Reflex Conditioning - Anyone know anything?

[Ailsa]

I took DS to the opticians this morning on the advice of the SENCO at his school as he is not progressing as well as he should be. At the end of the assessment the optician said that there is a visual problem but won't prescribe glasses yet and would like DS to go and see a specialist for 'Reflex Conditioning'. All I know at the moment is that some reflexes that DS was born with that should have "switched off", haven't and others that maybe should have "switched on" haven't.

Does anyone have anymore info than this?

Um not really alisa but my daughters friend, yes she really has got one girls and I am so proud!!, has got eyesight problems but the sort you cant treat with glasses because it is to do with a certain part of the brain. The treatment is to try to get that part of the brain working so they can see. I think that is what it is anyway - could be completely wrong!

This is common with developmental problems. As you mature early refelxes should diminish- if they remain they can cause problems. Very common in conditions such as dyspraxia (so - this is rusty- but every time a dyspraxic child turns in a certain way their head may move in a particular direction making copying from the board etc hard). I haven't heard of opticinas doing this before (but ds1 does has special red lenses for various problems).

A book which goes into detail about reflexes is "a positive apporach to autism" by stella waterhouse- often available in libraries. Don't be put off by the title- she goes into detail about sensory processing problems (of which retained reflexes would be one). And looks at everything from dyslexia through dyspraxia AS and autism. It's often available in libraries- and would be worth browsing the bit about reflexes.

UPDATE : DS is as we speak having an assessment at school, the assessor is looking at his gross motor skills, we have been asked if we can get DS referred to an occupational therapist. School have written to GP but waiting list is 18-24 mths! Today school have asked if I can get an initial assessment done privately.

Anyone know any good OT's, particularly in the midlands, am prepared to travel, and any idea how much this might cost.

TIA

DS had an appointment with the Consultant Paediatrician on Thursday and was diagnosed as being Dyspraxic. I'm just so relieved that we now know what his problem is. He is being referred to the Occupational Therapist and also referred back to the Speech Therapist. The wait for the OT is 6-7 months (they try to get children seen sooner rather than later), but this isn't soon enough as we would like to have everything in place for when he starts the Junior school in September. I have found some private OT's who I am going to contact to see if we can get an assessment and get him pushed up the waiting list. Does anyone have any experience with private OT's?

No- but defintiely worth seeing one- we waited 2 years for NHS OT - and have had 2 sessions in the last 6 months.

I posted a link on the thread about jumping in behav + devlop to the dyscovery centre Don't be put off by the learning disabilities bit- as far as I understand they are dyspraxia experts. I haven't used them but I have heard they are very good.

BTW- I doubt you'll get pushed up the waiting list to be honest. My friend's child with cerebral palsy - who spends a lot of time in a wheelchair was waiting 3 years to see an OT. Sorry to be negative, but there's no point banging your head against a brick wall if you won't get anywhere. It is worth ringing up occasionally to see whether there are cancellations - but I wouldn't use the private appointment to get up the NHS waiting list. TBH private appointments are usually better anyway- a report setting out needs would be useful for the school (together with suggested exercises). This could also be used if you wanrted to get extra help from the LEA (ie a statement).

If you decide significantly more help is needed in school then you can request a statutory assessment be carried out (the LEA don't have to do it, but they do have to consider doing it). Children with severe dyspraxia do get statements (although it might be a battle to get one) First though its worth talking to the school, they may be able to meet all his needs anyway with the resources they already have.

On of my friends has a dd with dyspraxia. They were put on the waiting list for OT. Freind and her dh red all they could and started up their own OT for dd. Whic was just as well as they didn't get an appointment for 4 years!

By which time their dd was progressing very well and no longer needed OT. ARGHHHH! Great for the dd, natch, but what would have happened if they hadn't started themselves????

Thanks for all the advice, will have a look at the website Jimjams. When we've got the report from the paed, I'll arrange a meeting with the school SENCO, Class Teacher and Headteacher to find out where to go from now.

UPDATE : DS was seen by the Educational Psychologist yesterday, and it turns out he may not be dyspraxic after all.

After carrying out his tests, it seems that ds's problems are purely related to the curriculum. He is not quite 7 yet (will be in a fortnight), and his verbal comprehension test came out at the level of an 8 year old, I can't remember what the other 2 'non-curriculum' tests were but he scored 7 years on one, and 8 years on the other. When it came to the only curriculum test (ran out of time) ds only scored at 5 years 7 months. After getting ds to read some words and say some letters as well, the psych. decided that some of ds's problems were down to the way reading is taught in schools today - he said that it was obvious that phonics don't work for him.

However, he has been working closely with the SENCO at the junior school that ds will be going to in September on a different reading scheme, I think he said it was called 'precision reading'. We also have to get ds 'interested' in learning again, which I'm hoping will be easier in September at a new school with new class mates.

Forgot to add, that I mentioned to the psych about getting ds statemented, he explained that certain criteria have to be met before a statement can be given. At the end of yesterdays session he said that ds definately meets at least 2 of the criteria, and that he will do a follow up assessment in the autumn term.

Off now to post on the proud thread - we had ds's annual report yesterday as well. Quite a good day all round.