Lumosity

I often think about how the technologies these days have helped Brian recover in ways that would not have happened when I was a kid.  I have seen it listed that the 1990's were an era when brain injury treatment improved tremendously due to better technology and better research. I also think that so many things are happening right now that will improve medical treatment and quality of living will improve for TBI survivors.  Soldiers acquiring a TBI and the NFL's campaign to minimize concussions due to law suits are both leading to awareness and research to this topic that can help in the future.

Clearly, the change in computers from the time when I was a kid until today has changed tremendously.  I remember playing a horse racing game on my Dad;s Kaypro Computer, or playing Atari Frogger and thinking that they were great.  Today, X-Box Connect and Wii games have helped keep Brian active in fun ways since he was able to grab the Wii remote.  I posted a Youtube Video of Brian winning a Wii Sports Resort game in March of 2012.  (I have attached the link below) This was just over three months since the accident and 2 months before he was walking.  It felt like such an accomplishment at the time.  He would completely blow away the computer player in that same game today.

Another interesting program that we invested in for Brian was a membership to Lumosity.  In researching TBI Recovery about two years ago, I saw info about Lumosity and checked out the website.  It interested me.  I started hearing adds on satellite radio and latter terrestrial radio.  I could only find positive things about Lumosity.

They advertise that they help the brain improve, but it feels like you are just playing games.  It measures many factors like Speed, Memory, Attention, Brain Performance Index (BPI), Problem Solving, and Flexibility.    We started our membership in July of 2012 and have seen increased progress in each category since.

Brian was 7 at the time, and was certainly young on the scale of users.  Some of the games include solving math problems fast.  Some of the math would be difficult for many 1st graders, and certainly were difficult for Brian.    Some games are like the game of memory, where you have to remember where something was hidden.

Two games in particular exist in which I have enjoyed seeing Brian improve tremendously.    First, is a target game.  For a half a second, a bird appears on the screen somewhere in a landscape and a number appears in the middle.  With the mouse, you have to point to where the bird was and than type the number that you saw.  Soon you have two birds, and a number.  Followed by three and four birds.  Brian's score has increased a lot on this since he started.

The second is a game in which you are a waiter/ server.  You work for tips.  If you remember the person's name and get the order right, the better the tip and the better your score.  The customer orders do not go in order, and you have to remember who ordered what and remember names as the various customers come and go.  Some of the customers are recurring.  You get even bigger tips if you remember the customer name from previous visits.

They market the program for anyone that wants to improve brain skills.  In July of 2012, we were looking for anything that could help improve Brian's cognitive skills.  He may not have been ready for it at that time.
Today, we use it as one of his daily activities. He is very excited when he reaches a personal best.  Seeing continual improvements is rewarding.  It will be a part of his routine for the immediate future.

We have heard of others that have a membership.Not just people with brain injuries either. The games and skills that you could improve are important for all.   Brian has improved in so many ways cognitively since July 2012.  Lumosity has been a part of the reason for the improvement.