virtual autism treatment; sensory processing, ADHD

brainconnex@gmail.com

Clinically proven online movement & sensory programs to improve development, learning, sensory processing, behavior, and attention & focus in children.

Brain Connex Therapy online primitive reflex & brain integrations program was created for children with developmental & neurological delays, autism, sensory processing disorder, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and more. Our foundational programs provide a combination of primitive reflex integration, neurodevelopmental movements, sensory stimulation, and brain hemispheric balance techniques to bring optimal results…all in the comfort of your home. We focus on accelerated outcomes and greater access to care for all families in need.

Brain Connex Therapy is designed to develop:

*Balance;

*Muscle tone, stamina, and controlled motor movements;

*Posture and control;

*Body and sensory awareness;

*Gross and fine motor movements;

*Self-control, persistence and organization;

*Language, rhythm and communication skills;

*Attention, listening and processing of sound;

*Self-esteem and confidence;

*Improved reading, writing, and learning ability.

Children who demonstrate delays and/or difficulties in the following areas can benefit from our program:

*Concentration/Attention/Memory

*Speech, Language

*Written Expression & Reading Comprehension

*Social Communication/skills

*Behavior

*Fine motor delays

*Gross motor delays

*Anxiety, Depression, Decreased self-worth

*Processing Speed

*Sensory Processing

“Our mission is to improve as many lives as possible while empowering clients with knowledge, and passionately learning from continued research in neurological movement to continuously improve treatment methods for optimal results.”

Results seen with Specific Conditions

Autism

ADHD

Sensory Processing

Dyslexia & Learning

Dyspraxia

Vision Issues

brainconnextherapy

Movement is by far the most powerful 💥 tool we

Movement is by far the most powerful 💥 tool we have to create change in our brains 🧠 Everything from emotions, learning, socialization, memory, language and motor skills can be positively improved through movement.

Neuroscientists measured a 25% increase in neural connections between sensory & motor pathways after specific exercises.
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In a study of over 500 children, the ones who had an extra hour of physical activity daily performed notably better in reading and exams than less active children.
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More research in first graders showed that the ones who practiced brain integration & balance exercises daily reduced their rates of academic failure and improved the ease of learning to read.
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And my favorite research done my Carol Hannaford, PhD., had 5th graders in special Ed perform daily brain 🧠 training exercises. 95% of the students gained 1.5-2 years in reading 📚 ability!!
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Get your child started today using brain breaks that involve movement. The best movements include cross-body, balance, and eye-hand coordination.
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#readingtrouble #learning #dyslexia #movetolearn #movementforkids #neuroplasticity #sensoryactivity

Picky eating is a sign of nutritional deficiency,

Picky eating is a sign of nutritional deficiency, sensory issues, and/or an underdeveloped nervous system.

Looking for the root cause of picky eating 🍽 is the best route to take. Are they sensitive to smells, textures or certain tastes? What other symptoms do they have?? Things like poor coordination, delayed motor skills, speech delay, dyspraxia, visual or vestibular sensitivity all point to an underdeveloped nervous system with sensory processing challenges. Addressing the root cause will help all of the symptoms. Picky eating is rarely seen as a stand alone symptom. There is usually something else going on with the child that needs to be addressed to fully improve their eating habits.

Seek out a qualified professional who understands primitive reflexes & brain 🧠 integration along with a functional nutritionist to address the inherent deficiencies. 🥬🍒🥦🥑🥒🥕🍅🍑🥭🍇
#pickyeating #pickyeater #sensoryprocessing

The original sensory integration occurred through

The original sensory integration occurred through our navigation with our environment....our outdoor 🌲 environment. When outside our brain 🧠 begins to understand sounds, smells, proprioception, and tactile information. As we walk we stimulate our vestibular system.
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Standing upright is unique to humans. Our brain learns when we are upright and moving. The majority of our sensory stimulation comes from our spinal and postural muscles. These muscles are constantly active as they fight against gravity, which happens when we are upright & moving.
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When we spend majority of our days sitting 👩‍💻 we lose precious stimulation that our brain needs to learn. Are you and your kids spending hours seated??
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It’s just as important for adults as well as kids to be moving many hours during the day. Compare your child’s activity level to the one you had as a kid....if you were born before the 90’s I’m sure your activity level was MUCH greater than what your children are getting. We had recess, PE daily, free play and less structured activities; oh and NO SCREENS!! 📲 We need to make an effort each day to ensure our children are moving, getting outside, and LIVING LIFE 👊🤩
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#movement #braintraining #optimalbrain #brainconnex #getup #optoutofmainstreamlife #livelife #kidsandmovement #indoorkids #noscreens

