News
SPRING News letter
Dates to remember:
Term Dates: 26/02/2019-05/04/2019
The Therapy rooms will also be open during Spring holiday
Therapy rooms closed:
Saturday 09/03/2019 (Presentation at Cambridge University)
20/04/2-19-22/04/2019 (Easter weekend)
Programs we offer:
Visual Perceptual Therapy
Developed by Elsa du Plessis, the Visual Intelligence Protocol is an intervention to solve many ‘everyday’ learning difficulties. We focus on many different areas including gross motor, fine motor and all visual skills necessary to improve academic, social and sports performance.
Vision is the most important sense to humans and is also the most important sensory organ.
Unlike Behavioural Vision or traditional vision therapy, we focus on training the brain- not just the eye muscles. We use a multi-sensory approach and the program increases function and performance of the visual cells by directly stimulating the whole visual pathway from the eye to the visual cortex, which is responsible for processing our visual information. Traditional vision therapy only indirectly stimulates vision along the visual pathway or visual cortex.
There are many reasons why a child might struggle in school. Reading and learning are very complex processes that we are not born with but must learn as we grow. Vision’s main role is to learn and to guide us.
We need to learn how to easily maintain good attention and concentration, without tiring easily, blurriness, reading difficulties, headaches or poor school performance without excessive effort. Vision guides our fine motor control when we are writing and gross motor control when walking or doing sport. Vision is known as the “Queen” sense and is one we rely on heavily. Even the mildest of disruptions in our vision can cause significant difficulties with attention, concentration, learning, reading and visual comfort. These will dramatically impact on academic and sport achievements and social interactions, adults included. Treatment of visual problems is important for achieving full potential and we are glad that we get to change so many lives for the better.
20/20 vision doesn’t mean you have a perfect system. In fact, many people with 20/20 vision may struggle with:
- Reading, writing and maths skills
- Comprehension and creative writing
- Catching, hitting or throwing a ball
- Giving or following directions
- Locating an object
- Deficits in ocular motor control or visual processing
- Eye not just see clearly have
- Parallel parking when driving
Therapy sessions take place once a week at the office and the program lasts between 9-12 months. Clients with more difficulties have a longer program. Each program for adults and kids are tailored to the individual’s needs. There are 4 groups and some of the areas we focus on are:
Group 1: Monocular vision, midline crossing, eye movements, bilateral integration, balance, focus, memory, saccades, accommodation.
Group 2: Many areas of group 1 and eye alignment, eye teaming ability and coordination, movement accuracy, visual speed and integration, sequence, binocular vision, peripheral vision.
Group 3: Many areas of group 2 and stabilizing eyes at far point and near point, spatial orientation, spatial relationship, depth perception, 3D
Group 4: Many areas of group 3 and memory and recall- pattern, visualization, integration of all visual skills, depth perception, 3D, language skills, endurance and stamina.
Safe and sound protocol
Developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a five-day auditory intervention designed to reduce stress and auditory sensitivity while enhancing social engagement and resilience. Based on Dr. Porges’ Polyvagal Theory, by calming the physiological and emotional state, the door is opened for improved communication and more successful therapy.
The SSP is a research-based therapy showing significant results in just five days in the following areas:
- Social and emotional difficulties
- Auditory sensitivities
- Anxiety and trauma related challenges
- Inattention
- Stressors that impact social engagement
Emotional and physiological state are critical to how we approach any task at hand. So, when a client has better state control, not only can they be more socially engaged, they are more open to therapy. Better state regulation improves therapeutic outcomes.
This non-invasive intervention involves listening to music that has been processed specifically to retune the nervous system (regulating state) to introduce a sense of safety and the ability to socially engage. This allows the client to better interpret not only human speech, but importantly, the emotional meaning of language. Once interpersonal interactions improve, spontaneous social behaviours and an enhanced ability to learn, self-regulate and engage are often seen.
The TOMATIS® Method
It improves Motor, Emotional and Cognitive abilities, through Music and Language
The Tomatis® Method is a natural approach to neurosensory stimulation. Its listening programs change the music and voice in real time in order to capture the brain’s attention and to develop motor, emotional and cognitive skills. Developed by the French Doctor and Researcher, Alfred Tomatis, the Tomatis® Method relies on an advanced technology and the excellence of its trained professionals on how to use it.
Learning and communicating are processes that can seem easy as they are natural for most of us. But for one in ten people, it’s a daily battle. The ability to properly process sensory information is compromised. It is said in this case, that listening is disrupted.
In the processing of information, the ear plays a fundamental role since it is the main gateway to our brain. It picks up the surrounding sounds and those of our own voice, converts them into electrical stimuli, and transmits them to the brain which analyses them. More surprisingly, it also captures our movements and is heavily involved in coordination, balance and rhythm. It therefore has a vital function in daily life, whether through talk, to argue, to follow instructions, read, learn, memorize or simply to move.
When communication between the ear and the brain is blurred, our ability to interact with the outside world is compromised. The result is often a loss of self-confidence that will enhance in turn the difficulties of communication and learning.
Primitive Reflexes:
Primitive reflexes are reflex actions originating in the central nervous system that are exhibited by normal infants. Retained primitive reflexes can lead to developmental delays related to disorders like ADHD, sensory processing disorder, autism, and learning disabilities. The persistence of primitive reflexes contributes to issues such as coordination, balance, sensory perceptions, fine motor skills, sleep, immunity, energy levels, impulse control, concentration and all levels of social, emotional, and academic learning.
Other:
Book: Available from the office
The Maze of learning Developing motor of motor skills £15.00
Radio talk:
https://www.facebook.com/theconsciousearpodcast/
ALSO AVAILABLE ON: iTunes: https://apple.co/2LcZr2d
Stitcher Radio: https://bit.ly/2NcHyRU
Soundcloud: https://bit.ly/2L5IzxG
Contact details:
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