No medication. No invasive procedures. Just a proven methodology backed by science and research that actually works to treat and resolve the many symptoms of processing disorders.
The NeuroFiT Connections Child Wellness program uses the latest scientific tools and techniques to correct the root cause of processing disorders, creating new connections in the brain to remove or reduce its negative symptoms in just a few months.
A processing disorder is a deficiency in a child’s ability to effectively use the information gathered by their senses. If the brain processing of auditory, visual, and sensory information is impaired, a child’s ability to learn and thrive in an academic setting is affected, often leading to low self-esteem and socialization difficulties.
A processing disorder is not always the result of impaired hearing, impaired vision, attention disorders, intellectual disability or learning deficit. A processing disorder can also be a neurological disconnection creating the symptoms of the disorder.
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)
Auditory Processing Disorder impacts a child’s comprehension and recall of what they hear and auditory processing in the brain.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Sensory Processing Disorder, or SPD, can result in over-responsiveness to sensory input, like extreme sensitivity to loud noise or itchy clothing, or under-responsiveness, which might present as a lack of awareness of personal space or a desire for thrill seeking.
Visual Processing Disorder (VPD)
Visual processing disorders impact the child’s ability to distinguish between shapes, have difficulty copying notes from the board or have difficulty remembering the correct sequence for letters or numbers in a series.
Research has shown that the cause of processing disorders is an imbalance in the activity of the hemispheres of the brain. This is caused by retained primitive reflexes.
The NeuroFiT Connections program integrates the retained primitive reflexes, stimulates the weaker hemisphere and corrects any other issues through specific activities and specialized equipment. The consistent completion of the program has been proven to lead to improvements in behavior, emotions, organization, self-motivation, and problem solving, and overall quality of life. Contact Us for more information.
Whether your child has been diagnosed or not, it doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion. During the assessment, we will cover as many of the items listed below as possible depending on the severity and age of your child.
The results of the evaluation will be detailed in a plain-English report that will give you a very clear picture of the root cause of your child’s ASD, what that means, what symptoms the program will resolve, what you can expect, and our recommendations for treatment. Then we will sit down with you and explain everything we found, giving you all the time you need to ask questions and get real answers.
Research shows that Processing Disorders are caused by the lack of maturation of the brain because of retained Primitive Reflexes. Further complicating the issue is the lack of physical movement of the body.
One of the primitive reflexes you might be familiar with is the rooting reflex which causes a baby’s head to turn when rubbing a finger or nipple along the cheek. This reflex is normally present at birth and fully integrated by four months of age. If the reflex is still present after four months, you might see poor articulation and speech issues, tactile sensitivity around the face, poor manual dexterity, and fine motor skills, picky or selective eating, and chewing on fingernails, clothing, pens, etc.
There is no single cause for retained primitive reflexes, nor is there a place to lay blame. The issue could have been created in utero, during birth, or at any time and for any number of reasons that are out of your control. Chances are the more severe the developmental delay, the more of a combination of things it was.
The NeuroFiT Program uses a combination of physical, sensory, and cognitive activities to integrate retained primitive reflexes and stimulate the weaker hemisphere of the brain resulting in the lessening or removal of the social, emotional, behavioral, and academic issues that are part of Behavioral Disorders. Start with an assessment, which will determine exactly what’s going on in the child’s brain, followed by a program as unique as the child.
The main sign of a sensory processing disorder in children and adults is the inappropriate processing of sensory information, typically resulting in over or under sensitivity to sensations. Some people will experience fewer sensations than normal, and others will become easily overwhelmed.
Children who find sensory input overwhelming may show signs that include:
Those who are under sensitive to sensory input may:
Many other symptoms can also occur, depending on which senses the disorders affect. For example, some symptoms affect movement and balance. In some cases, the signs are more subtle. Some people, for example, may experience difficulties telling the difference between textures.
A diagnosis is not required for us to determine if there’s an issue and how that issue can be resolved. Our assessment covers ten critical areas of development.
Book an assessment today to discover more.
Neurotypical is a term used to describe people whose brains function in a way that is considered typical or standard. Neurotypical people tend to learn and develop at a similar pace to their peers, and they have a good understanding of social norms and expectations.
Depending on the developmental issue, a student (what we call a “patient”) has certain benefits of their disorder. After completing their NeuroFiT Connections program, these benefits will be retained. What will change is the social, emotional, behavioral, and the academic challenges the student faces.
Book an assessment today to discover more.
According to the Oxford dictionary, the word “cure” means to “relieve (a person or animal) of the symptoms of a disease or condition” or to “solve a problem”.
Most experts believe that there is no cure for Processing Disorders. Rather than a cure, the focus of most practitioners is on treatment, support, and skills development which may involve sensory integration therapy, which usually involves a broad range of physical activities to regulate a person’s responses to sensory information and aims to balance sensory inputs and improve a person’s spatial awareness. Another option is cognitive behavioral therapy, which can help a person deal with the emotional aspects of their condition. Physical therapy might also be recommended.
At NeuroFiT Connections, we take a different approach. We know that the core issue in a child with a Processing Disorder is an imbalance in the neuropathways between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This imbalance is primarily caused by retained primitive reflexes. By integrating the reflexes, stimulating the weaker hemisphere, and stabilizing the core, we solve the root cause of the issue.
Will your child ever be relieved of the symptoms of the condition? Most, if not all, of the negative aspects of Sensory Processing Disorder will disappear when your child has completed their program. Does this constitute being “cured”? We will let you decide.
Book an assessment today to discover more.
There isn’t anything you did or did not do to cause your child’s Processing Disorder. The issue could have been created in utero, during birth, or at any time and for any number of reasons that are out of your control.