Have you checked your child's ability to visually

Have you checked your child's ability to visually track horizontally lately? You should. Many children are walking around with poor visual tracking that is affecting their balance, reading, and learning.
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Horizontal tracking is one of the first visual motor skills that appears during infancy. Focus is developed during the automatic movement of Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex and horizontal tracking is developed during use of Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) and later all four's crawling.
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STNR develops our visual fields, expanding our distance and peripheral vision. When a child has a narrow visual field you will notice they are more into the details. They are very specific about their environment that is close up and may even have meltdowns if you move an object that they so carefully placed perfectly in front of them. They may look at objects really close to their eyes, and walk super close to objects.
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Our eyes help us perceive danger. If we are not able to scan our environment well we will be in a more heightened state of stress, especially in unfamiliar environments. We will experience more over-reaction to sensory stimuli because our body is protecting us from the unknown danger.
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Most of the children I work with that have sensory issues, developmental delays, hyperactivity, ADHD, and Autism have horizontal tracking trouble....which all stems from primitive reflexes being unintegrated.
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Quick check: have your child's head completely still. Hold an object about 17 inches from their nose. Starting at the center, slowly move the object all the way to the side of one ear, then slowly back to center and to the other side. Your child should be able to track throughout that entire range of motion (ROM).
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What to look for?:
* excess blinking
* cannot track the entire ROM
* cannot hold held still and move eyes
* quick eye movements (nystagmus) or "glitches" during tracking -- this is normal at end range, but not in the middle
* rubbing eyes
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These are all signs your child has trouble with horizontal tracking. First things to do are check if STNR & ATNR are integrated. Next find a professional to help guide you.

"It was found that ATNR persistence was significan

"It was found that ATNR persistence was significantly associated with level of attainments in reading, spelling and mathematics and that boys were more at risk than girls for ATNR persistence. In both studies, it was found that the movement intervention programme had a very significant impact on reducing the levels of ATNR persistence in children and that this was associated with very significant improvements in reading and mathematics, in particular."

This research along with many others find evidence that ATNR is linked to core educational skills and interference from an underdeveloped nervous system.

This particular research study also demonstrated that performing specific exercises to integrate ATNR helped improve academic skills.

When we have an underdeveloped nervous system, we are unable to fully develop our pre-frontal cortex, or "thinking brain", which results in challenges seen with reading, writing, math, memory, organization, and other higher-level cognitive skills.

Remediating reading challenges is just the tip of the iceberg. For proper treatment, you must look deeper and create the foundational skills needed for the nervous system and brain to fully develop through primitive reflex integration & brain hemispheric integration. These techniques are simple and can be completed at home, guided by a professional.
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Not sure if your child would benefit from neurolgocially-based treatment? Download our FREE ebook: GET TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF YOUR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR, SENSORY, & LEARNING CHALLENGES: https://brainconnextherapy.podia.com/root-cause

During this holiday season my wish for you is that

During this holiday season my wish for you is that instead of focusing on expectations of what you think the day(s) should be like; you focus rather on appreciation of what you have.

It's easy to get wrapped up in anxiety and nerves when you bring a child with challenges to new situations with less routine. Our expectations are that everything will go perfect and our children with behave. But what if, this year, instead of relying on expectations, we instead find our appreciation for our family & our amazing children.

What have they accomplished this year that surprised you? What makes them laugh? What do they do that makes you smile?

There is so much to appreciate in this one beautiful life. Bring your focus there....always. "Where focus goes, energy flows"

Happy Thanksgiving & Happy Holidays to you and your family from me & mine 🙂

#happythanksgiving #appreciation #energyflows #soecialneedsparenting

Vestibular input is one of the core elements of se

Vestibular input is one of the core elements of sensory integration therapy. Our bodies’ vestibular system is the sensory system that provides the primary input about movement, balance, spatial awareness and positioning. It (along with the proprioceptive system) helps us prepare our posture, maintain our balance, properly use our vision, calm ourselves and regulate our behavior. The vestibular system is housed closely to the visual & auditory systems making them all affect each other.

