TINSLEY HOUSE SUPPORT THREAD - PART 3!!!! :)

[Badvoc]

Well, here is the shiny new thread for all of us either doing the TH programme, doing part of it, or thinking about doing it! :)
A brief synopsis of stage 1 of the programme can be found in the books "is that my child?" Or "the brain food plan" by robin pauc;

Stage 1 of the TH therapy consists of:

1. Daily Multivitamins

• Omega
• Zinc & Magnesium

1. Healthy eating

• High protein, low sugar, no artificial sweeteners, additives etc.

1. Specific neuro development exercises done 3 times a day

• Takes about 4-5 mins

And that's it :)

Stage 2 involves computer programmes to sort out eye tracking and convergence which over 80% of children with reading/writing problems have.

• www.engagingeyes.co.uk

We are coming to the end of our time doing TH I reckon...certainly by the end of the summer I think. It has been in many ways much easier than I thought at the beginning but of course takes commitment and time.

I am so glad we "took the plunge". It has made such a difference to ds and to our lives :)

:) notapizzalover.

Hi Shopping- The penguin game is my worst nightmare, DD is amazingly good at it and DS is way better than me. Feeding the Koi carp is another dreadful one for me. I make sure that my two do the prescribed games as best they can and sometimes they also do additional games that they choose for fun. Most of the time luminosity is OK , but we do have our moments. My DS really moaning about supplements at the moment too, which he didn't baulk at before.

We are now 13 months into TH programme and I am very happy. I honestly think both my DC would be OK now if we didn't do any more therapy but of course we will continue with TH and hopefully things will get even better. Both my DC still have traits of dds, but they are traits only and I don't think either would get a diagnosis from an ED.Pysch now. They are both so, so much better than last year.

Sending and to the lovely Badvoc.

Hi everyone :)
Nice to see new faces and good news.
It was dads funeral last week and we interred his ashes on weds.
It will be 4 weeks tomorrow since he died. Still can't really believe it.
Tom is ok. He has been upset, obv, but has coped very well, certainly TH has helped him in that regard.
I am not sure we will go back to robin now tbh...toms lumosity scores are pretty high and he is doing so well.
I will wait and see what the school says after it does its assessments of the new year 6 kids.
Wrt lumosity I tend to choose the problem solving games as that is one that tom has the lowest score on and the one that most people find very tricky.
Hope you are all well.
I will update when Tom has started at his new school x

Badvoc, so sad for you all but glad to hear Tom has coped so well. It's wonderful news that you feel ready to finish TH. hope you will still pop into this thread as we all value your advice and experience.

We went to Robin today.

He was really pleased with DD's progress. She is to continue with Lumosity and he will see her again in 4 months!. He agreed that she still had traces of ADD but said that she will now grow out of it. I think the next appointment will be her last.

DS also doing well. He needs closer monitoring so we are to skype in 2 months and go back in 4 months. He has to continue with Lumosity too. I explained to Robin that I was helping DS with some exercises- so for those with lumosity questions I am, for example, typing the words in for him for word bubbles rising (and I'm doing the spellings], saying vowel or even in brainshift and also typing the names in Familiar faces. I also help him out a bit if he is getting frustrated with other games. Robin was fine with that as DS is only 7.5. He did say to withdraw the help as much as I can but agreed that the most important thing is that he does it. In fairness to my DS, he is requiring less help every day ( except when he is tired/ in a strop....) Lumosity is really working. Like everything else you just have to keep on keeping on, but it is lovely knowing this is the last thing. I reckon DS may be at it for another 6 or 7 months but hopefully by then we will be done with neurodevelopmental therapy forever.

So pleased to hear from Badvoc.

PS. I intend to start stairs and teeth when kids go back to school! Guess I will be the TH adult guinea pig!

Beautiful - I love the idea of you being a human guinea pig! So glad you got on well at Robins. I keep trying to do the stairs and find it quite difficult. It is amazing how DS can now zip up and down. He is doing really well at Target Practice too!

