Seminar in May 2013

Leanne GirottoNeuro Developmental Therapist

Help Children with:

Learning Problems – Dyslexia, Auditory Processing Disorder, Autism, Language Delay, ADD, Reading Writing and Spelling Problems

Behavioural Problems – ADHD, Hyperactivity, Poor Impulse Control, ODD, Poor adaptability, Panic Attacks

Coordination Problems – Balance, Dyspraxia, Hand Eye Coordination, Poor hand writing, Reluctance to play sports.

Get off the Merry Go Round of ASD

What is Neuro Developmental Delay

Is a term used to describe an immature and underdeveloped nervous and reflex system. If not dealt with the immaturities will lead to frustration, hyperactivity, stress and hypersensitivity which can manifest as a learning, behavioural or coordination problem.

OR/Each one of us is born with a set of primitive reflexes (sometimes known as survival reflexes). If these primitive reflexes are not fully integrated during infancy, control of voluntary, skilled and complex movements can be affected. This is known as Neuro Developmental Delay (NDD).

Signs of Neuro Developmental Delay

• Learning Difficulties• Poor Written Expression• Poor sequencing skills• Poor sense of time• Poor Visual Functioning/processing skills• Slow in processing information• Attention and concentration problems• Inability to sit still• Poor organisation skills• Easily distracted• Hypersensitivity to sound• Speech problems and language delay• Motor, coordination and balance problems• Poor posture and awkward gait• Poor handwriting• Poor spacial awareness

• Poor hand eye coordination• Poor gross and fine motor skills• Difficulty learning to swim or ride a bike• Clumsiness/accident prone• Confusion between left and right• Mid line problems• Quick temper/easily frustrated/short fuse• Bedwetting past age 5• Motion sickness• Can’t cope with change• School phobia• Poor motivation/or self esteem• Depression/anxiety or stress

• In adults symptoms include excessive reaction to stimuli, anxiety, panic attacks, difficulty making decisions and poor self esteem.

Neuro Developmental Delay Prevention

• Toxicity – heavy metals, chemicals and antibiotics, causing oxidative stress disturbing natural balance of gut flora ---- which leads to gut dysfunction that starves the brain not allowing it to connect and mature.

• Stress – In pregnancy, at birth and in childhood ---- stress produces cortisol which is a destroyer of neuro connections in the brain.

• Movement – Lack of movement during pregnancy, baby, toddler and child slows up the natural progression of brain development.

Bottoms up Brain Development

Lateral Brain DevelopmentLEFT RIGHT

What are primitive Reflexes

• Survival reflexes occurring sequentially in the first few weeks of foetal development

• Automatic, stereotyped movements, directed by a very primitive part of the brain the brain stem

• Executed without involvement of higher levels of the brain like the Cortex

• Ideally short lived and as each fulfils its function is replaced by more sophisticated structures(postural reflexes).

• They are retained if they do not fulfil their function• They are considered aberrant and are evidence of an

immaturity within the CNS if present beyond their time.

Moro Reflex

• Effects if Retained

• Over reactive (flight/fight)• Hypersensitivity• Vestibular related problems. The child

may have poor auditory discrimination skills and have difficulty shutting out background noise

• Poor impulse control• Poor adaptability• Need to control events• Emotional immature• Poor pupillary reaction to light• Poorly developed CO2 reflex

• Functions

• Vestibular stimulation/reaction in utero

• Primitive startle reaction• Fight/Flight response• Stimulates first breath of

life if breathing has not started automatically

Possible Secondary Psychological Symptoms or Retained Moro Reflex

• • Free Floating anxiety –ANGST (continuous anxiety seemingly unrelated to reality)

• Excessive reaction to stimuli – Mood swings, tense muscle tone, difficulty accepting criticisim, difficullty to make change.

• Cycle of hyperactivity followed by excessive fatigue• Difficulty making decisions• Weak ego, low self esteem – Insecurity,

dependency, need to control or manipulate events.

More about Moro reflex• Moro reflex is one of the only

primitive reflexes that is connected in some way to each one of the senses.

• It is the earliest reflex to emerge and forms the cornerstone of life for developmental milestones.

• It is essential for neonate survival but if it fails to inhibit at the correct time the effects on the individual are profound as it will transform into the adult startle response.

Asymmetrical Tonic Neak Reflex (ATNR)

• Effects if retained• Balance affected as a result of

head movements from side to side

• Crossing mid line affecting cross pattern movements

• Hand eye coordination• Crawling on stomach• Horizontal tracking affecting

reading• Mixed laterality• Poor handwriting and

expression on paper

Symmetrical Tonic Neak Reflex (STNR)

• Effects if retained• Prevents creeping on hands and

knees• Effects posture both sitting and

standing• Upper and lower body integration• Attention/concentration• Swimming• Hand eye coordination• Vertical tracking• Reestablishment of binocular

vision – copying and catching a ball

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)

• Effects if retained• Balance• Mismatch between the

balance mechanism and the body

• Muscle tone• Eye movements -

convergence• Visual perception- figure

ground• Motion sickness• Spatial skills

Reflex Inhibition Program

• Research

• Recent research will attest to the plasticity of the brain

• Research indicates that retained reflexes impact on the development of a child

• Intervention

• Institute of Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP) has developed a standardised method for evaluating the reflex structure of a child

• With that insight INPP have designed a program of intervention that is easy and inexpensive and is individual to the particular child's needs

The Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP)Neuro-Developmental Diagnostic Assessment

• Gross-Muscle coordination and balance

• Patterns of motor development

• Cerebellar Involvement• Dysdiadochokineshia (rapid

alternate movements)• Reflexes• Laterality• Oculo-motor examination• Visual-perceptual

examination

• Index of Dysfunction calculated

• Remedial program implemented involving an exercise to be carried out every day for 2 months

• Program usually runs for 12 months

Services at Brain Tree Learning Solutions include:

• Diagnostic assessment of Neuro developmental Delay (INPP)

• Primitive reflex Inhibition Program (INPP)

• Johansen Individualised Auditory Stimulation Therapy

• Heavy Metal Testing and Detox (Sichel Protocol)

• Gut Repair Therapy (Sichel Protocol)

• Learning and Anxiety Counselling

0407 559 629www.brain-tree.com.au

Getting to the Root of a Learning Difficulty