All three systems must combine together for effective learning, behavior, and attention/focus. When one area of our sensory system is "off" either hyper- or hypo-active, our ability to understand the world and our body in space is affected -- affecting everything from social interaction, to higher-level learning, and eye contact.

The most effective treatment includes a therapeutic plan that includes ALL elements needed to stimulate multiple senses, foundational reflex work, and hemispheric integration. Doing just one treatment that is aimed towards improving a symptom (such as vision exercises alone for visual perceptual challenges, or listening program alone for auditory processing) does not work -- this is where individuals do not get lasting benefits. And parents jump from treatment to treatment, doctor to doctor, hoping this *next* treatment is the answer.

You must incorporate therapeutic activities that engage the horizontal access as well as the vertical access. Which means working the top-down approach (primitive reflex integration + hemispheric sensory input) and right-left approach (hemispheric integration or balance between right/left hemispheres). It is a treatment such as the above when we see real, lasting changes.

If you're curious whether your child has symptoms of an under- or over-reactive vestibular system, check out our blog post: http://www.brainconnextherapy.com/the-under-reactive-vestibular-system/

Our Online Primitive Reflex & Brain Integrations Program teaches you how to incorporate both the horizontal and vertical development with therapeutic actvities that can be done at home. P.S. Our biggest Black Friday Sale is happening this Friday!

Today at 12:30 PM MST we’ll chat about why your

Today at 12:30 PM MST we’ll chat about why your child’s learning challenges (memory, reading, attention, math, focus, organization) can be the result of an underdeveloped nervous system. 🧠
Join us over on our Facebook page!

I often get asked how primitive reflex integration

I often get asked how primitive reflex integration will benefit my child. What if they are already coordinated and good at sports, but have sensory issues? What if they are "typical" but have trouble reading, like dyslexia? What if they were born with delays and are so far behind their peers? What if the doctors have told me reflexes integrate and there is no need for the treatment?

The amazing thing about primitive reflex integration lies in its ability to create a strong neurological foundation so your child can achieve their optimal function. When we look at the Pyramid of Development & Learning (second picture), where your individual child has delays in the middle & upper parts of the triangle will differ from another child. Some have behavior challenges, others have visual-motor challenges, and still others have academic struggles.

No matter where your child's development has a gap, ALL children need a strong neurological foundation, created by reflex & sensory integration, to fill in the gaps in the upper part of the triangle. This is why ALL children with delays in sensory or motor would benefit from primitive reflex integration. Then, once the reflexes are integrated, treatment becomes individualized to skill development of wherever your child lacks. After reflex integration your individual child may need more support with reading, or vision therapy, or coordination.

Most mainstream therapies start at the middle & upper part of the triangle; leaving the neurological foundation with gaps. Your child does not need to struggle. You do not need to spend countless hours in a waiting room just to see nominal improvements every year. There are things you can do at home to accelerate their learning, skills, and development. We want to help your child achieve their UNIQUE POTENTIAL.
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#primitivereflexintegration #reflexes #integration #sensory #processing #disorder #autism #developmentaldelays #spd #adhd #hyperactivity #cp #occupationaltherapy #virtual #brainconnex #learning #dyslexia #homeschool #treatment #therapy #brain #movetolearn #movementbased

Researchers have demonstrated over and over that c

Are you & your child living in alignment with natu

Are you & your child living in alignment with nature? Or does your family live the "indoor lifestyle?"

When we experience nature -- whether that's hiking in the middle of the woods, or hanging out in a treehouse -- our brain is able to re-set, rest and take a break.

Now more than ever our children need to get back to their roots -- and live more in alignment with nature. An indoor lifestyle is plaguing our society and it has lead to the most teen suicides ever, more depression, anxiety & stress, and lack of socialization & community.

Our brains were built to survive through community and connection with others. The brain needs to experience life through movement and different sensations to build new neural pathways -- and interacting with nature is one of the best ways to do this!!

