Is a sensory diet the same as treatment for retained reflexes?

[Eveiebaby]

Can anybody advise? We had an O/T assessment for DD (4.7 ASD) last month after which the therapist suggested exercises to do with DD to raise her motivation/arousal levels which are very low. The exercises are things like bouncing on a spacehopper, bouncing on the trampoline, spinning around, jumping off a bench onto a crash mat etc..all quite general things it is up to us to choose which exercises to do for 10-15 minutes a day for 2-3 minutes at a time throughout the day. I have been reading posts on here recently about retained reflexes and it sounds like the same sort of therapy - can anybody advise please?

I think they are in the same book but not on the same page, if you see what I mean.

The OT exercises sound very generic. Also their objective is to 'raise arousal levels' whereas the objective of exercises for retained reflexes is to integrate the reflexes that are causing problems for your child - which is much more specific (assuming you would have had an assessment from a practitioner qualified in a treatment for retained reflexes).

www.inpp.org.uk/index.php gives more information about how retained reflexes are treated.

Hope that helps

when we looked at retained reflex stuff a lot of it was replicating 'normal' movement patterns in the right order as they should have occurred (but often don't in children with different disabilities). so not quite the same thing.
dd2 still has some retained reflexes, but we are ignoring them. they are reducing gradually. (i say ignoring - the physio and i are aware, but we are not actively 'treating' the reflexes themselves, more general balance and conditioning work)

Eviebaby - I know you're in hillingdon like me. So I presume you got the same sensory diet we got.

Like the others said it's almost but not quite right. It's too general and doesn't really tell you what you should be doing each day.

Sound learning centre told us exactly what to do each day based on exactly what DS needs. The OT looked over the programme we were given by SLC and agreed with all of it - but it wasn't the same programme she had given us.

If you can afford SLC go there. If not follow the sensory diet you have been given.

Thanks for replying everyone. Yes - I kind of had the feeling that as it was a more generalized programme that it wasn't quite the same thing as retained reflex therapy - thanks for confirming.

Indigo - yes it probably is the same sensory diet! We did go to the SLC last summer for AIT for DD which I do think has helped her a lot. We may well go back and do their retained reflex programme.

IndigoBell, may I ask how did your son/daughter do on the sound learning programme? Also, may I know what is his/her the diagnosis and the age?
My daughter is 2 and although not diagnosed yet, she is definitely on the spectrum, the main concern being the tantrums/volatiliy and the stimming.

Thank you
Helen

bichisor - I've had loads of threads about it already if you search.

My DS has a dx of Aspergers and was 9 when he started. We did it to reduce his anxiety - which it definitely has done. Reducing his anxiety has obviously impacted his whole life and reduced loads of other symptoms as well.

We're just starting it with my DD this week who is 7 and has a dx of dyslexia.

I think 2 is probably too young for the retained reflex therapy - but probably not too young for the Auditory Integration Training. I know they certainly do it for 4 year olds. Ring them and find out....