Neuro Developmental Delay and The Reflex Integration Program
Is Your Child Experiencing Any Of These Problems?
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Poor handwriting skills
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Difficulties reading, writing and/or spelling
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Poor Speech
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Dyslexia
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Dyspraxia
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Attention Deficit Disorder
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Coordination and balance difficulties
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Poor muscle tone
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Concentration difficulties
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Poor memory
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Behavioral difficulties
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Underachievement in school
Don't delay addressing your child's learning, balance, and behavioral challenges. Our Reflex Integration Program is designed to help children overcome these difficulties and unlock their full potential.
Take the first step towards a brighter future for your child by booking them in for a consultation today.
How We Progress Development with The Reflex Integration Program:
The Reflex Integration Program - The Path To Progress
The Reflex Integration Program, has been developed to offer a completely drug-free and non-invasive treatment which can help children overcome specific learning difficulties and behavioural problems. Our program is tailored to address the specific needs of each child, focusing on identifying and integrating retained primitive reflexes to promote neuro-motor maturity
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Through a series of targeted exercises and activities, we aim to support your child in stimulating the development of neural pathways, facilitating the integration of primitive reflexes and promoting more refined motor skills and cognitive abilities. By addressing the root cause of neuro-motor immaturity, we empower children to overcome obstacles and unlock their full potential.
Identifying Neuro Motor Immaturity and Retained Reflexes
Neuro-motor immaturity, also known as NMI, occurs when primitive reflexes that are typically present in infancy persist into later childhood. These reflexes, often referred to as survival reflexes, are essential for an infant's survival and early development. However, as a child grows, these reflexes should gradually integrate into higher brain functions, paving the way for more refined motor skills and cognitive abilities.
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When primitive reflexes fail to integrate properly, they can interfere with a child's ability to perform tasks requiring fine motor skills, coordination, balance, and cognitive functions. This can manifest in a variety of learning difficulties and behavioral challenges, making it challenging for children to reach their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally.
Assessment for Neuro Developmental Delay
The support we provide begins with safe and non-invasive neurological tests, evaluating important skills such as balance, motor development patterns, reflexes, laterality, oculo-motor functioning, and visual perception. The assessment, in which we ask the parent or caregiver to be present, lasts approximately 2 hours and concludes with a verbal report.
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Following the assessment, a personalized home program involving daily physical exercises is prescribed to stimulate maturity within the central nervous system.
Treatment for Neuro Developmental Delay
The treatment involves a series of physical exercises based on early movements made by the developing child in the first years of life. These exercises aim to stimulate the reflex pathways, inhibit primitive reflexes, and develop postural reflexes - improving balance, posture, voluntary movement, visual functioning, and perceptual abilities.
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A typical exercise program takes about 5 minutes a day over a period of 12 months, with progress reviewed at 8-week intervals in sessions lasting approximately 45 minutes. Exercises are changed when appropriate.
The Primitive Reflexes and How They Impact Your Child's Learning
The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)
This reflex is crucial for your child's development and serves as the foundation to crawling on their hands and knees, as well as other vital motor skills.
If retained beyond infancy, the STNR can negatively impact posture, making traditional learning positions like sitting at a desk uncomfortable. It can also hinder muscle tone development and slow hand-eye coordination.
This could look like inattention and hyperactivity, often mistaken for ADHD. The STNR typically appears in normal development between 8-11 months of age.
The Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)
The TLR helps with the development of posture, balance, and spatial awareness. There are 2 primary movement patterns that it involves:
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Forward (Flexion) - when the baby moves its head forward, the arms and legs curl in or bend.
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Backward (Extension) - when the baby's head tilts backward, the arms and legs straighten and extend.
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Retained TLR can lead to postural difficulties as well as affect their muscle tone, making muscles either too loose or too tight. It should be integrated by 3 years of age.
The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
Emerges when a baby turns its head to one side and typically integrates by 6 months of age.
Retained ATNR can result in challenges with hand-eye coordination, crossing the midline (a right handed child finding it hard to write on the left side of the page) bilateral integration, and mixed-handedness, impacting tasks like writing, drawing, and reading.
The Moro Reflex (Startle Reflex)
The Moro Reflex, also known as the startle reflex, is the reaction to sudden noises or movement. It is present in infants and should integrate by 4 months of age.
Retained Moro reflex can lead to hypersensitivity, distractibility, sensory overload, anxiety, and emotional immaturity, affecting a child's ability to focus, regulate emotions, and engage socially.
See Long Term Benefits In Your Child's Growth and Development
Our Retrained Reflex Program allows you to witness the transformation as your child gains more confidence, improves their academic performance, and progresses socially and emotionally.
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Take the proactive steps today to support your child in their development. Schedule an appointment with Michelle below to nurture their on-going growth effectively, in a safe and natural way.
Contact Us
Get In Touch To Book Your Consultation
BodyLink is located in the beautiful coastal area of Orewa, Auckland. Treatments are by appointment only.
If you would like more information about how I can help you or what I do, please call me today.
Tel: 021 414 393
Email: michelle@bodylink.co.nz
70 Waldorf Crescent
Orewa, Auckland, 0931