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IQ and Academic Scores Increase
Study supports Equipping Minds increases verbal and
nonverbal abilities, IQ, and academic skills.
In my doctoral research, I looked at the
transfer effects
of cognitive development training with Equipping Minds Cognitive Development Curriculum (EMCDC).
Thirty-two students with a diagnosed specific learning disorder (SLD) were
randomly assigned to one of two groups. Half of the students trained with EMCDC (Training Group) and the other half received extra academic tutoring (Active Control). Each group received training or academic tutoring for one hour a day, five days a week for 30 hours over 7 weeks.
BEFORE TRAINING
: A qualified professional measured their working memory, verbal and nonverbal abilities, IQ, and academic skills. Students in the Training and Active Control attended a private school for students with learning difficulties and were 4th through 8th graders.
ASSESSMENTS : Alloway Working Memory Assessment (AWMA-2), Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT-2) and Terra Nova Annual Academic Assessment for 2015 and 2016
INTERVENTION: The Equipping Minds Cognitive Development Curriculum (EMCDC) is designed to strengthen existing neural connections and, more importantly, to create missing neural pathways that may inhibit one's ability to learn. EMCDC employs a holistic approach to cognitive development training through primitive reflex exercises, sensory-motor development exercises, and cognitive developmental exercises. The participants in the training group received cognitive developmental training for 60 minutes, 5 days a week for 7 weeks in a small group of two participants with a trained mediator using EMCDC. The Maintaining Brains Everyday DVD for the primitive reflex exercises and the fear paralysis exercises were done by the participants at home or at school for 15 minutes a day. The sensory-motor development exercises included the use of sound therapy which the participants wore during the one-hour intervention sessions while doing the cognitive developmental exercises. The mediators follow an abbreviated format of the EMCDC full program as the intervention was limited to 30 hours. The participants in the active control group received academic support with a teacher for 60 minutes, 5 days a week for 7 weeks in a small group. All participating learners continued to receive standard special educational support services as a result of their learning difficulties.
AFTER TRAINING:
While the Training group made gains in working memory, it was not at a statistically significant level. However, t
he Training group showed
statistically significant improvements
in
verbal and nonverbal abilities, IQ,
and science.
In fact, the Training Group made greater improvements in reading, science, language, and social studies than the Active Control Group.
The Active Control, who received 30 hours of academic tutoring did not make significant improvements in working memory, nonverbal abilities, IQ, or academic skills. However, they did make gains in verbal
abilities
.
Working memory deficits impact all learners with a Neurodevelopmental Learning Disorder. According to the DSM-5, "The disorders are characterized by developmental deficits that produce impairments of personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning. The range of developmental deficits varies from very specific limitations of learning or control of executive functions to global impairments of social skills or intelligence." This was the basis for my presupposition of the causative effect of working memory on verbal and nonverbal abilities, IQ composite, and academic abilities, which proved to be wrong.
The current research demonstrated that working memory training does not seem to have a causative effect in relationship to
verbal, nonverbal, and academic abilities when using EMCDC for 30 hours of intervention and removes this limitation for learners with a SLD.This finding adds to the importance of Reuven Feuerstein's emphasis on deficient cognitive functions rather than deficient working memory alone.
Moreover, the findings from the current study are consistent with Feuerstein's research that training cognitive functions can have significant impacts on cognitive and academic abilities. The Equipping Minds Cognitive Development Curriculum (EMCDC) is a method of cognitive skill development in the areas of processing, working memory, comprehension, and reasoning, which are based on correcting the deficient cognitive functions as described by Feuerstein.
Additionally, this present study demonstrated that it possible to use EMCDC to raise the cognitive abilities of learners to an extent that has previously not been linked to learners with these disorders in 30 hours over 7 weeks. The current research found that training in working memory, processing, comprehension, and reasoning with EMCDC does provide convincing evidence to the generalization of verbal abilities, nonverbal abilities, and IQ composite. Similarly, far transfer effects to academic abilities in science were substantiated with significant gains using EMCDC. The results support the findings in neuroplasticity. EMCDC's use of a human mediator and cognitive developmental exercises, which are based on developing cognitive functions, have a greater impact than working memory training by a computer program alone.
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Equipping Minds Conference April 5-7, 2017
FRANKFORT, KY
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The Equipping Minds Conference trains educators, parents, therapists, and other specialists in our multi-disciplinary approach, which increases anyone's capacity to learn. You will be introduced to the theories of Structural Cognitive Modifiability and Mediated Learning, the role of neuro-developmental therapy, sound therapy, vestibular therapy, vision therapy, and cognitive developmental therapy. You will be provided with a proven set of exercises in these areas through a hands-on approach. This conference is designed for those who want to implement this program into their school, private practice, learning center, workplace, adult living center, or home. Level 1 Certification in Equipping Minds Cognitive Development Curriculum for those who attend all three days. Certificate of attendance will be provided for CEU and PD Credits.
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Online Therapy in the US around the World
"Equipping Minds is the program that put everything together : processing, critical thinking, comprehension, working memory training, sound therapy, reflex and vision exercises! Equipping Minds successfully broke through my daughter's learning challenges. My experience of nearly six years of using various programs/therapies to help my daughter boils down to Equipping Minds... They get it, and they have the tools, intuition, and love for what they do to make a difference in a child's life. Contact Carol to register your child or yourself!"
Karen, grateful mom,
Fairfax County, Virginia
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Professional Development is available for schools or groups. Please contact Carol for pricing and to schedule training.
Blessings,
Dr. Carol Brown Ed.D
751 Stoneleigh Drive
859-613-2290
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