High School senior struggles in math, science classes despite high IQ

Age: 18
Gender: Male
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Background: This 18 year old from Toronto suffered from a non-verbal learning disorder. He had above average verbal reasoning skills with significant delays in nonverbal reasoning, working memory, and processing speed. Throughout his entire high school education, he would get A grades in language arts classes, but was getting C grades in his math and science classes. At his job as a summer counselor, the young man had trouble staying focused during staff meetings and while talking to others at the camp.

Key challenges:

  • Struggled in school as a result of his poor working memory
  • Suffered from a non-verbal learning disorder
  • Had high reasoning skills, was constrained by other cognitive deficiencies
  • Could not stay focused as a camp counselor

Training outcomes:

  • Increased ability to focus as a summer counselor
  • Reports being much more attentive in school
  • Is able to “catch” himself when he starts to drift off
  • More focused around the house
*Photos above are not of the actual users whose experience we describe – we understand that poor working memory
is often a hidden weakness that impacts people in a very personal way.
Out of respect for their privacy, we have kept the identities of these people anonymous.