Cogmed

What is Cogmed?

Cogmed is a therapeutic program that increases focus, attention to the task at hand, ability to carry out complex instructions or multi-step tasks, and improves organization and planning.

Who Can Benefit from the Cogmed Program?

Children or adults with diagnosed or suspected attention deficit disorder, people with brain injuries, like concussion or stroke, or anyone who has similar symptoms, such as trouble concentrating, difficulty following instructions, or feeling like they can’t think clearly, can all benefit from the Cogmed Program. 

How Does Cogmed Work?

Humans have different types of memory. “Working memory” is short-term memory that takes us from one moment to the next. For example, you find yourself thirsty, so you get up to get yourself a glass of water. That takes several steps. You have to walk to the kitchen, open the correct cupboard and select a glass, go to the sink or refrigerator to put water in the glass, and then you probably want to go back to what you were doing before you felt thirsty. It’s our working memory reminds us that we are in the kitchen to get the water, and what we were doing before that.. 

At some point, we’ve all found ourselves stressed or overly tired, and we get to the kitchen and can’t remember what we’re doing there, or we get interrupted and can’t remember what we were doing previously. These types of working memory gaps can happen for a number of reasons.

Attention deficit disorder is associated with a lower-than-average working memory capacity. Increasing the capacity of working memory improves attention, concentration, following instructions, and all of the other “deficits” typical of the disorder.

Similarly, those who have similar deficits resulting from stroke, concussion, or traumatic brain injury, can also improve their working memory, which improves their ability to plan ahead, complex complex tasks, or perform at school or work.