Jacqui Ellis from Deep Connexions explains how a programme of physical therapies can help children reach their academic potential at school
So, it is that time of year where we are fast approaching the new school term and I am wondering how you are feeling regarding your child’s progress…
Did you start the academic year full of new hope that this was a fresh start?
And yet the same issues/struggles are still there for your children. Reading and writing is still tricky. Performing everyday tasks is still difficult. Perhaps managing their behaviour and mood is becoming more of an issue. They are still struggling to catch a ball or ride their bike. They cannot remember or follow simple instructions or focus and attend to the task in hand. It just does not make any sense to you.
Well, the explanation may be simple – your child may have a cluster of retained reflexes held within their central nervous system. We are all born with a set of primitive reflexes that are necessary and designed to help us survive our first few months of life. By the time a child reaches their first birthday, most of these reflexes should have been matured and integrated.
However, for numerous reasons they can become ‘stuck’ and potentially interfere with all aspects of life. Research by The Institute for Neuro Physiological Psychology (INPP) suggests that a high proportion of underachieving children have such retained immaturities, with much being documented regarding abnormal reflexes playing a part in specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyspraxia/DCD, ASD, hyperactivity disorders.
Learning and behaviour are products of how the brain and body work together. In order to read, a child needs to develop smooth eye movements; writing demands that the eyes and hand work together. Indeed, all motor skills are linked in some way to the functioning of posture and balance. Any problems in these areas will undermine the individual’s ability to achieve in the classroom, meaning their symptoms are not necessarily linked to intelligence.
So, what can be done?
The good news is that there is a drug free non -invasive solution available by means of a Reflex Stimulation and Integration Programme / Neuro Developmental Therapy. Developed by INPP more than 30 years ago, this programme is designed to improve general physical maturity and individual academic performance.
A detailed diagnostic assessment identifies the child’s current reflex status and developmental level. Simple and effective exercises are then prescribed and aimed at the developmental level of difficulty for your child. Many of the exercises are floor-based,taking ten to fifteen minutes to complete daily with the help of a supporting adult. They are designed to help re-educate the pathways between the brain and the body, creating a more secure foundation for all aspects of learning.
Ongoing support for both yourself and your child is provided by means of six weekly reviews, where your child is reassessed and the movement is adjusted accordingly. A programme of this type can take 12-18months to complete and can be supported throughout by other therapies such as Cranio Sacral Therapy and auditory training if required.
Having worked in this area for over ten years, it is amazing to see my clients literally ‘grow into themselves’ and start achieving their true potential. Chris Evans (DJ/ Virgin Radio) recently shared his and his son’s experience of undertaking a similar programme and has described the results as ‘miraculous’ and ‘revolutionary.’
To find out whether Reflex Integration Therapy can help your child achieve their true potential, please contact me at Deep Connexions.
www.deepconnexions.co.uk email hidden; JavaScript is required Tel; 07790 783280