Research shows that Processing Disorders are caused by the lack of maturation of the brain because of retained Primitive Reflexes. Further complicating the issue is the lack of physical movement of the body.
There is no single cause for retained primitive reflexes, nor is there a place to lay blame. The issue could have been created in utero, during birth, or at any time and for any number of reasons that are out of your control. Chances are the more severe the developmental delay, the more of a combination of things it was.
Start with an assessment, which will determine exactly what’s going on in the child’s brain, followed by a program as unique as your child.
If you consider “normal” to mean “neurotypical”, then no. Neurotypical is a term used to describe people whose brains function in a way that is considered typical or standard. Neurotypical people tend to learn and develop at a similar pace to their peers, and they have a good understanding of social norms and expectations.
Students (what we call “patients”) with Sensory Processing Disorder have certain benefits of their disorder. After completing their NeuroFiT Connections program, these benefits will be retained. What will change is the social, emotional, behavioral, and the academic challenges the student faces.
Start with an assessment, which will determine exactly what’s going on in the child’s brain, followed by a program as unique as the child.
There are many ways that parents can help their kids who are experiencing sensory processing issues. Here are a few:
Know the signs. Sensory processing disorder is a nebulous condition which manifests in diverse ways. Since many pediatricians and health professionals are reluctant to diagnose it as such, you should know for yourself what kinds of behaviors might indicate the condition. High or low tolerance to pain or touch, clumsiness, sensitivity to light or loud sounds, or fear of crowds are some of the most widely recognized symptoms of sensory processing disorder.
Additionally, your child might exhibit autism- or ADHD-type symptoms, such as poor social skills, poor impulse control, or difficulty focusing on tasks.
Track your child’s signs. To treat your child’s perceptual issues, you’ll first need to better understand what stimuli they find problematic. Do so by taking notes about your child’s behavior, noting any meltdowns, signs of stress, or acting out, as well as any other problems you suspect are related to their sensory faculties. Write down what seems to have triggered a tantrum, how your child responds, and how long the meltdown lasts.
For example, some parents reported thinking their children’s tantrums were random and impulsive. Upon tracking their triggers more closely, though, they found that the tantrums occurred every time the child had to put on footwear or heard about having to do so.
Keep in mind that your child is probably not trying to behave badly, they are just having a hard time coping with an uncomfortable or even painful world.
Avoid clothing with scratchy fabric, tags, or protruding seams. One of the most widely reported symptoms of sensory processing disorder is extreme skin sensitivity to clothing. Sartorial features which other people fail to notice or find only mildly uncomfortable can seem unbearably irritating to someone with a sensory processing disorder. If your child complains about clothing or throws fits when getting dressed, try buying soft, natural fabrics and avoiding artificial, chafing ones, such as acrylic or polyester.
Instead, provide clothing that can provide comfort, such as heavy clothing, weighted vests, or compression jackets. These items have been shown to have a calming effect.
Make a detailed calendar for your child’s daily routine. Many children with a sensory processing disorder have trouble adjusting to changes in routine, feeling that these changes indicate their lack of control and security. You can combat these anxious feelings by drawing up a schedule for your child and sharing it with them well ahead of time. This calendar will provide them a much-needed sense of structure and reliability, as well as help them prepare for future events or activities.
Make sure that your child can easily see and read the calendar and ask them for input or to help draw it out when you’re creating it. This participation will help them feel like they have some control and input in their routine.
Arrange a safe space for your child to take shelter when troubled. Even children with the mildest cases of sensory processing disorder will become overstimulated and need to withdraw from others from time to time. During these episodes, your child will need a safe place to retire for a half hour or so, so make sure your child has a special retreat within your home that they can go to when feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
Many parents find that this measure can even help prevent future tantrums. If your child gets overstimulated easily, have them take a break from social playtime or other stimuli every thirty minutes instead of waiting for an episode.
For example, build a pillow fort in your child’s room, hollow out a corner in their closet, designate a ‘safe place’ armchair in the living room or make a treehouse or playhouse into a specially designated zone.
Buy fidget-toys, such as chewable jewelry and play putty. Many children suffering from a sensory processing disorder find that certain ‘sensory-friendly’ toys can help distract, entertain, and soothe them. Such special toys can also provide the sensory stimulation they crave and even ultimately improve their symptoms.
Look for toys that light up, make sounds, and provide interesting textures. For example, sensory balls, tactile puzzles, beads, blocks, and Bop it! or Simon Says boards are all good sensory toys.
Additionally, familiar tokens such as worry stones and favorite stuffed animals can help suffering children feel relaxed and secure.
Prepare a to-go kit for outings. Outings are some of the most exciting times for your child, so they can also be a prime time for tantrums or episodes of overstimulation. Packing a portable kit full of calming, re-orienting tools will mean that you can meet and address such behavior even when you’re out of the house.
For example, fill a pack with noise-canceling headphones, a favorite toy, sunglasses to shield bright lights, a compression vest, and a snack to prevent hunger tantrums or sugar crashes.
Attend special, sensory-friendly events at museums and libraries. Despite the reluctance in professional medical circles to define, accept, and standardize the diagnosis of sensory processing disorder, parents and community groups have had considerable success organizing special facilities and events for affected children. These venues and events feature softened lighting, decreased sound volumes, time-out areas and break times, and other sensory-friendly amenities.
Check out online sensory processing disorder support forums to find local theaters, libraries, museums, theme parks, and even hair salons that offer special programming for your child.
Talk to your child’s teacher about their sensory processing disorder. While most official psychiatric and pediatric organizations don’t recognize sensory processing disorders, there are many sympathetic educators and administrators who are open to working with parents and children on the issue. Make an appointment with your child’s teacher and any relevant administrators so that you can discuss in-class options for making your child’s educational experience more sensory-friendly.
