or specialized one—or if you are an adult with ASD in the workplace—cognitive skills are a critical piece for learning and functioning efficiently.

Our experience shows how brain training programs have helped kids, teens, and adults on the autism spectrum develop cognitively. Between 2010 and 2018, kids and teens with an ASD diagnosis improved learning and thinking skills by 3.2 years on average after brain training with LearningRx! During the same period, adult clients with autism made similar across-the-board gains in cognitive skill.

#3: Reading and comprehension

While reading comes easily for some individuals on the spectrum, it can be a gritted-teeth challenge for others. Our reading program is a foundational sound-to-code, science-based program that gets down to the basics to help individuals become confident readers.

Start Here

If you or someone you love is on the spectrum, supporting cognitive skills with brain training might be a great next step to unlocking a brain’s full potential. Everyone’s experience is unique, and we’d love to hear your story and share more about how we can help!

*Results are from surveys and studies of past clients. You or your loved ones may or may not achieve the same outcomes, but you can read more about our research and results here!