The Speech and Feeding Clinic

08/23/2024

I see so many posts about handwriting issues on reflex integration sites or parent support group sites.
Let me be clear - hand writing issues, do not resolve with hours of handwriting practice. I know. I taught handwriting for 20 years!

Handwriting issues are a combination of poor integration of hand reflexes, as well as near visual processing issues.

I wrote a blog about the hand reflex aspect years ago, on my website.
https://rallsrmt.co.uk/how-are-reflexes-linked-to-handwriting/

One thing I give to all my clients from Day 1 is a hand massage. This is because the neural pathways to the brain, are some of the longest in the body and the myelination will take a long time to strengthen.
The nervous system functions with sensory input in, and a motor response out.
So, if the brain is not regulating something well, we need to up the sensory input. Then motor control starts to improve.
The question always comes back to what is the muscle tone really like, in the hands? How much does the brain truly understand how to regulate the muscles in the hands? Just because we use them every day, does not mean those neural pathways are well connected yet.

02/25/2024

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=811203637690158&id=100064015875145&mibextid=cr9u03

What are Primitive Reflexes? The primitive reflexes help form the basis of our neuromotor system. If they are unable to integrate into our system some of these symptoms may result. (see picture)

Learn Reflex Integration with Dr Masgutova. Dr. Masgutova is a world-renown expert on reflex integration and neurodevelopment. She is the originator of the MNRI® / Masgutova Method®, a comprehensive set of programs that focus on sensory-motor reflex system integration. Dr Masgutova is teaching for the first time in the UK this April 2024. Places are limited!!

MNRI Dynamic and Postural Reflex Integration
Dates: 2024, April 22-25 (4 days, 32 hours)
Instructor: Dr Svetlana Masgutova

The Dynamic & Postural Reflex Integration course provides the foundation to understand the importance of primary motor reflex pattern maturation, why a reflex might not be integrated, the impact a non-integrated reflex can have, and the MNRI techniques designed to assess and integrate reflexes.

Find out more & book today >> https://mypear.media/product/2024-april-22-25-dr-masgutova-uk/

MNRI Archetype Movement Integration
Dates: 2024, April 22-24
Instructor: Isabelle Renard-Fontaine

Archetype Movement Program techniques work to activate and engage archetype movements that, for various reasons, have remained dormant in the body. Archetype movements, less complex in nature than motor reflex patterns or schemes, are among the first reflexive movements to develop and emerge.

Find out more & book today >> https://mypear.media/product/2024-april-22-24-masgutova-method/

07/08/2022

You are not alone 💜

05/18/2022

Shared from another source:

To the mom running her child to ABA therapy while her friends are driving their children to soccer practice, you’re not alone.

To the mom carrying around a PECS book, you rock!

To the dad avoiding milestone conversations with his friends because his child is years behind, your child is perfect just the way he is.

To the mom embarrassed by her son’s screams at the grocery store, I’ve been there too – yesterday, actually.

To the mom on her computer researching what kind of therapy is best for her child, your child is lucky to have you as his advocate.

To the dad afraid of taking his child to a restaurant, park or any kind of public place, I know – it’s difficult.

To the mom still mourning the dream of taking her son to the cinema or baseball practice, it may not happen how you pictured it, but it will.

To the dad feeling silly because he celebrated when his son said “buh” for bubbles, every single victory is worth celebrating. Open up that champagne!

To the mom holding in her tears after another therapy report that makes her feel like her child is not progressing, don’t lose hope!

To the dad wishing his daughter would talk, me too – you’re not alone.

You are not alone!

When you feel hopeless… when you’re struggling to keep going, remember that you’re not alone. When you feel like nobody notices you unless your child is screaming… when you’re wondering how you’re going to do it any longer, I want you to remember that you’re doing an amazing job. You love your child – you’re doing the best you can. When you feel like nobody understands what you’re going through, remember that I do and there are a lot of us out here.

It’s okay to have bad days – we all do. To all the moms and dads out there who are trying their hardest to give their children the best life possible despite the circumstances, you are amazing and your child knows it even if he/she can’t say it. Here’s to you!

05/16/2022

Therapy can help with this!!

https://ilslearningcorner.com/2016-01-primitive-reflexes-the-answer-behind-w-sitting-and-how-to-fix-it/?fbclid=IwAR1J4z5T9-_NCOpg-xN7J_3XaO5eAb-hcldm9cjykzdNMy5zkXor9lkJSxQ

Primitive Reflexes: The answer behind W-sitting and how to help your child fix this position for better learning in the classroom.

01/31/2022

Yes!!!! Use a straw and if you don’t know how to teach straw drinking early, check with me!!!

☹️Sadly, the packaging on that spouted sippy cup is not telling you the truth. Any cup with a spout (not a short straw) is a bottle.

🍼We need to wean kids off the bottle at shortly after their first birthday. What helps with the weaning process is to first teach straw drinking and coincide that with introducing an open cup. What does not help, AT ALL, is introducing a spouted sippy cup.

😳Those spouts cause kids to jut their jaw forward and the tongue follows right along. We need the
tongue to learn to BACK UP, RISE UP and develop a mature swallow pattern.

👶🏼Babies at 6 months are swallowing with a forward-backward motion, like drinking from a bottle.By 12 months, a more mature pattern should have developed where the tongue stays in place or even move a smidge back and then rises up to swallow while pressing on the ridged spot just above front teeth. The tongue rises, pushes and propels back the food.

🍼🛑🍼But if jaw and tongue are prevented from developing that pattern, it also can change facial
development! Over time, when kids continue to suck this way, the palate will get higher and more narrow and the face will begin to elongate, pulling the outer “wings” of the eyelids downward , creating
flatter cheeks and changing that beautiful face!

⚠️Skip the spouted sippy cups. It’s in all my books, all my articles, all my teachings. But those darn things are still in every baby aisle, so I’m going to continue this message.

💕Caveat: Some kids with disabilities need these cups as part of their therapy program due to neurological issues. That might be why a child has one, so there are always exceptions to a rule.

Learn how to wean from the bottle - why, when, and all the problem solving in my Bye-Bye Bottles Course! 👉🏻👉🏻 https://mymunchbug.com/course-library/

(✨Best cups for various ages here https://www.amazon.com/shop/mymunchbug ✨)

✨TIP✨ Use code MYMUNCHBUG10 for 10% off courses! 🙌🏼

01/11/2022

Here is a very good explanation of the vagus nerve- and why reflex integration works!
Reflexes interact with the Vagus Nerve and when we can reset or integrate the reflexes, we affect the vagus nerve…which affects speech and swallowing 🙂

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/vagus-nerve?fbclid=IwAR28IWXu_bdHe6ICK7X43nf8Ud3HFEKcGxtdgcyvYpSDr2FETG3ajA5UP14

The vagus nerve, the longest nerve in the body, originates in the brainstem and extends down into the abdomen. It monitors and receives information about the functioning of the heart, lungs, and other internal organs so that you can focus attention on other matters.