Be sure to bring any pertinent background information and documentation to the meeting. For example, bring any medical or psychiatric reports detailing your child’s symptoms and problems, as well as any educational pamphlets you might have about the nature of the disorder.
Check out the comfort of your child’s seat and desk. Just as children affected by a sensory processing disorder can be particularly sensitive to irritating clothing, they can also find seating arrangements more uncomfortable and distracting than other children do. Make sure their chair fits well, so that their feet rest flat on the floor and the chair does not pinch or scrape in any way.
If you find that your child responds well to fidget toys and sustained physical movement, try a seat cushion or inflatable pillow that will allow them to move around.
Have the teacher move your child’s desk to the front of the class. Many parents find that their child’s performance at school improves if their desk is moved closer to the teacher. This way they can focus more easily on the teacher’s words, see fewer intervening distractions, and be a more easily supervised pupil.
Additionally, ask the teacher to keep your child’s desk away from the window, a loud radiator, or the hallway. If your child is sensitive to light, ask to have any fluorescent lamps removed or placed further away.
Allow for regimented breaks throughout the day. Just as your child benefits from time-outs at home, they will benefit in school from the same kind of punctuated breaks at school. Ask the teacher to allow several ten-minute time-outs throughout the day, especially after highly social activities.
Ideally, your child could use a mini-trampoline, suck on a piece of candy, or go for a mini-walk during these breaks, as receiving sensory input during this time will make the time-outs even more effective.
Move your child’s lunch away from the main cafeteria. Due to its loud, social nature, many children with sensory processing disorder find lunch time to be a particularly overwhelming period in the day. If your school reports that your child has had problems during lunch, ask for permission to let your child and a friend eat lunch in a quiet room outside of the main cafeteria.
Children with sensory processing disorder are notoriously picky eaters, so contact a pediatric nutritionist for strategies to improve your child’s eating habits and diet.
Have your child exempted from loud assemblies or activities. In addition to lunchtime and recess, special assemblies, sports events, and other social activities can be particularly overwhelming sensory experiences for your child. These can incite meltdowns and other behavioral setbacks. If possible, keep your child out of such environments.
If your school is unwilling to do so, ask that they be allowed to take breaks with a teacher escort, or that they be allowed to wear headphones or sit near the door.
Consult your pediatrician for advice and recommendations. Once you think your child might have sensory processing disorder, gather a list of the symptoms you’ve observed and make an appointment to share them with your child’s pediatrician. Based on your doctor’s conclusions, they can either send your child for further testing or refer you directly to a specialist. Ask them about NeuroFiT Connections. Most pediatricians in the area know of us.
If your child’s teachers, coaches, or other adult family members have ever noted similar problems with your child, bring documentation of these episodes to corroborate or flesh out your own observations. The more information your pediatrician has, the more specific and on-target their referral and help can be.
Consider hiring a specialist for regular therapeutic appointments. Once you’ve been referred to a specialist, you’ll probably begin working with an occupational therapist. Based on their specialized diagnosis, they’ll decide what plan of treatment to pursue. A hypersensitive child will receive soothing therapy designed to calm their senses. A hyposensitive case will undergo maximally stimulating sessions resembling vigorous play time.
Since sensory processing disorders have not been accepted by the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it occupies a tenuous position within most insurance plans. If your insurance provider won’t cover your child’s case, you can expect to pay about $7,000 a year for hour-long weekly appointments with a therapist for an undermined period.
While the total cost of your child’s customized NeuroFiT Connections program might be more than $7,000, your child will spend weeks, not years, in their program and, with payment plans, the cost out of pocket can be as low as $160 a month. Remember, the NeuroFiT Connections program resolves the root cause of your child’s sensory processing disorder in as few as twelve weeks.
Visit sensory gyms for hyposensitive children. If your specialist deems that your child is hyposensitive, they’ll probably prescribe therapeutic sessions in sensory gyms. These places can look like big jungle gyms, replete with bouncing balls, climbing apparatuses, toys, and puzzles. The idea is that your child is under-stimulated, so they need to be re-engaged with their environment through multi-faceted and varied cognitive and physical sensations.
If you can’t afford a therapist, you can still take your child to a sensory gym. Look up local establishments calling themselves sensory gyms and you can attend and play with your child using the special equipment provided.
Engage in soothing therapy for hypersensitive children. While hypersensitive children can also benefit from the safe, fun activities supplied by sensory gyms, it’s also believed that they can be treated by calming therapies intended to soothe their overactive senses. Methods such as weighted vests, rubbing the skin with a soft-bristled brush, and joint compression have been said to reduce tactile defensiveness and general sensitivity.
Some support forums and methodologies advise using these methods at home as well. Activities such as the ‘sandwich game’—where your place pillows on either side of your child and apply pressure until your child wants to stop playing—can be done easily and at home but be sure to ask your therapist about them before trying it out and monitor your child's response to it.
Follow your therapist’s prescribed “sensory diet.” In addition to the organized appointments with your child’s therapist, your therapist will probably also recommend that you follow some basic practices at home. Using a washcloth to scrub and apply pressure during bath time, playing with sensory toys at home, reducing visual clutter, and taking regular time-outs are all ways you can carry occupational therapy into the household and everyday routine.
Work with a Dietician or Nutritionist. Many of the foods we eat can have an adverse effect on children with a sensory processing disorder. At NeuroFiT Connections, we recommend an elimination diet that is designed to remove foods from your child’s diet that might cause inflammation in the brain and adversely affect their sensory processing issues. A dietician may follow this course of action or have other recommendations for you.
Research shows that Sensory Processing Disorders are caused by the lack of maturation of the brain because of retained Primitive Reflexes, which causes the neuropathways of one hemisphere of the brain to be less developed than the other hemisphere.
