Neuro Developmental Therapy works with children and their families with development, learning, behavioural and social/emotional difficulties. The treatment programme is a non-invasive, drug-free, ‘Neural Stimulation Programme’ that treats the underlying causes of ‘Developmental Delay’ due to ‘Retained Primitive Reflexes’ and therefore enables the child to reach their full potential.
What are Primitive Reflexes?
In the womb and early stages of life, we are equipped with a number of reflexes that not only aid the birthing process, but also serve to ensure the survival and safety of the newborn into early infancy; eg. grasping (to hold objects), rooting (to find nipple) and sucking (to feed), etc. These Primitive Reflexes are instinctive, involuntary reflex movements that require no thought involvement and are directed from the brainstem.
What are Retained Primitive Reflexes?
As learning and development occur and more mature, complex, higher centres of the brain begin to take control of the system, so these early reflexes are no longer needed and must inhibit to allow more sophisticated neurological organisation of the brain to develop. If however these reflexes fail to inhibit they are said to be Retained. This can affect the appropriate function of the central nervous system and therefore a child may display immature patterns of behaviour – lacking appropriate emotional, social and behavioural responses, difficulty in classroom learning and physical balance and co-ordination issues.
What is Developmental Delay?
As a result of these Reflexes being Retained we refer to the collective affect on the system as Developmental Delay – simply, that the child is less developed than is normal for a child of its age.
As the brain develops in stages, beginning with lower levels of function, each developmental stage serves as a foundation for the later more advanced stages. If there is any interruption in these crucial early, foundational stages then this can result in the some areas of the brain maturing late. This can have a significant impact on appropriate function of the brain and affect all aspects of physical, cognitive, behavioural, emotional and social development – and particularly learning.
What is Neuro Developmental Therapy?
Neuro Developmental Therapy uses non-invasive, drug free ‘Neural Stimulation Programmes’ designed to treat the underlying causes of Developmental Delay. It aims to inhibit Retained Primitive Reflexes and stimulate the maturation of the Central Nervous System, therefore encouraging appropriate development and learning skills enabling the child to reach its full potential.
Who can Neuro Developmental Therapy help?
In Children:
- Specific learning difficulties (Dyslexia)
- Co-ordination and balance difficulties (Dyspraxia)
- Behavioural and social difficulties (ADD/ADHD/Aspergers)
- Children who are generally under achieving
- Classroom difficulties: Reading, Writing, Numeracy
- Poor Organisational skills
- Poor Concentration / Distractibility
- Visual and Auditory Processing difficulties
- Hearing and sequencing difficulties
- Delayed Speech and Language disorders
- Hypersensitivity: both physical and emotional
- Impulsiveness
- Aggressive Outbursts: verbal and physical
- Hyperactivity
- Inappropriate or Immature behaviour
- Shy, withdrawn, lacking social interaction skills
- Poor digestive habits or appetite
- Enuresis (bed wetting)
In Adults:
- Stress
- Anxiety & panic attacks
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Emotional maturity
- Motivation
- Clarity
- Self awareness & development
