It’s the Brain, Not the Books: The Real Reason for Reading Challenges

Helping a child overcome reading challenges can be a confusing process given options like tutoring, school interventions or IEPs. In recent years, a helpful trend has started as reading experts are recommending parents seek a structured literacy approach to reading that follows the science of reading methodology.  This means there is a greater focus on blending sounds and phonetics vs. common reading strategies like cuing or the whole language approach which focuses more on meaning and context vs. sounding out words.  

According to the Science of Reading, a structured literacy approach to reading instruction is aligned with what we know about how the brain learns to read. Structured literacy programs include explicit, systematic teaching that focuses on phonological awareness, word recognition, phonics and decoding, spelling, and syntax at the sentence and paragraph levels.

One of the most common structured literacy approaches is the Orton-Gillingham methodology.  The OG methodology emphasizes phonetics and auditory processing skills.

The LearningRx Savage reading training is also a structured literacy program. 

The LearningRx reading program is a one-on-one, multi-sensory, structured literacy program delivered through a brain training approach.

What sets LearningRx Savage apart from all other structured literacy and reading interventions is our focus on building strong cognitive skills first because they are the foundation for all learning.  Based on the Science of Reading and the Cattell-Horn-Carrol Theory of Cognition, the LearningRx reading program includes explicit and systematic instruction in phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. To our knowledge, we are the only reading program that trains phonemic awareness and phonics along with memory, processing speed, visual processing, attention, and reasoning skills.

Why is this important? 

Because if a child has weak skills in areas like memory or processing speed, both reading fluency and reading comprehension will be impacted.  

Memory is a critical reading skill as it enables word recognition – sight words and all the odd English rules and exceptions that drive non-phonetic words like “said” which cannot be sounded out, only memorized.  Memory will also impact reading retention and comprehension.

Processing speed impacts reading fluency and the amount of information that can be absorbed while reading.  Slow processing speed also makes reading much more labored and can lead to mental fatigue or frustration when reading.

If these root cause cognitive skills weaknesses exist and are not addressed, reading improvement will be stifled as other programs do not address the root cause and often focus on the symptom vs. the root cause of a reading struggle.

The LearningRx Savage reading training effectiveness is demonstrated in our overall results as well as recent peer-reviewed research published in the journal Psychology Research and Behavior Management which demonstrates significant reading improvements in just 24 weeks of training.

• In a research study with more than 3,500 struggling readers, researchers found statistically significant changes in both reading skills and cognitive skills after 24 weeks of training with ReadRx.
• The average gain across five reading skills was 4.1 years in just 24 weeks.
• The average gain in phonological awareness was nearly 6 years in just 24 weeks.
• The average gain in phonetic coding was 5.5 years in just 24 weeks.
• The average gain in spelling was 2.2 years in just 24 weeks.
• The average gain in Word Attack was 2.9 years in just 24 weeks.
• The average gain in IQ score was nearly 14 points.
• Parents reported improvements in cognition, academic performance, and psychosocial skills.

If you or a loved one has been struggling with reading and strategies like tutoring or school interventions are not helping, call LearningRx Savage to learn more. We’d love to answer any questions to see if our reading training is a good fit.

Results are from surveys & 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.

LearningRx has been an absolute game-changer for our family. My 6-year-old son is just finishing the program, and the growth we’ve seen has blown us away. His reading has taken off, his concentration is stronger, his memory is sharper, and most importantly—his confidence has skyrocketed. The staff is truly something special. Every single person is warm, patient, and genuinely invested in your child’s success. You can feel the encouragement the moment you walk through the door. They make the work fun, motivating, and tailored exactly to what each child needs. If your child is struggling in school, feeling frustrated, or you simply want to give them an incredible foundation for learning, THIS is the answer. LearningRx gives kids real skills that stick, not just temporary tricks. I’m so grateful we found this place. Highly, highly recommend!

~Cortney L., Savage, MN

*Results based on past client; you or your child may or may not achieve the same results.