The NeuroFiT Program uses a combination of physical, sensory, and cognitive activities to integrate retained primitive reflexes and stimulate the weaker hemisphere of the brain resulting in the lessening or removal of the social, emotional, behavioral, and academic issues that are part of Sensory Processing Disorders. Start with an assessment, which will determine exactly what’s going on in the child’s brain, followed by a program as unique as the child.
Parents who have a child with a Sensory Processing Disorder commonly wonder if they can lead a "normal" life. If that means being independent and otherwise living like neurotypical people, there is no simple answer.
After completing their custom NeuroFiT Connections program, children with a Sensory Processing Disorder will still retain the benefits of their disorder while removing or reducing the negative aspects of the disorder. The result is that a NeuroFiT Connections kid will be able to live a normal or near normal life. Schedule a call with a Cognitive Coach to discover more.
Without NeuroFiT Connections, children with a Sensory Processing Disorder will grow up with all the benefits they currently have as well as all the drawbacks.
Exercise not only helps children with a Sensory Processing Disorder better engage in the environment, but it also helps promote weight loss, helps improve cognition, and leads to better overall health. Full-body exercises are best for kids with Sensory Processing Disorders to increase coordination, strength, endurance, and body awareness.
Your NeuroFiT Connections Cognitive Coach will provide your child with a set of exercises to help them grow stronger. These will take no more than 30 minutes a day. Book an assessment today to find out what’s going on in your child’s brain.
As required by federal law, all public schools must make certain accommodations for any child struggling with a learning, behavioral or developmental disability. In some cases, a child may benefit from an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which would require the child, parents, and teachers to work together in planned meetings to set appropriate goals, discuss strategies for success, and implement appropriate accommodations.
While a parent can request that their child be evaluated for special services or IEP at any time, teachers may also initiate such requests as well. After a request is submitted, the child will generally be evaluated with vision and hearing screenings, most likely be observed in class, and his or her tests may also be evaluated.
The NeuroFiT Connections Assessment Results report may be used by the school system to determine whether an IEP is warranted for your child. Furthermore, after completing their custom NeuroFiT Connections program, children with a Sensory Processing Disorder will still retain the benefits of their disorder while removing or reducing the negative aspects of their disorder making public school easier. Schedule a call with a Cognitive Coach to discover more.
While your child is in their NeuroFiT Connections program, work with their school to make them more comfortable.
Talk to your child’s teacher about their sensory processing disorder. While most official psychiatric and pediatric organizations don’t recognize sensory processing disorders, there are many sympathetic educators and administrators who are open to working with parents and children on the issue. Make an appointment with your child’s teacher and any relevant administrators so that you can discuss in-class options for making your child’s educational experience more sensory-friendly.
Be sure to bring any pertinent background information and documentation to the meeting. For example, bring any medical or psychiatric reports detailing your child’s symptoms and problems, as well as any educational pamphlets you might have about the nature of the disorder.
Check out the comfort of your child’s seat and desk. Just as children affected by a sensory processing disorder can be particularly sensitive to irritating clothing, they can also find seating arrangements more uncomfortable and distracting than other children do. Make sure their chair fits well, so that their feet rest flat on the floor and the chair does not pinch or scrape in any way.
If you find that your child responds well to fidget toys and sustained physical movement, try a seat cushion or inflatable pillow that will allow them to move around.
Have the teacher move your child’s desk to the front of the class. Many parents find that their child’s performance at school improves if their desk is moved closer to the teacher. This way they can focus more easily on the teacher’s words, see fewer intervening distractions, and be a more easily supervised pupil.
Additionally, ask the teacher to keep your child’s desk away from the window, a loud radiator, or the hallway. If your child is sensitive to light, ask to have any fluorescent lamps removed or placed further away.
Allow for regimented breaks throughout the day. Just as your child benefits from time-outs at home, they will benefit in school from the same kind of punctuated breaks at school. Ask the teacher to allow several ten-minute time-outs throughout the day, especially after highly social activities.
Ideally, your child could use a mini-trampoline, suck on a piece of candy, or go for a mini-walk during these breaks, as receiving sensory input during this time will make the time-outs even more effective.
Move your child’s lunch away from the main cafeteria. Due to its loud, social nature, many children with sensory processing disorder find lunch time to be a particularly overwhelming period in the day. If your school reports that your child has had problems during lunch, ask for permission to let your child and a friend eat lunch in a quiet room outside of the main cafeteria.
Children with sensory processing disorder are notoriously picky eaters, so contact a pediatric nutritionist for strategies to improve your child’s eating habits and diet.
Have your child exempted from loud assemblies or activities. In addition to lunchtime and recess, special assemblies, sports events, and other social activities can be particularly overwhelming sensory experiences for your child. These can incite meltdowns and other behavioral setbacks. If possible, keep your child out of such environments.
If your school is unwilling to do so, ask that they be allowed to take breaks with a teacher escort, or that they be allowed to wear headphones or sit near the door.
Remember, you are your child’s best advocate. In working with NeuroFiT Connections, you will take a great step towards your child’s bright future. Start with an assessment, which will determine exactly what’s going on in the child’s brain, followed by a program as unique as the child.
A healthy diet is an important lifestyle component that protects against long term health problems such as heart disease and diabetes. But did you know that eating a healthy diet may also improve Sensory Processing Disorder symptoms?
Although an unhealthy diet does not cause Sensory Processing Disorders, there are several reasons why a healthy diet may reduce the symptoms of a Sensory Processing Disorder:
As part of the NeuroFiT Connections program, we provide an elimination diet, access to a registered dietician, and probiotics to help avoid inflammation in the brain.
