Tinsley House Support Thread Part 4!!!

[Mangomanila]

This thread is for anyone interested in the Tinsley House programme. All welcome!

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 smile

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

Willingness to do as he is told and to concentrate ... I'm all ears!
Which book please?

My son takes Eye Q and Animal Parade multi vitamins. Will these do?

The book is The Brain Food Diet by Robin Pauc, you can get it on Amazon. It tells you all you need to know about the diet and supplements and gives you the first exercises. Thereafter you need an appointment. Have a look on www.tinsleyhouseclinic.co.uk.
Robin recommends specific omega 3 and vitamins because he advises you use ones that are free from artificial additives. We use vegepa omega 3 chewables. We didn't use the vitamins because they made ds feel queasy. Other people use them religiously. The recommended vitamins are kindervital but I can't remember which ones.
If you read further up thread you will see some of the benefits myself and others attribute to doing TH. You will also read ( if you have a google about) lots of people who say the programme is nonsense and Robin is a charlatan. I say invest a few quid in the book, follow the plan and then decide if you feel it's worth further investment. We've spent about £700 in 18 months and it has changed ds and my lives.

Thank you, Shopping. I've ordered the book and am going to give it a go. Kind of you to share the information with me (and others).

Hi all,

Phew...I have virtually read all the TH threads and have nearly finished Is that your child. We are seeing Robin next week.

My DS is 6. We were propelled into action a few weeks ago after the first few weeks of Y2 DS came out of School and was wild with meltdowns and anger. He was kicking, biting and punching (me and DH only - the joy!)

He changed when he was about 18m - 2, massive sensory problems (haircuts, suncream - you name it). He is very hyperactive, demanding and dominating. We started brushing with a therapist about 6 weeks ago, and the hitting has totally stopped, it is remarkable. However, I feel diet is definitely something and Robin seems more holistic.

So...can I join you all on this journey?

x

Please do. Looking forward to hearing how you get on next week :)

Hello to all the new arrivals, and thanks for all the positive stories, it does help me keep going.

After my last pessimistic post (we are seven months into TH but not seen much change), I feel things are looking up a little, maybe we are starting to see some changes? Dd is definitely better co-ordinates. My mum commented on this over the summer, and seeing her in the playground this week, I agree. We didn't come to TH for poor co-ordination, but I'm still really pleased for her. Also, dare I say this......I think her memory is improving. She still varies wildly, but this half term, she does seem to be remembering some of her spellings from one week to the next.....also, Robin stopped her doing eye tracking in June, after 4 weeks with only getting 4 stars. She has been doing hemi p and t over summer, and has just re started eye tracking. Now she is getting a star about every other day - something has changed!! (Even if it is just her ability to do a computer program!)
I sent DH down to see Robin last time as I felt it was high time he got involved. Whether robin was different with him, or has read some of this thread, he surprised DH by specifically asking him how we were finding things.
So, just trying to give a balanced view, but not breathing easy yet.....

Someone mentioned specific dyslexia tuition on the last page.....can you tell me a little more please?

So...ds had had his current levels and targets for end of year 6.
He is at expected or exceeding govt nc levels and some of his targets for end of year 6 are level 5s!!!
2 years ago he was at level 1s for reading and writing.
:)

Wow Badvoc, that's amazing, huge congratulations to your DS and you!
Are you able to step back from the last 2 years and pinpoint/identify what specific elements of TH (& and other interventions) you feel have made the difference or is it a culmination of everything? its a fantastic result and gives those of us at the start of the tunnel a little bit of 'light'!

Brightstars- great to heat about your progress too...just fantastic.

Hmmmm....good question! :)
I am glad we did all of it tbh.
In hindsight it would easy to say I wish I had just done TH earlier - and of course I do! - but i think doing RRT and then AIT helped prepare him for the regime of TH iykwim?
He had already done physical exercises with RRT and had used headphones in AIT so it was partially same old same old for him.
I just wish I had started all of it sooner...ds was in year 3 when we began it all....those of you doing this early are absolutely doing the right thing.
X

Oh...and he is going to a Halloween party later :)
In dress up!
(I now have to go and get a ruddy costume though!)
He has also joined the collectors club at college and he is involved in an exhibit at the local museum! :)
He went to Warwick castle yesterday on a trip.
And I didn't worry one bit.
I am sure all of you know how much all of this means to us.
Don't give up.
It's so worth it.
X

brightstars
I think it may have been me that mentioned dyslexic tuition. We are lucky enough to have a dedicated private dyslexia centre near us started by a great lady who has masses of experience with SEN. It was private lesson after school with one of her tutors that helped my DS enormously. We are based in Suffolk, if that's any help?

Hi Badvoc,

Am so glad your son is doing so well. You just reminded me about the dressing up! School Book days et al are hell for us.

Do you feel that your son is now at or will be at his full potential?