Imagine the sensations you experience when you are walking through the woods --- wind and sounds of birds, squirrels, and other animals; movement of the leaves in the trees; the crunch sensation of walking through rocks & leaves & pine needles; the smells of pine trees and fresh air; vestibular & proprioceptive sensations as you navigate over uneven surfaces.

There is so much our body learns while in nature. Sensory systems are engaged and the entire body is connecting with our roots. When our brain is not inundated with information (which happens so much with social media, screens and t.v.) we are able to be creative, think clearly, and have an imagination!!

"Scientists are beginning to find evidence that being in nature has a profound impact on our brains and our behavior, helping us to reduce anxiety, brooding, and stress, and increase our attention capacity, creativity, and our ability to connect with other people."
https://ed.gr/c0ui3
#braindetox #yourbrainonnature #nature #optoutside #autismandnature #brainconnex #autismparenting

Researchers took 30 boys that were having problems

Researchers took 30 boys that were having problems with learning, reading, and inattention. They tested their vestibular ocular reflex (VOR), of which 22 boys had an abnormal test. They split the group with an abnormal VOR into either a 30-day aerobic exercise group, or a 30-day vestibular stimulation group.
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Spatial perceptual scores were taken before the treatment, and after the treatment. After 30 days the boys in the vestibular exercise group made significant gains in speed of processing and spatial perception.
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For boys with problems in learning, reading, inattention, and vestibular function, a vestibular exercise program complementing a traditional or special educational program may enhance the spatial perceptual skills needed for reading.
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If you know your child's vestibular system is dysfunctional -- whether they are hyper- or hypo-senstivite to vestibular information, implementing a daily vestibular program is helpful. You'll want to use multiple different vestibular inputs throughout the day for short durations (15-30 seconds). Give your child at least 5 minutes between each stimulation. For a specific treatment plan for your child, reach out to us for a virtual appointment.
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#reserach #interesting #vestibular #stimulation #sensory #reading #inattention #focus #learning #behaviors #boys #adhd #hyperactivity #autism #asd #spd #occupationaltherapy #brainconnex

The natural state of ENERGY is MOVEMENT. Movement

The natural state of ENERGY is MOVEMENT.
Movement gives us our ability to be creative, think, solve problems, control impulses and connect to others.

When your child displays symptoms such as aggression, irritability, emotional instability, hyper-activity, or anxiety....they need to move. They need to move that energy from their body.

Our children are suffering. Research done over 10 years ago showed that children spent on average 7.5 hours/day on electronics --- and today I guarantee it is far more with many children online for schooling. This leaves less and less time for physical activity, outdoors, and free play.

Nearly 1 in 3 children has anxiety/depression, and nine million children are considered overweight or obsese. Humans are not meant to be stagnant. WE ARE MEANT TO MOVE.

It is our job as parents to model and direct the behaviors that will provide our children with a lifestyle that promotes health physically & mentally. We have the power to change these depressing trends in society.

A few tips to get your child moving:
1) Move Daily Together. Grab your shoes and go for a run. Head to a grassy field and throw a frisbee or play catch. Go to the playground and create obstacle courses.
2) Move Outdoors. Studies show that just five minutes of walking in nature improves mood, self-esteem, and creative thinking; builds stronger bones; and improves cardiovascular functioning. Pretty amazing! Go for a hike, bike ride, fishing, or skipping rocks.
3) Create an Indoor Gym. Many of us are not in areas that allow generous movement outside. That is not an excuse. Buy an indoor trampoline, a tunnel to crawl through, and a balance beam. Create obstacles and have fun daily using the equipment.

And P.S. this advice goes for the adults too. We sit more than ever with jobs in front of computers and an indoor lifestyle. Every day make it a point to opt outside to move the stagnant energy from your body. You'll feel refreshed, reenergized, and you'll be modeling a healthy lifestyle for your children.