Schedule a call with a Cognitive Coach to discover more.
At this time, there are currently no medications designed to treat Sensory Processing Disorders. It is important to note that, even if there were, medication would not cure a Sensory Processing Disorder.
While we do not recommend medication for our students (what we call our “patients”), being on medication does not preclude the ability of our students to go through their program. We do recommend that our students re-visit their primary care physician to determine if the medication is still required after they’ve completed their program.
Schedule a call with a Cognitive Coach to discover more.
Sensory processing issues are not an official mental health disorder. To find out whether a child has sensory processing issues, a professional can give the child sensory tests. Observations from parents and other adults in the child’s life are also an important part of diagnosis.
A diagnosis is not required for us to determine if there’s an issue and how that issue can be resolved. Our assessment covers ten critical areas of development.
Book an assessment today to discover more.
Sensory processing issues are often treated with occupational therapy. Occupational therapists (OTs) use a treatment called sensory integration therapy. OTs work with kids in a special gym where they can move around a lot and get the sensory stimulation they need.
There is no scientific proof yet that this therapy works. However, many parents say that it helps their kids feel better and control their behavior.
Parents and teachers can also help kids with sensory processing issues. Some ideas include:
At NeuroFiT Connections, we take a different approach. We start with an assessment because no two people struggling with a Sensory Processing Disorder are the same. Whether someone has been diagnosed or not, we assess ten different categories to determine exactly what’s going on and what their customized program will look like.
Research has shown, and our own assessments agree, that those with a Sensory Processing Disorder have three things in common; retained primitive reflexes, weak core muscle tone, and one overactive hemisphere of the brain. To correct the developmental issue, we address each of these commonalities among several other key components of development such as fine motor skills, visual ocular mobility, and auditory processing.
Development in the brain starts in the brainstem, where the primitive reflexes are stored. As a child integrates primitive reflexes, brain activity increases. Normally, the right hemisphere of the brain grows first, followed by the left. In those with Sensory Processing Disorders, we find that there’s a disparity in the activity of the brain. We integrate the retained primitive reflexes to allow the brain activity to increase properly.
Of course, integrating retained primitive reflexes is not enough. We must also stimulate the weaker hemisphere of the brain. We do this by properly activating the five senses, while engaging the student (what we call a “patient”) in various activities.
Finally, we stimulate the student’s abdominal core muscles through a series of exercises because we know that the more physical activity someone has, the more the brain is engaged. Students take part in these exercises among other activities while also appropriately working with the five senses to properly stimulate the weaker hemisphere of the brain.
With therapy, it is important to note that the effectiveness of treatment varies from person to person. You may notice improvements in symptoms within a few weeks of starting treatment. However, it may take several months to see significant improvement.
With the NeuroFiT Connections program, you will notice improvements within a few weeks of starting the program. And changes will continue well past the end of the program. There’s no medication involved in the personalized program, nor is there any counseling. Book an assessment today to find out more.
Typically, occupational therapists (OTs) evaluate a child for and treat Sensory Processing Disorders. However, children with a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) may also benefit from working with a physical therapist (PT) or speech-language pathologist (SLP).
The primary goal of SPD treatment is to foster appropriate responses to sensory information in active, fun, and meaningful ways and improve the child’s ability to participate and function in daily activities.
Various approaches and strategies can help children cope with the disorder. The interventions will depend on the type of SPD the child has.
Sensory integration
Sensory integration refers to the process of receiving sensory information, processing it, and responding to it. Sensory integration therapy (SIT) is based on the principle that integrating the senses is essential to a person’s basic functions.
Problems with integrating different sensations can lead to issues with learning, emotional regulation, and development.
Only specialized OTs, PTs, or SLPs can perform SIT, which involves using play to improve sensory processing.
Therapists may use equipment such as swings, trampolines, and brushes during this type of therapy. Activities provide tactile, proprioceptive, and other inputs, which help organize the senses and promote regulation.
The idea is that these therapeutic experiences can help adjust a child’s perception and sensory processing.
Sensory-based intervention
Sensory-based intervention (SBI) involves activities, techniques, and equipment that help improve the skills and behaviors of children with sensory processing challenges, particularly those who self-harm.
SBI empowers children to substitute the sensory input they get from self-injuring behaviors with sensory coping strategies.
This type of therapy may involve:
Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-Based/Floor time model
The Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR)/Floor time model provides therapists with a framework for engaging children whose sensory processing difficulties make it hard to relate with others.
Therapists and a child’s parents or guardians sit on the floor and play with the child. This encourages and supports the child to problem-solve with objects such as blocks.
Hippotherapy
Hippotherapy is a form of OT, PT, and SLP that uses horseback riding and the characteristic gait of horses to provide motor and sensory input.
It may help improve sensory modulation, which allows for the filtering out of irrelevant stimuli.
Vision therapy
Vision therapy or binocular therapy addresses visual integration, a skill often impaired in people with ASD.
It targets the following developmental abilities in children with SPD:
Therapeutic listening
Therapeutic listening is a specialized treatment approach. It involves having a child listen to a series of sound patterns through specially designed headphones for 30 minutes twice a day.
Experts believe that exposing the nervous system to a range of sounds may improve issues commonly seen in children with SPD. These issues may affect:
At NeuroFiT Connections, we take a different approach. We start with an assessment because no two people struggling with a Sensory Processing Disorder are the same. Whether someone has been diagnosed or not, we assess ten different categories to determine exactly what’s going on and what their customized program will look like.
Research has shown, and our own assessments agree, that those with Sensory Processing Disorders have three things in common; retained primitive reflexes, weak core muscle tone, and one overactive hemisphere of the brain. To correct the developmental issue, we address each of these commonalities among several other key components of development such as fine motor skills, visual ocular mobility, and auditory processing.
