Full Course Description

Integrating Primitive Reflexes for Optimal Function: Neurological Approaches from Early Intervention to Adolescence

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Determine how primitive reflexes and approaches to managing symptoms improve function.
  2. Investigate the neurological connections to inform clinical treatment interventions. 
  3. Evaluate the signs of retained primitive reflexes and the clinical implications to develop appropriate treatment plans and intervention.
  4. Analyze case studies of children presenting with primitive reflexes in a clinical setting to increase ability to detect during assessment and evaluation.
  5. Perform treatment strategies to work through reflexive patterns to improve treatment outcomes.
  6. Measure the influence of the visual system for symptom management of the primitive reflex patterns to incorporate in treatment interventions.
  7. Apply patient strategy techniques, such as history, imaging, movement patterns to improve client engagement.

Outline

Neurological Overview

  • Primitive Reflex – Need to know
  • From “infancy to classroom”
    • Affects in development and learning
  • Tone qualities and influencers
    • Positions challenges and alterations for optimal function
    • “Behavior” – or is it non-integrated reflexes
  • Nervous System Anatomy and Brain Loops – Sensory In, Motor Out
    • Reticular activating system – how underlying wiring of CNS interprets sensory information coming in and motor output
      • Extension and Flexion patterns
      • Influence on facilitation and inhibition
    • Brainstem
      • Cranial nerve stimulation
      • Vagus nerve connection to withdrawal reflexes
    • Midbrain
      • Mammal brain/survival brain – present moment
      • Positive short commands to redirect function
    • Cortex
      • Higher level skills
      • Integration through sensory reception

From Function to Dysfunction of Primitive Reflexes

  • Causes of retention and obligatory reflex demonstration
    • Under-developed central nervous system
    • Traumatic brain injury, acquired brain injury, concussion and sensory disorders
    • Social influences
      • Trauma and the Sympathetic Nervous System activation
      • Reflex demonstration resulting from acute stress and trauma
  • Triggers
    • Sensory filters – reticular activating system
    • Sensory disorders and primitive reflex connection
      • Moro and hypersensitivity
      • Sensory-based motor disorders and bilateral integration
      • Primitive Reflexes influence on challenges with toileting, eating, sleeping, and tantrums (TEST)

Primitive Reflex Treatment Strategies

  • Activities to address function:
    • Handwriting, dressing, eating
    • Positioning and external aids (including brain rhythm)
    • Visual alignment – power reduction and directional integration of primitive reflex patterns
    • Increasing sensory awareness and processing to attend to movement patterns
    • Influencing the brain rhythm
  • Treatments
    • Chart of primitive reflexes with treatment suggestions
  • Conclusion
    • Next steps
    • Moving from obligatory to voluntary control

Target Audience

  • Physical Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Speech Language Pathologist
  • Physical Therapy Assistant
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant
  • Early Interventionist

Copyright : 11/17/2020

Primitive Reflexes: The Foundation for Function – Case Study

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Analyze primitive reflexes affecting function through case examples 
  2. Assess the neurological connections to address challenges with self-regulation  
  3. Demonstrate treatment strategies involving self-regulation and mindfulness techniques to decrease the activation of reflexive patterns  

Outline

  • Case examples   
    • Activation of primitive reflexes 
      • Younger Child 
      • Adolescent  
  • How primitive reflexes connect to Self-Regulation 
    • Neurological pathways for executive function, sensory processing, and emotional regulation  
  • Case study 
  • History 
  • Evaluation 
  • Treatment
    • The 9 Targets  
    • Contextual Sensory Intervention  
    • Results 

Target Audience

  • Physical Therapist 
  • Occupational Therapist 
  • Speech Language Pathologist 
  • Physical Therapy Assistant 
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant 
  • Early Interventionist 

Copyright : 09/28/2020

Address Primitive Reflexes and Promote Functional Skills – Case Study

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Apply principles of an understanding of the primitive reflex function and integration. 
  2. Differentiate non-effective and effective treatments for pediatric patients. 
  3. Build functional knowledge about how to change spastic patterns to promote voluntary motion. 

Outline

Evaluation – Look at the patient functionally to see the nervous system 

  • Purpose for primitive reflexes 
Causes for primitive reflex obligatory demonstration 
  • How the brain relates information for survival 
Case study 
History 
Evaluation 
Treatment – Cranial nerve sensory pathways used for rewiring 
  • Use of lobes for neuroplasticity advancement 
  • How to naturally decrease spasticity effectively 
  • Progress of the patient 
  • Results 

Target Audience

  • Physical Therapist 
  • Occupational Therapist 
  • Speech Language Pathologist 
  • Physical Therapy Assistant 
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant 
  • Early Interventionist 

Copyright : 09/12/2020

Primitive Reflexes: A Deeper Look into the Nervous System Pathways

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Determine the differences between primitive reflexes, response reactions and equilibrium responses.
  2. Distinguish the area of the nervous system involved in reflexes and responses.
  3. Extrapolate the functional relationships to development, orientation and engagement of the nervous system in integration techniques.

Outline

A Higher-Level Look

  • Why this information is needed
  • Elements of reflex influence
  • Functional relationships of reflexes and higher level skills
Primitive Reflexes
  • Tips on evaluation of residual primitive reflexes
  • Primitive reflexes and sensory influence
Righting Response
  • Alignment
  • Vision and proprioception
Equilibrium Responses
  • Orientation and protection
  • Movement and upright posture control

Target Audience

  • Physical Therapist
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Speech Language Pathologist
  • Physical Therapy Assistant
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant
  • Educator
  • Early Interventionist

Copyright : 05/08/2020

COVID-19: Addressing Social and Collective Trauma in Children, Adolescents and their Families

Program Information

Objectives

  1. Demonstrate how social and collective trauma impacts children and their families 
  2. Assess the impact of social and collective trauma for children who have a history of complex trauma, presenting with hyper-activity, hypo-activity, aggressiveness, self-stimulatory, issues of attachment, and inattentiveness
  3. Implement techniques such as use of routine, sensory-based strategies, mindfulness, activation of the Vagus nerve, and respiratory-based techniques to improve comfort and security

Outline

Social and Collective Trauma

  • Including those who have a history of complex trauma
  • Impact on children, adolescents and their caregivers 
  • Effects of social isolation and resulting sensory deprivation 

Treatment Approaches

  • Use of routine
  • Sensory-based strategies
  • Mindfulness
  • Activation of the Vagus nerve
  • Respiratory-based techniques

Planning for the Future…Moving Beyond Trauma

  • Interactive plans, goals, and vision boards
  • Autobiographies and video diaries 

Target Audience

  • Counselors
  • Social Workers
  • Psychologists
  • Psychotherapists
  • Therapists
  • Marriage and Family Therapists
  • Teachers
  • School Guidance Counselors
  • Case Managers
  • School Administrators
  • Educational Paraprofessionals
  • Nurses
  • Speech and Language Pathologists
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Other helping professionals who work with children

Copyright : 03/31/2020