Badvoc - I have been thinking about you and Tom lots. Sounds like Tom is coping really well. How are you doing?

Beautiful - Great to hear your guys are doing so well. What were DDs 'symptoms' of ADD - I mean, obviously being distracted all the time, but was it something school was always picking up on etc? My DS, according to school, spends his days in a world of his own and has to be constantly pulled back to task. I so hope we can dream of putting this behind us, be good to know if you had similar.

DS is in such a great place at the moment though. Don't know how much is because he's not at school, but he's so rational, calm, his writing is suddenly (after some dictation practice) really really neat which is amazing and I never believed would happen. He says he loves reading. He's so helpful and kind, and although he's always been affectionate in his way, is suddenly so much more demonstrative. Asking for cuddles and hugging DS2 if he's hurt him.

We're onto tracking now on EE and DS finding word tracking too hard to get stars. Odd as he reads so well but think he's reading the words not scanning for 'e's.

Badvoc - hope you're doing as well as can be expected. We're all thinking of you.
xx

Hi everyone.
For some reading this thread is not showing on my threads I'm on!
How odd.
We are ok...I think.
Both boys back to their new schools on Thursday!
Lots to do before then though...dental appts etc.
It's a month today since my dad died. Hard to believe he is gone. It's an actual physical pain :(
Glad to hear everyone is doing so well.
S

Hi All,

First Post on here, though I have been following the TH threads for a while. My 6 year old DS is suspected dyslexic and has various other issues such as refusing to talk/ make eye contact with adults or children he knows outside school, 'flipping out' at noisy parties, overly emotional reactions to minor problems.

We are beginning Audio Integration Training in a couple of days and have been playing 'Engaging Eyes' for a week. My intention is to try Tinsley House in a couple of months when the Audio has settled down. We have just started on the stairs exercises and supplements (and protein breakfasts)

Any tips will be most welcome!

Hi Mango, welcome to the thread. I don't know much about AIT nor how long it takes to complete. TH was quite 'full on' for us so, make sure you don't take on too much all at once. I wonder whether you would be better to complete one approach before starting another? Anyone else have any experience of this?

Badvoc, good luck to dcs starting their new schools. Ds starts on Tuesday next week, quite a gentle first few days.

It will be very interesting how many people have different/better (hopefully!) experiences with school this year, fingers crossed for us all!

Have started stairs and need to buy spinny office chair to get that going. has anyone heard of BrainGym? When I mentioned our excercies to the kinesiologist I see she said it sounded very similar to BrainGym, and that she used to go into her DCs school to do the marching with opposite hands touching opp knees and it improved all children calmness, and even just watching others do the exercise gets the brain opposites developing.

Hi Mango
Welcome to the thread. Your DS sounds similar to mine (more attention probs than dyslexic although he had significant problems reading and writing which seem to be lifting now). But v similar wrt eye contat, talking, freaking out at parties, flip outs. I'm interested to know what AIT you've chosen and how it goes. My advice, if you do want to do TH is to contact Robin now and tell him what you're doing. My DS has had hearing/glue ear problems and has just been assessed at the auditory processing clinic at Great Ormond Street Hospital as having a 2-9 centile ability in much of the auditory processing stuff especially in noisy or busy environments which makes his life very tricky in some situations (and I think, at school). The consultant at GOSH in charge of the clinic suggested (when I raised the question) that we do the Listening Program, and said there isn't enough evidence clinically that it works, but lots of people say it makes a real difference. The only reason there isn't clinical evidence is they can't fund the research (which I feel is the case with the TH approach too). We're doing engaging eyes and have just finished stairs and teeth and don't want to overload DS so have agreed with Robin that we'll slot some audiotory stuff into our overall program.
Hope that's not too long and complicated - but basically saying might be worth talking to Robin about it all? x

Hi Daft Maul and Harrietv.

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll give Robin a call when the kids get back to school.I'm doing Audio Integration via The Sensory Clinic (Near Reading I think- we are doing it 'distance'). We had a local audiogram which showed hypersensitivity in one ear. Program takes 10 days (30 mins twice a day listening to music).

