Neuro Developmental Therapy

Very little is known about the causes of developmental delay, but there is much speculation in the field. Some scientific research suggests that environmental toxins, such as pesticides and lead, may play a part. Other contributing factors may be linked to forms of stress or trauma experienced during pregnancy, such as hypertension, anxiety, loss or bereavement, premature birth, etc. Birthing difficulties or birth traumas may also play a part in developmental delay. There is an overwhelmingly strong case for a hereditary link in terms of behavioural patterns, general co-ordination and learning difficulties.

 What Are The Signs Of Retained PR?

Retention of Primitive Reflexes can lead to a mild neurological delay which can affect a child in a variety of ways. Some of the more usual are: difficulties with balance and co-ordination (riding bicycles, ball catching, etc.); difficulties with reading, handwriting, and transcription; spatial difficulties, leading to problems with arithmetic; sequencing difficulties, causing problems with recall of, for example, spellings and tables. People with retained primitive reflexes may be very sensitive, quiet and shy. Or, conversely, they may be considered 'inappropriately' emotional, experiencing frequent highs and lows.

Babies exhibiting developmental delay may have difficulty breathing or feeding, poor eye contact or delays in learning to crawl, walk and talk. As a baby begins to develop through childhood, any delay in achieving the expected milestones can indicate an interruption in the normal developmental process (e.g. teething, becoming 'dry' or developing interaction skills). Think about your child's early development. Did they skip any milestones? Did they crawl, bunny hop or head bang? Did they have difficulty learning to speak, walk or toilet train?

Pre-school and school can also prove challenging as new skills are difficult to grasp: pencil grip is ineffective and handwriting remains a scribble; impulsive and inappropriate behaviour and an inability to stay on task may accompany difficulties with peer relationships. As a child's workload and academic expectations increase, an inability to keep up will become more apparent and they may become stressed and anxious with a loss of confidence and self-esteem. Behavioural changes may follow as this vicious cycle begins to take hold.

Simply put, the effort involved in compensating for these reflexes is exhausting and can become overwhelming.

What Age?

This very much depends on the child and their ability to do the exercises. The ideal age to start the programme is 7 years-old. However, Neuro Developmental Therapists see clients of all ages from children to adults. Younger children may start with sound therapy and later progress to Neuro Developmental Therapy.

Is NDT Used For Adults?

Neuro developmental Therapy can be of benefit for any individual that has retained their primitive reflexes and the benefits and changes are the same as they are for a child. However, if an adult wants to undertake a programme, we suggest that they have a very supportive environment as the changes that occur may release past thought patterns and emotional memories. Discussion with a Neuro Developmental Therapist is recommended to determine suitability.

 Must The Programme Last For Life?

No. Once the primitive reflexes have been inhibited they remain so, while still being available in cases of trauma, as is the case in normal development. With Neuro Developmental Therapy, the gains made are lasting.

 Do I Need A Referral?

No. A Healthcare professional, such as an Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Educational Psychologist or Teacher may have identified that your child has developmental immaturity issues and recommend contacting a Neuro Developmental Therapist for further investigation. However referral from a Healthcare practitioner is not essential.

If you have concerns that your child may have retained some of their primitive reflexes and feel that this could be holding them back from reaching their full potential, please contact us or complete the screening questionnaire that can be found on our page about the Neuro Developmental Therapy process.