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 :)

[Badvoc]

I think it was 2 months for hemi p and t BP but he did hemi opk for longer...4 months.
Our next appt isn't until the end of July!
Tom has to continue with lumosity (which is fine as he enjoys it) and that's it.
I think that may be our last appt as we have no concerns wrt Tom now.
It's an odd feeling!

[Badvoc]

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!
A pic of Tom in my profile :)

[Happy247]

Awww what a handsome chap, so lovely to put a face to the very famous Tom!

[Ruggles]

I knew he was a super hero!

[Badvoc]

:)
He is very handsome isn't he!?
He is swimming ATM with dh and ds2 - I have an ear infection so can't go :(
He is playing football with his friend after lunch.
Then off to mils for dinner...
Tom is back.
He says thank you for the lovely comments :)

[shoppingbagsundereyes]

I agree, a very handsome chap. So pleased to hear you say you have no concerns. Am really really looking forward to that time. Maybe just six more months for us :)

[Badvoc]

It will come, shopping :)
Been out to look for more stuff for toms residential outdoor bounds trip.
He will be away for 4 days and nights.
Unthinkable 18 months ago!!

[harrietv]

Hi everyone - been lurking for about a year now and wondered if I could get your advice. DS is almost 7. Has problems with attention, fidgeting, writing, some physical stiffness, passing tics, social anxiety and not talking at school.

So - last year we took the plunge with RR therapy - he's been doing exercises since beg year and I could say things have got a lot better in terms of his separation anxiety and anxieties in general (think our exercise is moro) but have to say this had started getting better anyway since last summer - before exercises. He just did a sleepover and went alone into a kids club which he never would have done last year but I'm not convinced that's to do with RR as the progress had started in Aug and going into school etc was good in Sept. But who knows?

But this holiday we had a rough few weeks (poss to do with the RR exercises, possibly just exhaustion) and I saw a few things that concerned me more than i've been concerned before (and i'm a worrier so that's saying something!) - at the school play he spent all 'downtime' when others sat cross legged, up on his knees, touching the things aroudn the back of the stage. And at a football class (he's not great at football but agreed to do a fun class which was a great thing because he usually won't do classes) he spent the actual game wandering around like he was entierly in a world of his own, not even really reacting to the ball at all.

I feel like I have finally admitted (and DH has seen) this is something I want to try and sort for him. And that I'm prepared to take the 'there's nothing wrong with him you nutters' which I'm sure will come from parents and parents in law. Tinsley House is appealing - particularly the computer stuff. We've just adopted the full on vitamins and healthy diet (were already doing omega 3 but not vegepa), added stair walking into his day BUT I know a few of you who have had such great effect from TH have also completed INPP and wonder whether you think I should press on with that (have a slight lack of confidence in the woman I'm seeing - who has been well mentioned on Mumsnet so kind of not going with my gut on that but it adds to my feeling of wanting to try Robin).

What do you think? I feel if I start TH soon we could have made a bit of progress by the time Y3 comes round in Sept - although I know it'll prob take longer than that. Do I have to be more patient with RR or am i wasting time?

Thank you!!

[Badvoc]

Hello Harriet, and welcome!
My son did rrt and ait prior to TH.
To be brutally honest, TH was a bit of a last chance saloon for us.
My son did get great benefit from both rrt and ait IMO but it was not until we started the TH programme that things really started to fall into place for him.
My son is a very typical example of what robin would call DDS = developmental delay syndrome.
He had significant developmental delay as a baby and toddler and as a neonate was a query CP dx.
All I can say is I wish we had started TH sooner.
The earlier you start the better - with any intervention.
My son started TH in the 2nd term of year 4.
He is now in his final term in year 5 and doing so well :) we are thrilled and so is he.
If you start soon you will have the hole summer to really work on the programme prior to year 3 and start of ks2.
Good luck x

[Badvoc]

Hole summer?
Whole summer!
Gah! Damn auto correct!

[harrietv]

Thanks Badvoc - I know Indigo's also said she wouldn't bother with RRT before TH either....but don't want to flail from approach to approach and not stick with anything long enough!

Is the first step a chat with Robin? DS1 didn't suffer any delays I was aware of until he started school...when glue ear hit badly too and he still suffers now and again. So I've been waiting for him to 'mature' but think have got to the stage now when I think he's going to start falling further behind and I hate him thinking he's rubbish at school. And some things are just becoming more glaringly not 'normal'.

Be good to have the summer to control his diet too as he has to have school dinners and there's a lot of personal choice so I'll struggle to steer him away from jelly and ice cream I fear!
x

[Badvoc]

There are lots of questions robin asks in the initial assessment... related to go and birth too, milestones etc.
Can't remember all of them, sorry.
Unlike indigo, I don't regret doing rrt or ait, I just wish I had started them all sooner (start of year 1) rather than end of year 3 :(
I would phone robin for a chat.
It's what I did.
What most of us did, I think.
Robin was the first perisn to tell me why ds tip toe walked. And explain that his huge anxiety levels were caused by high levels of cortisol.
That was all I needed to hear to convince me that a) this guy knew what he was talking about and b) even if turned out he didn't, the worst outcome was a few £££ down and some wasted time.
For me - at that time - it was worth a try.
And I am so so glad I did.