I decided to do that one first as it seemed a potential 'quick gain'. Otherwise, I'd have to wait til finishing TH (10 hour round trip!) which I'm assuming will be over a year.I feel so sorry for DS not being able to enjoy parties. Nightmare trying to work out a best plan of action!

I'm doing Engaging Eyes as I know DS has major tracking issues (plus words moving on the page etc). So much to consider- I know what you mean about the overloading thing. I'm hoping we can get the Audio Integration pretty much completed before term starts.

Hi Mango and welcome. My DS (7) sounds very much like your DS. We have done 13 months of TH and he is so so much better but his reading is still laboured and he has still got dyspraxic issues. ( Really stiff, hooked pen hold, lack of fluency, can't spell etc) I have so much I still want to try with him but like Harriet and Daft I am very concerned about overload. I think you can make things worse if you are not careful. I am very interested in Auditory training and can't decide between TLP. Johannsen and AIT. I have tentatively booked my DS for AIT at the SLC in London for half term but may well end up doing TLP. Let us know how it goes. I know Indigobell who started the thread has done AIT at SLC with all 3 of her kids and has been happy with it. Have also heard good things about TLP. I think they all help.

My big news is that my DD's ADD has very very very nearly gone. I think the little bits that remain she will grow out of. I am pretty sure that as an adult she won't have any problems. Now hope that she can start to meet her potential at school and pass the dreaded 11+.

BP fabulous news re your dd.

Have just realised that I forgot to get ds to do lumosity tonight . . . and could have used watching the footie as a bribe!

It's so heartening to hear of other kids with similar issues to DS. Especially with all the improvements they are making. Finally, people who understand! I got onto AIT from indigo's website and picked her brains a bit. Do you think I'd be better stopping Engaging Eyes until AIT completed?

Things I have noticed so far: Before AIT (so doing stairs, Engaging Eyes), DS said to me 'I think I'm getting better at lots of things' (totally unprompted. Mind you, he also said 'Why do I have to practise going up the stairs as I'm already quite good at that!')

After Day 1 of AIT, DS pretty emotional (which I believe can be quite a good thing as it shows changes are happening). He also got his best score on Engaging Eyes (Alien and Target A) and has become very affectionate (got into bed this morning for a cuddle- totally unheard of as usually just jumps on me and makes silly sounds).

The reason I did Sensory Clinic was that we could do it from home and they arrange a local audiogram. We are in Manchester an all the good stuff seems to be down South!

I will definitely keep an eye out for overload- at the minute DS is happy with the bits and pieces we are doing. Prob change when school starts!! I probably have got carried away a bit with everything (manic mummy) though I am intending to have a few months break after AIT so it can settle.

Thanks for all your support. This thread is invaluable.

Mango- sounds like your DS is coping well. If it all becomes too much whilst doing AIT, i would stop stairs and EE for a bit. I definately think you are doing all the right stuff.

Wondered if any of you have tried Speed Up, Write from the Start or Writing without tears? and if so if you have any recommendations or other suggestions? DS handwriting still painfully slow and he looks so uncomfortable. Can't imagine him ever writing more than a few lines as he is at the moment.

Ds' writing is also still very laborious and messy. He gets a very sore hand when writing more than a few lines. On the recommendation of his specialist teacher at school, he did a touch typing course about 18mths ago (in fact just before starting TH). His typing is now very good and he used a laptop for his 11+ English paper and uses a netbook for most written work in class. His written work has improved immeasurably but still has a way to go punctuation-wise.

Climbing is supposed to be very good for developping upper body and finger strength. Are there an climbing walls near you?

We haven't done any specific hand writing courses apart from some OT stuff years ago.

Hi possum,

We have been doing 'write from the start' during the hols for about 5 mins a night. (stopped now til AIT over). Its aimed at age 4-6 but not too babyish for older kids. Lots to do with visual perception (drawing circles inside sqauares). DS quite likes doing it as it's not formal handwriting drills. I can't say how much its helped yet, as I've not made his do any writing over the summer. Having said that, he was tatting about on a whiteboard and it looked much neater and smaller.