Development in the brain starts in the brainstem, where the primitive reflexes are stored. As a child integrates primitive reflexes, brain activity increases. Normally, the right hemisphere of the brain grows first, followed by the left. In those with Sensory Processing Disorders, we find that there’s a disparity in the activity of the brain. We integrate the retained primitive reflexes to allow the brain activity to increase properly.
Of course, integrating retained primitive reflexes is not enough. We must also stimulate the weaker hemisphere of the brain. We do this by properly activating the five senses, while engaging the student (what we call a “patient”) in various activities.
Finally, we stimulate the student’s abdominal core muscles through a series of exercises because we know that the more physical activity someone has, the more the brain is engaged. Students take part in these exercises among other activities while also appropriately working with the five senses to properly stimulate the weaker hemisphere of the brain.
With other types of therapy, it is important to note that the effectiveness of treatment varies from person to person. You may notice improvements in symptoms within a few weeks of starting treatment. However, it may take several months to see significant improvement.
With the NeuroFiT Connections program, you will notice improvements within a few weeks of starting the program. And changes will continue well past the end of the program. There’s no medication involved in the personalized program, nor is there any counseling. Book an assessment today to find out more.
While there is no cure for Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD), there are several treatments that can help alleviate symptoms. Exercise, sleep, and diet are three such treatments that can make a difference in the treatment of SPD.
Multiple studies have shown that exercise can reduce pre-sleep anxiety and improve sleep quality in people with insomnia. A 12-week regimen of aerobic and resistance training has been found to reduce the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), while also improving sleep quality and reducing daytime fatigue.
Sensory-friendly bedtime routines can help improve sleep quality for individuals with SPD. One of the concepts you may have read about for children with SPD is the idea of a “sensory diet” that incorporates tools and activities that are unique to your child’s sensory needs. Using their individual hypo and hypersensitivities, this “diet” can help to provide balance and promote sleep.
Studies of autistic children suggest that restricted eating, reduced physical activity, and sleep disorders are common; however, no studies attempt to broadly describe the diet, exercise, and sleep patterns of autistic adults or consider relationships between lifestyle behaviors and the widely reported increased risks of obesity and chronic conditions.
It is important to note that while these treatments can help alleviate symptoms, they should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
From our own experience and research, diet plays an important role in the treatment of Sensory Processing Disorders. Specifically, some foods cause inflammation in the brain, impeding the effectiveness of treatment. As part of the NeuroFiT Connections program, we provide an elimination diet, access to a registered dietician, and probiotics to help avoid inflammation in the brain.
We also know that the more physical activity someone has, the more the brain is engaged. In the NeuroFiT Connections program, students (what we call “patients”) stimulate their abdominal core muscles through a series of exercises.
To find out more about the NeuroFiT Connections program and how it can help, schedule a call with a Cognitive Coach today.
To help your child succeed in school, be their advocate. Work with the teachers and the school to make the school environment work for them.
Talk to your child’s teacher about their sensory processing disorder. While most official psychiatric and pediatric organizations don’t recognize sensory processing disorders, there are many sympathetic educators and administrators who are open to working with parents and children on the issue. Make an appointment with your child’s teacher and any relevant administrators so that you can discuss in-class options for making your child’s educational experience more sensory-friendly.
Be sure to bring any pertinent background information and documentation to the meeting. For example, bring any medical or psychiatric reports detailing your child’s symptoms and problems, as well as any educational pamphlets you might have about the nature of the disorder.
Check out the comfort of your child’s seat and desk. Just as children affected by a sensory processing disorder can be particularly sensitive to irritating clothing, they can also find seating arrangements more uncomfortable and distracting than other children do. Make sure their chair fits well, so that their feet rest flat on the floor and the chair does not pinch or scrape in any way.
If you find that your child responds well to fidget toys and sustained physical movement, try a seat cushion or inflatable pillow that will allow them to move around.
Have the teacher move your child’s desk to the front of the class. Many parents find that their child’s performance at school improves if their desk is moved closer to the teacher. This way they can focus more easily on the teacher’s words, see fewer intervening distractions, and be a more easily supervised pupil.
Additionally, ask the teacher to keep your child’s desk away from the window, a loud radiator, or the hallway. If your child is sensitive to light, ask to have any fluorescent lamps removed or placed further away.
Allow for regimented breaks throughout the day. Just as your child benefits from time-outs at home, they will benefit in school from the same kind of punctuated breaks at school. Ask the teacher to allow several ten-minute time-outs throughout the day, especially after highly social activities.
Ideally, your child could use a mini-trampoline, suck on a piece of candy, or go for a mini-walk during these breaks, as receiving sensory input during this time will make the time-outs even more effective.
Move your child’s lunch away from the main cafeteria. Due to its loud, social nature, many children with sensory processing disorder find lunch time to be a particularly overwhelming period in the day. If your school reports that your child has had problems during lunch, ask for permission to let your child and a friend eat lunch in a quiet room outside of the main cafeteria.
Children with sensory processing disorder are notoriously picky eaters, so contact a pediatric nutritionist for strategies to improve your child’s eating habits and diet.
Have your child exempted from loud assemblies or activities. In addition to lunchtime and recess, special assemblies, sports events, and other social activities can be particularly overwhelming sensory experiences for your child. These can incite meltdowns and other behavioral setbacks. If possible, keep your child out of such environments.
If your school is unwilling to do so, ask that they be allowed to take breaks with a teacher escort, or that they be allowed to wear headphones or sit near the door.
Remember, you are your child’s best advocate. In working with NeuroFiT Connections, you will take a great step towards your child’s bright future. Start with an assessment, which will determine exactly what’s going on in the child’s brain, followed by a program as unique as the child.
