Retained Reflexes Therapy

[rabbitstew]

Have finally had ds1 assessed for the above. Apparently, he still has significant presence of asymmetrical tonic neck, palmar and spinal gallant reflexes, as well as underdeveloped postural reflexes... Will have advice on treatment shortly, but was wondering from those who have been through this with their children: are all reflexes dealt with at the same time; how long before we might notice any improvements; how long might our ds1 have to work on any programmes to improve the situation? He has on his side, significant intelligence (far greater verbal than non-verbal, however - might post another query on oddities in non-verbal development at some point!), a relatively compliant personality, and a learnt ability to perservere if he understands that his hard work is going to have an effect at some point!

ps we are particularly interested in the speed at which improvements re bedwetting might be seen as an indirect consequence of improving the spinal gallant reflex, as he currently wets the bed every night and I know this is something he would love to be able to stop, given that his little brother doesn't have to wear nappy pants.

BlueShark - We had no regressions either.

BlueShark - dont mean to sound like Cassandra but what I learnt (speaking to 2 INPP therapists) is regression is common, expected.

Rationale being

Because the body has learnt to compensate for the reflex, the true extent of the reflex may be masked. It manifests itself in its full force subsequently. Technically this is not regression more a mis-reading. (maybe that's why our therapist does not give out scores :o )

Second argument is a reflex has to work thru its cycle. It has to peak before it can be disabled. Can't be turned off half way thru.

Of course each case is different. And hopefully there will be no strengthening of reflexes for you or IB.

Any change they say is good. And they say that with intervention, the reflexes have to go away.

That said, the TLR is causing me much grief. TLR affects vision, so reading has got hit. Son is tired and jumpy,edgy, easily bursts into tears wonder if Moro is kicking in also.

How often do you go to the centres? Just wondered what sort of time commitment it would be??

meatball is TLR I think-go onto YouTube and type in retained reflexes and you will find lots of demos for free!!
MrsB-we go to Hemispheres monthly-they are expensive but have been great and also incorporate rhythmic movements and standard OT into their exercises.
They maintain things often get worse before they get better for reasons described above. We have always had a negative response but then things have tended to resolve...moro was really hard work for us all!!!
HTH

MrsB - first assessment if for about 2 hours. After that it is once every 8 weeks, takes about 1 hour.

Program can go on for over a year. OddGirl, see post above, says they've been doing it for 2 years now.

OddGirl never thought of YouTube for retained reflexes! Looks like we will end up for 2 years also. Vision and hearing will get addressed last after all reflexes are resolved.

I don't think those scores mean much, what matters more how life has been made easier for dc and us.

Few eg of DS
He could never work out to pedal bike, now he rides with no stabilisers
Swims with no aid
Stopped bedwetting
Less anxious
Eager to negotiate rather than just saying no to everything
Can write intelligently not just hardly seen traces
Probably lots more that I can't think of now as it's my bedtime.

Negative changes we did see like more tantrums when started on he Moro, but to date the score kept just reducing although we were warned that it may fluctuate up and down the first year.

BlueShark,

Many have listed improvements before, it still helps & comforts to read them again.

When things got worse did the therapist attribute it to overload and amend the programme?

Yes Debbie it was attributed to the overload and since the exercises are changing the way the whole body and brain works is the body fighting off the changes. Programme wasn't amended but the side effects were only fre days/weeks.