I had a look at 'speed up' which is aimed 8-13 years. A bit more 'formal' but lots of exercises for strengthening fingers, hands, wrists. Such as sitting on a chair and push up to standing using the hands.

Also, check pencil grip as if DS squeezing too hard, it will make his hand ache. I drew 3 boxes and labelled 'hard, medium, soft' and half coloured in with pencil. DS colored in the other half of boxes and discussed we were aiming for 'medium'.

Think climbing wall would be a great idea.

Think you also get stuff called 'therapy putty' or maybe 'theraputty' which is like play dough with more resistance.

If anyone is struggling with phonics, we used 'toe by toe' which has really worked for DS. Looks v boring, but DS loved the way you get lots of ticks each time. He went from still struggling with 'SATPIN' (phonics phase2)at christmas to passing phonics check in June.

Will post properly later, but hello to Mango. Just want to say that somewhere in primary education mrz posted a fantastic list of OT things for handwriting- everything from pegging to wheelbarrw walking. If you can't find it, I will try and dig it out when I am not just about to go out!

Hope you are all OK, Badvoc and family.

Hi everyone.
For some reason this thread is not showing up on my threads I'm on - how odd.
Anyway...we are all ok.
Tom started at his new school last Thursday. He is tired - which I expected - and seems to be enjoying himself. He stays for hot dinners (!) and is walking there and back with his friend :)
Ds2 started in reception too and seems to be enjoying it.
I hope you are all ok?
We used write from the start and I would recommend it. I got mine from amazon I think.
Currently I am using apples and pears by sound foundation for spelling and punctuation and I really rate it (and I've tried em all!)
BP..have you tried a writing slope? Or an ergonomic pencil? We used a stabilo ergonomic pencil and it did help.
Love to all x

Hey Badvoc, good to hear from you. So glad both dcs have settled into school.

Re: 'Threads I'm on', I seem to remember you can set the number of weeks itcahows threads for 1-3 weeks or something. Maybe when you were posting more often it didn't matter. I now tend to 'watch' threads I am on as that lasts until I remove them from the list.

Ds started school yesterday afternoon, all seems good - apart from the alarm going off this morning, not nice! He has an activity day today so he is very happy. Full timetables from tomorrow, will see what happens!

Still doing daily (mostly) lumosity but ds seems to be going backwards! . I have been watching him the last few days and I am pretty sure he is doing his best. He has been using the iPad instead of laptop, so I wonder if that makes a difference as the same (impossible) games do seem to keep cropping up.

Last day of holidays for dd today so back to proper routine then, phew!

Urgh, feeling really 'back to school'y tonight! Have had such a wonderful summer and DS1 has been really brilliant - barely any tantrums, really calm and happy and gaining confidence - he's been on a holiday club which was unthinkable last summer and is just doing so well. I feel this awful sinking feeling of starting another new year and hoping not to get all this negative feedback but feeling sure I probably will! I'm not sure I can take another year of it! I'm so so glad I've started with TH. The start of juniors was the impetus for me to do so just over 4 months ago and i'd hoped for some changes by now, which to be honest I couldn't have hoped to be as good as they are. But I know we're not there yet....and just wish we were!!
Anyway - sorry be a downer. So glad the starters are doing well so far, and I will endeavor to keep my pecker up and be positive!!

That is exactly it Harriet. It has been such a good/calm summer that it is hard to upset everything by starting back at school! it feels like a year of Sunday evenings all rolled into one!

Ds went on his activity day today (had a good time and came home with a list of friends!) and left his emergency meds bag there. Grr! Muggins here has to spend her first child free morning tomorrow going to collect it! Have told ds I am going to charge him £1/mile Ah well, at least I can enjoy the peace in the car. Sigh.

He is now very well known by his Head of Year as she had to call around trying to locate the bag. He says she is his favourite teacher.