The NeuroFiT Connections program starts with an assessment because no two people struggling with a developmental issue are the same. Whether someone has been diagnosed or not, we assess ten different categories to determine exactly what’s going on and what their customized program will look like.
Research has shown, and our own assessments agree, that those with developmental issues have three things in common; retained primitive reflexes, weak muscle tone, and one overactive hemisphere of the brain. To correct the developmental issue, we address each of these commonalities among several other key components of development such as fine motor skills, visual ocular mobility, and auditory processing.
Development in the brain starts in the brainstem, where the primitive reflexes are stored. As a child integrates their primitive reflexes, the brain activity increases. Normally, the right hemisphere of the brain grows first, followed by the left. In those with developmental delays, we find that there’s a disparity in the activity of the brain. We integrate the retained primitive reflexes to allow the brain activity to increase properly.
Of course, integrating retained primitive reflexes is not enough. We must also stimulate the weaker hemisphere of the brain. We do this by properly activating the five senses, while engaging the student (what we call a “patient”) in various activities.
Finally, we stimulate the student’s abdominal core muscles through a series of exercises because we know that the more physical activity someone has, the more the brain is engaged. Students take part in these exercises among other activities while also appropriately working with the five senses to properly stimulate the weaker hemisphere of the brain.
We also work on the student’s coordination, agility, balance, visual processing, auditory processing, fine motor skills, rhythm and timing, as well as cognition.
No.
In the simplest terms, occupational therapy helps you build healthy habits to change your overall health for the better.
Occupational Therapists partner with you and your care team to help you understand how your diagnosis impacts your daily life, set goals, and guide you on your healing journey.
OT’s manage developmental issues while the NeuroFiT Connections program gets to the root cause of the issue and corrects it. Our program is shorter than OT and can work hand in hand with occupational therapy for some people.
No. Since the NeuroFiT Connections program is a non-medical program and does not provide a diagnosis, it is not covered by health insurance. Nor is a diagnosis required for someone to benefit from our services. Our in-depth assessment will uncover everything required to create a customized program to get to the root cause of the developmental issue and resolve it.
Our staff are trained and are Board Certified Cognitive Coaches through outside accrediting agencies.
We are also working to allow you to bill Medicare and Medicaid for services, but it will only cover part of the costs.
The cost is based on the number of sessions the student (what we call a “patient”) requires as well as your situation in life. We do offer discounts for single parents, first responders, veterans, and the like. The average payments are as low as $167 to $335 a month for 72 months. While we don’t accept insurance, we do offer a variety of discounts and payment options, many interest free.
After going through their program, many of the services a child uses will no longer be required, resulting in a cost savings over time.
Depending on the severity of the developmental issue, the entire program could take from twelve weeks to two years. The average is sixteen to twenty-four weeks. The assessment will tell us approximately how long the entire program will be. We also reassess students (what we call our “patients”) every four weeks to make sure the student is on track. We may adjust their program duration at that time.
Students will work with their coach 3 times a week for about an hour for the duration of their program. Additionally, students will have some work to do at home that will take thirty minutes or less.
While we can and have worked with adults, our program is geared for children from 18 months to 18 years of age. That’s because most adults have developed coping mechanisms to help them get through each day, while children haven’t.
Our youngest student (what we call a “patient”) was two and our oldest eighty-four. Our average student age is eleven.
No. A diagnosis is helpful during the assessment process, but it’s just a guide and is, many times, wrong especially when it comes to ADD/ADHD. Our assessment covers ten areas:
Dominance: A dominant side should be selected by three years of age. Not selecting a dominant side in terms of their hands, feet, ears, and eyes indicates a problem.
General eye movements: In terms of the brain, the eyes tell a story. We check both slow and fast eye movements as well as convergence of the eyes, peripheral vision, and eye fixation. When the eyes are not tracking properly, you’ll see problems with balance, reading, sports, coordination, focus, driving, rhythm and timing. Information needs to go in properly to be processed properly.
Primitive Reflexes: All brain growth starts from the bottom up. Retained primitive reflexes, stored in the brainstem, inhibit the ability of the left and right hemispheres to properly grow. All primitive reflexes are expected to be integrated by two years of age, with some integrating as early as three months of age.
Rhythm & Timing: Rhythm and timing impacts us in all areas of life such as cognition, attention, focus, memory, speech and language, executive functioning, comprehension, as well as motor & sensory skills. We measure Rhythm and timing based on the number of correctly timed responses to stimulus.
Cognition: We use a variety of scientifically validated brain health assessments for Visuospatial Working Memory, Spatial Short-Term Memory, Working Memory, Mental Rotation, Visuospatial Processing, Deductive Reasoning, Planning, Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Short Term Memory, Attention, and Response Inhibition. We don’t give every child every test. We pick and choose which tasks to administer based on the information provided.
Proprioception: Poor proprioception means the student (what we call a “patient”) will have difficulty interpreting body positions and movements from the muscles and joints. With poor body awareness comes poor social skills. Poor proprioception can cause several signs and symptoms.
Fine motor skills: Poor fine motor skills result in the inability to perform precise movements with the hands and fingers. This can manifest as difficulty with tasks such as writing, drawing, buttoning clothes, or using scissors. Fine motor skills can affect cognitive skills and might impact speech and food choices.
Auditory Processing: An auditory processing deficit will cause delays in language, and further, reading. This shouldn’t be surprising as it is common knowledge that reading is nothing more than language that has been written down. And it is also well known one must be able to hear and process information to learn a language.
Abdominal Core Muscles: Poor musculature results in poor processing in the brain. Abdominal core muscles are the driving force for the brain growth and speed of processing. We test abdominal core musculature using the Presidential Standards.