Also what is RRT and AIT?

Thanks x

Hi - we have recently started at TH with our 8yr old DS. He has the "Whack an alien" and Target practice every day on the computer and the stair exercises. The diet is not really much of a change from his current diet although he is vegetarian, and we have been using vits, omega 3, zinc and magnesium for ages too. About 6 weeks in but no real change yet. If anything his constant fidgeting, twitching and complete inability to focus or organise himself (apart from lego) seems to be getting worse. I know it is a long haul so will persist. Have come acrooss brushing therapy and am wondering whether this would be a good complement to the TH programme - he seems to have a lot of the sensory sensitive stuff going on.

...should also say have started a new thread asking about brushing therapy too......

I would personally persist with one approach for a bit longer, if TH still doesnt work at Christmas then stop and try something else.

I know most of us are conceous of time and desperate to put the right help asap.

And this is coming from someone that did lots of therapies simultaneosly and had to stop few to see which ones are adding value and which ones dont.

Even on vegeterain diet please try to increase the proteins, Robin was ok with porridge, but try eggs and melted cheese on toast and baked beans, veg sausages etc.

Nellie...TH is not a quick fix. As blue shark says it's not a good idea to chop and change therapies/interventions, although I do understand the temptation to do something, anything.
It's taken us 18 months of TH and prior to that 9 months of RRT and AIT.
Sunshine....RRT = retained reflex therapy. We went to inpp at Chester.
AIT = auditory integration therapy.
If you google them it will give you an idea of what they entail.
As far as we (and everyone else) is concerned my son no longer has any sen, is doing well at school, and according to his new school requires no help with his academic work.
He no longer shows any symptoms of the dyslexia or the dyspraxia which blighted his life until he was 8. I won't use the word "cured" as it seems to upset people.
I can't promise the same results for your dc, obv as they are all so different and have different issues, but you are certainly doing all you can and I really hope it works out for you x

Hi to all the new posters.

Just picked up DS from a stay with his grandparents. He was really keen to tell me everything he had been doing. Big change as usually he would clam up or make silly noises. My dad also noticed he was laughing a lot more and generally happier.

Struggling a bit with engaging eyes though. Some days he is great and will get to level 14 on targets A. On others he can't get past level 3. Does anyone else have this?

Thank you Blueshark and Badvoc. I know I need to persist with one treatment at a time, but I suppose I am aware that treatments are more effective at an early age, and time is passing. Also, the stuff I read about brushing, and the type of child it helps had so much resonance, whereas every time my DS does the engaging eyes programme I see the heading about "does your child have difficulty reading?" and he doesn't - he has a reading age above his years and a great visual memory. So, at this point in time I'm a bit uncertain if it is the right thing........

My ds (now 11) 6 months ago (age 10) had a reading age of 15+. We are doing engaging eyes ( started sept) just about to move onto Hemi. He has never been able to hit a ball, catch a ball etc. 2 weeks ago he came home from school and asked for a cricket bat, he'd been playing and had managed to it the ball so now wanted today some more. (Hates failure so never really done it)

Mango - my ds swings between levels too. Robin says this is normal, depends how tired they are.

notapizzaeater - that is v interesting as my DS is very awkward physically and hates sport - sounds like your son - can't deal with failure at all. You have given me fresh hope!. Mango - sometimes my DS just doesn't really want to do engaging eyes and his score can be quite abysmal then, but it does vary a lot at the moment anyway.

These last few days havebeen somewhat trying as my DS needs to do his homework. Aaargh! It is impossible for him to stay on task or organise himself to do anything (unless lego) - after 3 hours I lost the will to live - we have some scrappy notes to write up today and I am exhausted from scanning the internet till the early hours in search of something that might help................

Writing is still a major issue for us, again linked to his failure, he writes like a dead spider and because he cannot instantly read it thinks he's failed, without writing more it won't get better so we are in a Vicious circle. Homework was taking hours with me standing over him pulling my hair out trying to keep him on task. We have now compromised with school and he only has maths/English and his English is just to copy a paragraph a night from a book he is reading. We have been told to only do 30 mins maximum even if he has not finished so we have a timer. He is managing to do it in the 30 mins and because he can see an end time he is much more responsive and likely to do it. His writing is getting quicker and much more legible whether this is the school or EE I don't know but whatever itis something is working.

Nellie, ds has a amazing visual memory always has from being able to talk. He hit all verbal milestones, have video of I'm walking confidently on his first birthday party. Robin thinks he is super intelligent (as do school - which actually doesn't help as they "feel" the need to constantly push him) hence he can red, if he wasn't robin thinks he would be struggling reading ...

pizza have you tried the "speed up" handwriting book? We are doing "write from the start" but possibly a tad young for your DS. Interesting about the sports improvements with Engaging Eyes. My DS can now catch a ball. Previously much frustration and crying with ball games.