#optoutside #kidsmentalhealth #sensoryprocessingdisorder #madetomove #meanttomove #energy #natureandautism #sunshineandvitamind

#WHYWEDNESDAYS Today, Wednesday November 18th, we

#WHYWEDNESDAYS
Today, Wednesday November 18th, we will be LIVE on our Facebook page (facebook.com/brainconnextherapy) where I'll be chatting about WHY PRIMITIVE REFLEXES SOMETIMES DO NOT INTEGRATE! Join me live today at 1:30 PM MST 🎊
Every Wednesday I'll be coming at you live answering a new question about primitive reflex integration, brain hemispheric integration, brain training, and a brain optimized lifestyle.
Join me! 🙌

The cerebellum is a key structure not only for sen

Primitive reflex integration is definitely the mis

Primitive reflex integration is definitely the missing connection most treatments do not provide, but after reflex integration comes the need to engage and connect the cerebellum in order to keep the reflexes integrated and continue to develop essential skills of balance, coordination, visual-motor, attention/focus, etc.
Once reflexes are integrated younger children (approx 4 & younger) will automatically do the movements necessary to continue to develop and balance all areas of the brain....that is if they are allotted free play & outdoors time vs screens & desks.

For school age children and older that are still integrating primitive reflexes, they will need higher level brain training during and after reflex integration to continue the connections and balance.

Older children are bound to sitting more than younger kids and rarely run around on playgrounds or play "tag" anymore. They end up on screens and doing more seated school work. We need to provide them with more opportunity to continue developing the brain.

Imagine what is happening sitting at a computer or a desk majority of the day.....our eyes don't have to focus in different areas or converge/diverge as much. Our vestibular system isn't being challenged as our head remains in the same position. Our posture and alignment of our body decreases and not in the best position for oxygen/blood flow to the brain.

Now, in the "natural" world we are moving most of the day. (this almost seems like a fairy tale now-a-days!). Our body is moving through space, stimulating the vestibular & proprioceptive systems; standing upright to engage our posture; and visual system is looking in all directions as it scans the environment.

By having too much screen time, you are training your body, posture and senses to have an unnatural mental and physical relationship with the natural physical world. When you walk from one place to another your eyes and your body’s postural systems work together to find, focus, converge and identify where and what you must do to move efficiently through space.
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This is why our program is unique....we provide that brain training needed for the school-age and older children who are

Are you and your children suffering from brain fat

Are you and your children suffering from brain fatigue??
2020 has been a doozy of a year for all of us. We are stuck on screens for hours on end each day whether its for school or work. We have less exposure to friends and community as we are staying home more. We are being pulled in multiple directions as parents -- helping with online schooling, homeschooling, and working. And depending on where you live, you may have less time to be outdoors.

Brain health is essential for our bodies to stay healthy and our mood to stay happy. It's also extremely important if you are working to create neurological change for your child. Below you'll find a few tips on how to combat brain fatigue....

1. Limit technology: okay I know this one is hard right now. But you can do it. Screens have a negative effect on our right hemispheric function. Too much technology can impair short-term memory, attention span and focus. Becuase we are on screens for school & work, limit or completely take away screen time outside of those hours and use it only on weekends. Opt for phone calls instead of zoom calls, and have your kids play board games & read paper books instead of on screens.

2. Move daily! Grow your brain with exercise. Movement helps to increase growth of BDNF, a growth and protective hormone that supports brain cell function. Moving daily will help with concentration, attention and focus. Do it as a family! Get outside on hike, run, or walk. Play a game of catch or frisbee. Get creative. We all need to move and can make it fun at the same time!

3. Nourish your Brain. Your brain works best with good nutrients such as healthy fats, fruits, vegetables, berries, and whole grains. Healthy fats fuel our brain, infuse our cells with energy, support our immune system, balance our blood sugar and give us the mental clarity we need to focus throughout the day. Make sure you and your kids are getting healthy foods that maintain mood and improve the function of the brain.

4. Shred the Inflammation. "Inflammaging" is a funny term used by Dr. Mark Hyman to explain that inflammation in our brain and body ages us faster. If we want to use our brain at its highest function we need to ditc

Did you know in a study of 480 children with autis

Did you know in a study of 480 children with autism spectrum disorder ages 2-19, that 86.7% of the them had reflex patterns in the dysfunctional level; 13.3% had reflex patterns in a low level but with low development and 0% of them had reflex patterns in the normal range.

This study shows that all children with ASD have some sort of reflex pattern that would benefit from primitive reflex integration.
A child whose foundation in primitive reflex movement & senses are not fully integrated will have trouble with higher level skills such as learning, attention/focus, coordination, balance, speech, auditory processing, and more.

Altered muscle tone regulation, or muscle disharmo

The ability to use our pre-frontal cortex, our “

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