The Vision Development Team

07/24/2025

Activity Spotlight: Cross-Crawl Exercises
Did you know that cross-crawl exercises can help integrate the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)?

ATNR is a primitive reflex that, when retained, can interfere with reading, writing, and coordinated movement. Cross-crawl exercises help the brain create stronger connections between the left and right hemispheres — which is exactly what a child with retained ATNR needs!

👟 These simple left-right movements support:
✔️ Better coordination
✔️ Improved handwriting
✔️ Easier reading
✔️ More organized thinking

Want to see if your child could benefit from reflex integration activities? Call or text us at 440-230-0923 or visit www.sensoryfocus.com to learn more!

07/22/2025

🌟 Testimonial Tuesday 🌟

“We finally saw our child able to sit through a full class!” 💡👏

Sometimes it’s the little victories that mean the most. For this family, being able to sit through an entire class without constant movement, redirection, or frustration was huge.

With the right support and the right plan, big changes are possible. 💙

📞 Call or text us at 440-230-0923 to learn more
🌐 www.sensoryfocus.com

07/21/2025

Many parents tell us, “I thought my child just had trouble paying attention… I had no idea their reflexes could be involved!”

If you’ve noticed these patterns in your child, we can help identify the root cause. Our team is trained to assess and integrate retained reflexes—setting the foundation for better learning, movement, and emotional balance.

📲 Call or text us at 440-230-0923 or visit www.sensoryfocus.com to learn more.

07/20/2025

🧠 Reflex Quiz ANSWERS! 🧠
Did you guess correctly? Let’s see which primitive reflex may be linked to each behavior:

1. Trouble sitting still or staying focused?
👉 Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) – A retained TLR can affect muscle tone and posture, making it hard to sit still.

2. Easily startled by noises or sudden movements?
👉 Moro Reflex – This is the classic “startle reflex” that should integrate early in life. If retained, it can lead to hyper-sensitivity and anxiety.

3. Poor handwriting or struggles with spacing on the page?
👉 Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) – A retained STNR can make it tough to coordinate eye-hand movements and posture while writing.

4. Difficulty with reading or tracking lines of text?
👉 Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) – If this reflex is still present, it can interfere with visual tracking and left-right coordination.

5. Struggles with balance or coordination?
👉 Spinal Galant Reflex – This reflex affects the lower back. If retained, it can cause fidgeting, poor posture, and challenges with balance.

⸻

🙋‍♀️ Curious if your child might have retained reflexes?
📞 Call or text us at 440-230-0923 to schedule a screening or
🌐 Visit us at

The Vision Development Team is a skilled Vision Therapy in North Royalton, Beachwood, & Westlake, OH. Accepting new appointments. Call today or request an appointment on our website.

07/19/2025

🧠 QUIZ TIME! 🧠
Can YOU guess which primitive reflex is connected to these common behaviors?

👇 Take a guess in the comments! 👇

1. Trouble sitting still or staying focused?
2. Easily startled by noises or sudden movements?
3. Poor handwriting or struggles with spacing on the page?
4. Difficulty with reading or tracking lines of text?
5. Struggles with balance or coordination?

💬 Comment your guesses below!
We’ll reveal the answers tomorrow — and explain how retained reflexes might be impacting learning, attention, and behavior!

07/17/2025

How Retained Reflexes Can Affect Athletes’ Coordination 🏃‍♀️⚽️

Did you know that retained primitive reflexes can interfere with an athlete’s coordination, balance, and timing?

Athletes come to us struggling with clumsiness on the field — constantly tripping, misjudging passes, and feeling “off” despite lots of practice. After a full evaluation, we usually discover that several primitive reflexes haven’t fully integrated. These early reflexes, meant for infancy, are actually getting in the way of smooth, controlled movement.

💡 With the right therapy plan in place, including reflex integration and sensory-motor exercises, their control and coordination will start improving — and so will their confidence!

If your child is an athlete but something just isn’t clicking, it might be more than just “growing pains.”

📞 Call/text us to learn more: 440-230-0923, or visit us at: www.sensoryfocus.com

07/16/2025

Dr. Andrich and Patti Andrich welcomed their first grandchild into the world on Tuesday!

07/15/2025

Tuesday Testimonial!

“My child came to The Vision Development Team with vision therapy issues, but I had no idea her reflexes could be part of the problem too. When we started the Sensory Foundations exercises, I did them because we were supposed to—but it didn’t take long to see real changes.

Just two months in, my child noticed she wasn’t nearly as sound sensitive and could be in loud spaces much more comfortably. I saw it too—it took a lot more to overwhelm her.

Now, seven months in, we’re making huge strides. She’s so much more settled and regulated, and I sing the praises of VDT to anyone and everyone!” -JH 💙

➡️ Curious if retained reflexes could be impacting your child?
Call or text us at 440-230-0923 or visit www.sensoryfocus.com to learn more.

07/14/2025

Primitive Reflex Spotlight: ATNR (Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex)

Did you know one reflex can make reading and writing way harder for some kids?

The ATNR — or Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex — is a primitive reflex that typically fades by 6 months of age. When it lingers, it can cause challenges in the classroom and beyond.

👉 What is it?
When a baby’s head turns to one side, the arm and leg on that side extend while the opposite limbs bend — like a little fencing pose! This reflex helps with early movement and hand-eye coordination.

👉 How does it affect reading & writing?
If the ATNR isn’t fully integrated, a child’s head may involuntarily turn when they try to write or track words across a page. That makes:
• Copying from the board difficult
• Keeping place while reading a struggle
• Writing across a page tiring and frustrating

It’s not about laziness or lack of focus — it’s about the nervous system still holding onto a pattern meant for infancy.

🌟 The good news? With proper evaluation and therapy, retained reflexes like the ATNR can be integrated to help unlock better focus, coordination, and learning!

📞 Call or text us at 440-230-0923
🌐 Visit us at www.sensoryfocus.com

07/13/2025

ANSWER REVEAL from yesterday’s quiz:

If you guessed D) All of the Above — you’re right! ✅

A retained Moro reflex can show up as:
🔊 Overreacting to loud sounds or sudden changes
🔄 Struggling with transitions
😟 Heightened anxiety or emotional sensitivity

These signs can affect daily life, but the good news is — they can be addressed with the right support.

Curious if your child might have retained reflexes? Call or text us at 440-230-0923 or visit www.sensoryfocus.com to learn more!

07/12/2025

QUIZ TIME!!!!

Which of these behaviors may be linked to a retained Moro reflex?

1. Overreacting to loud noises or sudden movement
2. Difficulty with transitions or change
3. Heightened anxiety or emotional outbursts
4. All of the above

👇🏽Drop your answer in the comments!

🟢 We’ll reveal the answer tomorrow – but here’s a hint: the Moro reflex is all about the startle response!

07/11/2025

🔍 FAQ Friday
Q: Is a strong startle response connected to anxiety?

A: Yes, it can be! A heightened startle reflex—like jumping at sudden sounds or touch—may be linked to an overactive nervous system and unresolved primitive reflexes, like the Moro reflex.

When these reflexes don’t fully integrate, the body can stay in a state of “fight or flight,” making everyday stressors feel more intense and contributing to anxiety symptoms.

If your child (or even you!) seem overly jumpy or reactive, it might be worth exploring the neurological root causes.

💡 Want to learn more? Call or text us at 440-230-0923 or visit www.sensoryfocus.com. We’re here to help!