[Ruggles]

Hi Harriet - I'm afraid I don't have any experience if INPP, but can really vouch for Tinsley House. DS is 4.6 and we started 5 months ago - I wasn't sure what was possible at that stage, but wanted to jump in quickly and help get him ready for Reception in September. We have seen some brilliant results and I am now sure that this is the thing for us. I called Robin for a chat after one spectacular afternoon and we saw him a week later. I have found Robin to be really straightforward and frank, which I appreciate. He told us that we wouldn't see significant results for 5-6 months, but we did see some big changes early on. PM and we can arrange a chat if you like.

[Ruggles]

Badvoc - what did he say about tip toe walking? Ds has recently stopped doing this! What turns off the cortisol? He is much less anxious too. Still cries when something goes wrong, but doesn't cry at night and has no fear of new situations! DH is watching the golf....

[Badvoc]

It's mostly muscular iirc ruggles.
Wrt the cortisol levels, I honestly can't remember! I think it's a mix of the diet and exercises...
Ds2 is asleep beside me (he is so scrumptious!) and dh is in our bed as he is up at silly o clock for his flight :(
Am really not looking forward to this week at all, not helped by the fact that I badly wrenched my back this morning moving the dining table (ouch) so now i have tooth ache, an ear infection and a bad back! :)
I think it's my age you know :)

[Ruggles]

Thanks Badvoc. Sorry to hear about your back - that's your three things... Hope your week is ok.

[Badvoc]

I hope so ruggles.
:)
Blimey, all I seem to do is moan lately.
It must be very irritating to read!
I shall try very hard not to moan this week.
(May mean I have to give up MN for a week....l)

[Ruggles]

Don't worry Badvoc - I feel as if I'm the same. I sent DH a text on Friday to tell him what a star DS had been and he said he almost fell off his chair in surprise at how positive I was being!! It's funny, as I feel really positive in my head - obviously I have to share it around more..

[Badvoc]

I think we are more inclined to be pensive and worried about our dc.....we are with them more of the time and - ime - it's always the mothers that get the dirty looks if a child is having a meltdown!
I will join you in trying to be more positive :)
Although Tom has woken up full of snot again....where does it all come from!!?
Dh has gone. Won't be back til Sunday. Will try to keep busy. My nephews are coming for tea tonight and then boys are at my pils tomorrow as I have to take mum to hospital. I might just lie on the sofa all day Wednesday! :)

[harrietv]

Thanks Ruggles - it's great to hear. I think I'll ring Robin today and will keep you posted. We could expect to be seeing some improvements by Sept in that case which makes sense in terms of getting DS1 in soon.
Completely agree with it being mums who worry and are depressed by these things rather than DHs, in fact I'm kind of striking while the iron is hot as he's finally seen things over this holiday which he rarely does. Not that he doesn't care - just has more hope that things will come good on their own. Would be great to just start worrying about the 'normal' stuff I worry about for DS2 rather than all the extra stuff - he just looks entirely wiped out and dazed at the end of school and I hate the thought of him sitting there like a rabbit in headlights for most of the day!

[Badvoc]

It's not that they don't care.
They just dont adapt as quickly I think.
At least thats been my experience.
Let us know he you get on x

[Beautifulpossum]

Badvoc- missed the picture of Tom ( or looked in the wrong place) Thanks for info about hemi t p and opk. DS will have done 2 months of hemi t and 4 months of hemi p when we go back to Robin in May, so with any luck he will be able to stop them.

I too, have been a moaning Minnie for the past few months. For me it is the stress and worry that makes me moan. Have felt way less stressed in past few weeks though and noticeably less whingey but felt anxiety levels rise a bit today with kids back at school and mothers talking about grade 3 violin distinction and little "johnny" reading 2 Harry Potter books over the holidays ( these are year 2 kids)

Harriet- welcome to the thread. My DS did a month of RRT with Hemispheres before we switched to TH. I found the thread and read Robin's book and spoke to him on the phone. I was nervous about changing as my poor DS was in a terrible state and had already been through a dyslexia assessment, BO and waited outside school whilst I was having meetings about him. However, I can honestly say that I am delighted that we switched. That is not to say that the RRT wasn't good but Robin is simply amazing. He doesn't really talk about reflexes ( although he absolutely understands them) Rather than getting the reflexes to drop he tackles the reason why the reflexes haven't dropped - iyswim. He gets the brain to work normally and when it does the reflexes will drop. His approach is from the top down rather than bottom up ( RRT is bottom up) and I am convinced that it the way to go. My DS also thinks Robin as hilarious and loves his visits.

Do ring him today and let us know how it goes.

[Badvoc]

BP...I have to let you in on a secret!!
Sometimes other parents lie about how well little Johnny is doing!
I know......I don't understand it either, but I assure you it happens.
Don't let them get to you.
X

[Beautifulpossum]

Thanks Badvoc.

[Ruggles]

Other parents are the worst thing - in fact the thing that I find most difficult. I am sure there is lots of lying and huffing and puffing up things. So many of them are afraid to show any vulnerability and instead seem in some competitive vortex of how well Jonny is doing and then the other camp who seem to be competitive about how badly their child is doing - whilst they are achieving all sorts of amazing things... They all remind me of how I felt about 'smug marrieds' when I was single. Grin and bear, grin and bear...

Harriet - know exactly what you mean about your DH. Mine is always a little spooked after holidays or a day on his own with the dcs!