Multisensory stimulation methods
Appropriate integration of sensory information (visual, auditory or tactile) is necessary for the brain to function correctly. Deficient sensory integration will have a direct impact on the child’s motor and intellectual capacities.
Massages are very important to improve the child’s tactile sensitivity which is directly related to motricity and proprioception, but also to improve suppleness or to decrease spasticity. They also contribute to the child’s comfort and well-being, and help to reinforce the bond between parent and child.
The main role of the vestibular system is to provide us with a sense of balance and to fight against gravity. The sense of balance is often deficient in the children that we see. It is therefore important to stimulate this system in order to improve its functioning. A dysfunctional vestibular system can also have an impact on coordination and integration of sensory information. This information goes through the vestibular nuclei before being sent to the cerebral cortex, leading to learning difficulties and behavioural disorders...
Manual abilities are essential to acquire independence: eating, dressing… and require much dexterity. For Maria Montessori, it is through the manipulation of objects that the young child develops his or her understanding and capacity for abstraction. It is therefore important to let children develop their manual capacities as much as possible as this will also lead to an improvement in their intellectual capacities. These exercises are fun and adapted to the age and capacity of the child, and will have an impact on the child’s motor, cognitive and relational abilities.
Primitive and postural reflexes
At birth, all babies present with a cluster of primitive reflexes that ensure the babies survival in the first months of life. During the first year, as baby develops and the connections between the different parts of the nervous system are being reinforced, these primitive reflexes are inhibited and replaced by more elaborated responses: postural reflexes and voluntary responses. Postural reflexes control balance, posture and movement. For some children, this development is not perfect and some primitive reflexes remain present interfering with the development of postural reflexes. These children therefore have problems with balance and control of movements, this in turn will affect their coordination, lateralization, fine motor skills and lead to learning difficulties (reading, writing). This can also affect their sensory perception leading to hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity.Reflex therapy is a series of exercises that the child must perform at home on a daily basis. These exercises are chosen specifically, based on the results of a detailed and individual evaluation. The aim of these exercises is to stimulate the maturation of the central nervous system.
Montessori principles are used in many schools throughout the world. They are based on the discovery of the environment and the child’s ability to develop intellectually through their acquired experiences. This method has enabled many children to broach writing and mathematics in a simple and fun way and helps the child to become more independent in many other aspects.
Johansen sound therapy
This therapy was developed by Dr Kjeld Johansen and consists in listening to music on a daily basis for approximately ten minutes. This will stimulate the neuronal pathways between the centres for the treatment of auditory information and language centres. Some children suffer from hyper or hyposensitivity to certain frequencies which will have an impact on their behaviour and emotivity. This technique helps to improve concentration, auditory discrimination and understanding, and also the quality of speech and articulation. When it is possible, we perform an audiogram in order to provide the child with a CD that is adapted to his or her auditory profile.
Neurofeedback is a non-medical, non-invasive approach aimed at improving brain functioning. During the session, electrodes are placed on the client’s head and a computer measures the electrical activity of the brain, whilst the client listens to music. If the computer registers too great a variation compared to the normal brain activity, a micro-interruption occurs in the music and the brain will modulate its activity in response to this interruption: this is termed the feedback. After several sessions, (we recommend on average, two sessions per week for several weeks), these variations in electrical activity will reduce in intensity and frequency. Various improvements can be observed, but there is often a positive impact on concentration, attention, quality of sleep, depression, stress… This technique is very simple to use and requires no active participation on behalf of the child.
Food provides us with the energy that is necessary to compensate the energy spent through physical activity and intellectual work. Children with physical and intellectual difficulties will need more energy than a child without problems, as each task will require a bigger effort. A balanced diet with all the macronutrients and vitamins and minerals is fundamental for optimal brain functioning. This is why we also provide parents with nutritional advice for their child.