Coordination: Coordination is the ability to execute smooth, accurate, controlled motor responses. It involves selecting the right muscle at the right time with proper intensity to achieve proper action. Poor coordination can result in injuries and an inability to perform well in sports. More complex and organized movements create a more complex and organized brain. We test coordination using a pattern crawl across the midline.
The comprehensive assessment tells us all we need to know to accurately determine the issues a student faces, the root cause of those issues and what we need to do to correct the root cause.
No. Nor do we recommend medication for our students (what we call our “patients”). Being on medication does not preclude the ability of our students to go through program either, though we do recommend that our students re-visit their primary care physician to determine if the medication is still required after their program.
Primitive reflexes are automatic involuntary movements essential to a baby’s birth and survival in the first few weeks and months of life. They originate in the brainstem, the bottom stalk-like portion of the brain where the cerebellum connects with the spinal cord. These reflexes are normally quickly integrated as the higher centers of the brain develop and voluntary responses become dominant.
One of the primitive reflexes you might be familiar with is the rooting reflex which causes a baby’s head to turn when rubbing a finger or nibble along the cheek. This reflex is normally present at birth and fully integrated by four months of age. If the reflex is still present after four months, you might see poor articulation and speech issues, tactile sensitivity around the face, poor manual dexterity and fine motor skills, picky or selective eating, and chewing on fingernails, clothing, pens, etc.
Even though a child may have hit their developmental milestones, Primitive Reflexes may be present because of a traumatic incident or an uncaught weakness in one side of the body.
Research shows that retained Primitive Reflexes are precursors to developmental delays and processing disorders. During the comprehensive assessment, we test ten different reflexes.
Book an assessment to find out more.
While we have not evaluated other companies that claim they can resolve developmental issues, we can say that few integrate the primitive reflexes that are the cause of the imbalance between the left and right hemispheres of the brain which research has shown is the cause of developmental issues.
To change the brain and correct the imbalance between the hemispheres, it takes three things: integration of primitive reflexes, hemispheric stimulation, and core stabilization. Our program does all three things at the same time. Of those that do work on integrating primitive reflexes, many do not work on all three components at the same time, opting instead to work on one piece at a time.
We are aware that there are no two people who have a developmental delay that are the same. As a result, we personalize our program to each student (what we call a “patient”). Some companies don’t follow this practice, opting instead to put each patient through the same set of steps.
Our Cognitive Coaches are dedicated to being the best they can be at working with those with developmental delays. As a result, they are continually improving their skillset by working with and learning from the world’s best neurologists.
Part of the continuing education our coaches go through is Red Light Therapy training. This allows us to stimulate specific areas of the brain to reduce the time a student goes through their program and improve the results.
When a student is caught up, we offer what we call Next Level Training to continue their growth to make them unstoppable.
While not every child has every symptom listed here, every symptom is addressed and eliminated or reduced to the point where it is not an issue, usually in few months, through our proven process. Discover how we can help your child by having them assessed today.
The NeuroFiT Connections program is a holistic wellness program that is specifically designed for children with processing disorders. It strengthens and improves the brain’s functioning without medication or invasive procedures.
Our approach combines experience, hard work, and the latest tools and techniques in the field of child brain development to correct the underlying neurological issues that cause processing disorders. In as little as twelve weeks, you’ll see improved focus, concentration, focus, memory, learning, comprehension, reasoning, organization, self-motivation, and so much more.
The result is that children with processing disorders unlock their untapped potential and can begin to work towards their goals.
Our custom child wellness program, based on the Melillo Method™, combines specialized equipment with specific exercises, and diet and nutrition counseling to integrate retained primitive reflexes, stabilize the core, stimulate the appropriate hemisphere of the brain, and resolve any ocular, auditory or cognitive issues.
This program is based on science and research and has been used with hundreds of thousands of children all over the world to correct the root cause of their neurological condition, sync up the hemispheres of the brain and resolve the symptoms.
At NeuroFiT Connections, we’re steadfast in our commitment to creating a better life for those with processing disorders in as few as twelve weeks without medication or invasive procedures.
Discover the unwavering commitments that make NeuroFiT Connections a leading Child Wellness Program, specifically designed to treat and resolve processing disorders in children.
At NeuroFiT Connections, we work diligently to resolve the issues, rather than just managing them. We focus on stimulating specific areas of the brain responsible for processing disorders particularly in children. Most importantly, our child wellness program is backed by the latest science and research, supported by some of the most prominent neurological institutes in the world such as Harvard University, McLean Hospital, University of Cambridge, and more. Our center is Eastern North Carolina’s only center utilizing the Melillo Method™ developed by world renowned neuroscientist Dr. Robert Melillo.
Understanding How the Brain Responds to Rewards and Consequences When it comes to motivation, the brain is not a one-size-fits-all machine. According to Dr. Robert Melillo, a leading expert in functional neurology and brain development, the right and left hemispheres of the brain respond to motivation in very different ways. Understanding these differences can help […]
Understanding How the Brain Responds to Rewards and Consequences When it comes to motivation, the brain is not a one-size-fits-all machine. According to Dr. Robert Melillo, a leading expert in functional neurology and brain development, the right and left hemispheres of the brain respond to motivation in very different ways. Understanding these differences can help […]
The Role of Neuroplasticity in Correcting Neurological Disorders By Dr. Timothy P. Beck, Ph.D. The human brain is an amazing, ever-changing organ, constantly rewiring itself like a high-tech supercomputer. This incredible ability, known as neuroplasticity, allows the brain to adapt and grow through experiences, learning, and targeted activities. For children with neurological disorders such as […]
Jln Cempaka Wangi No 22 Jakarta - Indonesia
support@yourdomain.tld
