Myomancy ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism

The purpose of my recent visit to the Sound Learning Centre was to be assessed for Neuro-Developmental Delay (NDD). The assessment and treatment programme for NDD was developed by the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP) and focus on the role of primitive reflexes such as the Moro Reflex. As the name Primitive Reflexes suggests these are involuntary movement of the body that are present in everyone when born but over the first 18 months the baby learns to repress the reflexes as it begins to crawl and walk.
In many children and adults with dyslexia, ADHD and other learning problems, these reflexes are retained. This limits their ability to move freely and this can have impact on their education. For example the Palmer or Grasp Reflex is the instinctive grasp action a baby makes when something is placed in to its hand. If this reflex is not fully suppressed then it can interfere with their ability to hold a pen properly.
The assessment process for NDD is comprehensive and takes about two hours. Pauline Allen, who runs the Sound Learning Centre, was excellent as always. Her friendly and efficient manner made the tests interesting and enjoyable. After performing the tests Pauline took a couple of hours to write up here findings before sitting down with me and explaining what she had found. Note the % refers to how much is retained: 0% no dysfunction, 1% to 24% mild dysfunction, 24% to 49% significant dysfunction, 50% plus major dysfunction.

Moro Reflex: 12%
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex: 1%
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex: 38%
Spinal Galant Reflex: 0%
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex: 38%
Babinksi Reflex: 75%
Rooting Reflex: 25%
Suck Reflex: 25%
Infant Plantar Reflex: 75%
Palmar Reflex: 75%
Landau Reflex: 25%
Transformed Tonic Neck Reflex: 0%
Oculo-Head-Righting Reflex: 45%
Labyrinthine-Head-Righting Reflex: 90%
Amphibian Reflex: 6%
Segmental Rolling Reflex: 94%
Abdominal Reflex: 100%

As can be seen the tests revealed a mixture of good and bad. Most of the areas I have difficulties relate to balance. This is interesting as my balance is significantly better than it used to be (see Dore / DDAT Posturegraph) but I still appear to have some issues with it. Other tests showed I also had minor issues with visual processing and cross-lateral movement.
Pauline’s next step was to work out a treatment programme to combat these problems. As balance plays a significant part of my problems, the first exercise concentrates on training the vestibular. Many of the exercise INPP recommend recreate movements a child will experience in-utero and during the first two years of life and my first one is no exception. It involves sitting cross armed and legged, rocking slowly and gently, in a manner that can only be described as fetal. The aim of this is to improve my vestibular’s ability to detect small movements and to be comfortable whilst slightly off-balance. Other exercises involve cross-lateral movements, e.g. right hand to left knee and eye-tracking exercises.
These are just the start of a long process in retraining my body and how it moves. Reassessment and more exercises will follow.
The bible for testing and understanding the role of the Primitive Reflexes is Reflexes, Learning and Behavior: A Window into the Child’s Mind by Sally Goddard.
Also on Myomancy: INPP One Day Training Course, Review: The Well Balanced Child by Sally Goddard, Autism Detection At Six Months Old?