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MAY 2009

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Out of the Fog - Brain Works

Diane Daniels, M.A., Ed.S., Director of Brain Works
After “Laura*” had chemotherapy for breast cancer, she began experiencing a series of symptoms that she hadn’t expected from her cancer or treatment. These symptoms, including memory lapses, poor concentration, difficulty driving, clumsiness and trouble multi-tasking, made everyday life difficult and frustrating.

Laura, however, is not alone in her experience – many cancer survivors have the same mental fogginess commonly called “chemo brain.” The exact cause is unknown, and only recently have doctors and scientists begun to research potential causes and treatments as well as how to prevent it, according to the American Cancer Society.

“I started noticing a slow decline, and it became difficult to finish a simple task that would have been nothing before,” Laura said. Laura was not the only one who noticed these changes; many of her friends, noting her inability to find the right words or remember names, would ask, “What happened to you?” Laura couldn’t explain what had happened, but chemo brain was interfering with her life. 

After a year and a half of living with the after-affects of chemotherapy, Laura found the Brain Works Web site. At Brain Works, Diane Daniels, MA, Ed.S, helps clients with brain training, which incorporates music-based auditory training, visual-motor-balance exercises and mental exercise computer programs to promote brain growth and to strengthen neural connections.

“It made a lot of sense that this program would be worth a try,” Laura said. At Brain Works, Daniels developed a brain-training program for Laura’s needs. The auditory training, which uses specific frequencies from classical music, stimulated Laura’s ears, body and brain; the mental exercises focused on her cognitive skills; and the visual-motor-balance program helped with coordination and visual-motor skills.

Laura was surprised by the improvements she experienced: understanding conversations better, finding the right words, better mental clarity, greater concentration, better memory, reduced clumsiness and improved driving due to better multi-tasking and increased peripheral vision.

“I started this program without knowing how much it would help, but I’m continually amazed,” Laura said. “If people start this program during or right after chemo, then, I think, there might be a chance that chemo brain wouldn’t happen to them at all or at least not as severely.”

In addition to helping with chemo brain, Brain Works’ programs have helped with problems related to strokes, memory loss, ADHD, autism, sensory issues, communication disorders, listening comprehension and more.

One client, Riccardo, 5, traveled from Italy with his family for training at Brain Works. He suffered severe brain damage at birth due to oxygen deprivation. Through auditory training, Riccardo developed the ability to swallow, improved his body awareness and was more responsive to his family, Daniels said. His singer/songwriter father, Salvatore, successfully used the auditory training to improve his tenor singing voice.

For more information on “chemo brain,” visit www.cancer.org, and for more information on Brain Works, visit www.listenez.com or call (352) 332-2420.

*Name has been changed for privacy purposes.