Throughout this professional fieldwork rotation, I have been taking a course on how to screen for lower brain underdevelopment and lack of primitive reflex integration. This course is provided by Brain Highways (brainhighways.com). I have attached a few pictures of quick reference handouts that explain the ways in which underdevelopment in the lower brain (pons and midbrain) can impact an individual. This information has been very helpful as I have completed this final professional rotation within a school district, as it seems that many children are impacted academically by underdevelopment in these areas of the brain. I take no credit for these handouts, as they were created in full by Brain Highways. These handouts are not available commercially but we are permitted to distribute certain pieces of the PDFs acquired through completion of the online course in an effort to educate others. For more information on Brain Highways, please visit brainhighways.com.
Another company called Brain Balance uses similar foundational knowledge to implement a variety of interventions aimed at facilitated brain development. They have created a chart which demonstrates the typical ages of primitive reflex integration.
http://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/2014/09/retained-primitive-reflexes-sign-brain-imbalance/
All of this information has been very helpful as I have attempted to troubleshoot the reasons that children are experiencing academic difficulties. Having this information helps one to look at academic struggles through a whole new lens. If the root cause of the problem (underdevelopment of the lower brain and lack of primitive reflex integration) is not addressed, then progress may be limited. If the root cause is addressed and paired with handwriting remediation or other academic supports, the student may progress more quickly and more efficiently.
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