By the time you are thirsty, cognitive function has already dropped 10%

It happens to everyone at least once.  You enter a room in your home, get in the car, or simply step outside and realize you do not remember why you went there, or what you needed, in the first place.  Leave the area, and then frustration mounts when you realize after you leave home that the library books are still on the kitchen counter. 

In Canada, adult literacy is measured in levels, with Level 3 considered optimal for everyday demands.  Unfortunately, four out of 10 Canadians, ages 16 to 65, struggle to reach Level 3—the level that should be attain by completing high school. 

When learning disabilities first manifest, they are often interpreted as behavior problems that are best countered with discipline or stringent structure.  School officials may even suggest that the student will "grow out of" the behavior and develop an interest in school when the discipline helps the child develop self-control. 

If your child sustains a concussion during play or competitive sports, recovery time typically  requires one to three weeks.  During this recovery time, the brain is not functioning at full capacity, even if your child appears to be doing just fine.  This can impact how your child tolerates life developments and her education. Knowing the signs and symptoms of concussions is critical. 

The holidays are approaching and with it, the anticipation for gifts.  It is often a struggle to keep learning positive as children are more focused on holidays, gifts, and school breaks and not their education. 

Challenge: Cut out the “bad” from your diet

Confession time: I hate vegetables. There, I said it. I can hear my mother cringing in the background. Hate might be a strong word so I’ll dial it back to strongly dislike (except for peas and corn which are not the best vegetables anyways) So, recently in my quest for improved health I started doing veggie/fruit smoothies in the morning before work. I’ll let our guest blogger Juliana Leamen BSc, MSc, NWS a Certified Nutrition & Wellness Specialist explain further, she’ll wow you with how good they are for you and why. I’ve increased my vegetable intake several hundred percent with minimal effort and my son begs to try it each day. When’s the last time your child begged for vegetables? Here's Juliana to save me from myself!

There are many myths regarding causes of learning disabilities.  These myths lead to confusion and misinformation about what learning disabilities are and where they come from. In contrast, several plausible theories describe possible causes.  These causes are often not definitive, but instead offer possible explanations.  No matter the cause, children can develop the effected brain skills and begin to find success in school and in life.

An educational assessment is the first step in determining the nature and extent of a learning disability.  By asking a student to complete a series of tests involving brain skills, we can discover the source of a learning difficulty and design the correct program to help a student overcome it. 

Tired of making excuses for your brain's short comings? Are you worried that if it’s like this now…what will it be like in another 10 years? Don’t wait and see! Act now to build your brain, it’s never too late!