Re: Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

[Guest guest]

my older brother (ADHD) did this in first grade. He walked at 6 months and so

hardly crawled at all. He was jumping out of his skin in the classroom and

couldn't write at all. The school therapist had him do crawling games and I was

a baby, so my mom encouraged crawling games between us also. Made a huge

difference for my brother and his schoolwork, but he's so hyper...so it didn't

totally help with focus

Liralen

>

>

> * Video: Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

> http://www.theindychannel.com/health/25609642/detail.html

>

>

> Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

> Purdue Researcher Training Teachers In New Method

>

> POSTED: 5:03 pm EDT November 2, 2010

> INDIANAPOLIS -- Something as simple as relearning to crawl could diminish or

eliminate hyperactivity in children, a Purdue University researcher claims.

>

> O'Dell, a professor of child development, blames the behavior on

symmetric tonic neck reflex, a normal response in infants to assume the crawl

position by extending the arms and bending the knees when the head and neck are

extended, 6News' Stacia s reported.

>

> She said it disappears when neurological and muscular development allows

independent limb movement for actual crawling but can cause issues later in

childhood if not addressed.

>

> " If they don't crawl enough or properly, this reflex is going to make it

really hard for them to sit still in school, really hard for them to write and

really hard to pay attention, " O'Dell said. " It's the same behavior as ADHD. "

>

> O'Dell is working with four teachers at Immaculate Heart of School in

Indianapolis to help their students stay calm and focused in the classroom.

>

> Fifth grade teacher Parton took part in the training with student Conner

Kennedy.

>

> " He can be distracted. He can get up and be moving around the class when he's

really not supposed to be, " she said.

>

> Parton learned to guide Kennedy through a series of crawling exercises that

O'Dell said will train the boy's brain to do what it should have done when he

was a baby, without drugs.

>

> Kennedy said he found the exercises, which force him to hold up his neck, a

bit challenging.

>

> But Parton and O'Dell said they are confident the discomfort will eventually

go away.

>

> " I think this exercise will be good for Conner, just to relieve the tension

and help him sit down and stay calm in class, " Parton said.

>

> The teachers will work with four students 15 minutes a day for the next eight

months. The exercises could eventually become part of curriculum.

>

> " Next year, it could help identify other students to go through the training

to enhance their learning, " said Principal Peggy Elson.

>

[Guest guest]

My son is apraxic and has not been diagnosed as ADHD but he did not crawl much

either as a baby which I remember a number of people commenting on at the time.

But it was my first child and he seemed fine other than not crawling much prior

to walking. Is this important to do even if your child is not hyper does anyone

think? Should we do " crawling games " ? and does anyone have suggestions as to a

crawling game children around 5 or 6 would like? Kate

> >

> >

> > * Video: Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

> > http://www.theindychannel.com/health/25609642/detail.html

> >

> >

> > Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

> > Purdue Researcher Training Teachers In New Method

> >

> > POSTED: 5:03 pm EDT November 2, 2010

> > INDIANAPOLIS -- Something as simple as relearning to crawl could diminish or

eliminate hyperactivity in children, a Purdue University researcher claims.

> >

> > O'Dell, a professor of child development, blames the behavior on

symmetric tonic neck reflex, a normal response in infants to assume the crawl

position by extending the arms and bending the knees when the head and neck are

extended, 6News' Stacia s reported.

> >

> > She said it disappears when neurological and muscular development allows

independent limb movement for actual crawling but can cause issues later in

childhood if not addressed.

> >

> > " If they don't crawl enough or properly, this reflex is going to make it

really hard for them to sit still in school, really hard for them to write and

really hard to pay attention, " O'Dell said. " It's the same behavior as ADHD. "

> >

> > O'Dell is working with four teachers at Immaculate Heart of School in

Indianapolis to help their students stay calm and focused in the classroom.

> >

> > Fifth grade teacher Parton took part in the training with student

Conner Kennedy.

> >

> > " He can be distracted. He can get up and be moving around the class when

he's really not supposed to be, " she said.

> >

> > Parton learned to guide Kennedy through a series of crawling exercises that

O'Dell said will train the boy's brain to do what it should have done when he

was a baby, without drugs.

> >

> > Kennedy said he found the exercises, which force him to hold up his neck, a

bit challenging.

> >

> > But Parton and O'Dell said they are confident the discomfort will eventually

go away.

> >

> > " I think this exercise will be good for Conner, just to relieve the tension

and help him sit down and stay calm in class, " Parton said.

> >

> > The teachers will work with four students 15 minutes a day for the next

eight months. The exercises could eventually become part of curriculum.

> >

> > " Next year, it could help identify other students to go through the training

to enhance their learning, " said Principal Peggy Elson.

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Crawling is just part of it--OT helps with integrating all senses and this means

better adjustment to the environment, better focus, better learning--fewer

problems in class and at home.  Vision therapy can also help.

http://www.visiontherapy.org/

http://www.add-adhd.org/ADHD_attention-deficit.html

http://www.drbradfordmurray.com/vision_therapy.html#learning

Same thing--the brain is not developed normally--chemical unbalance, there are

often primitive reflexes left in place that should have gone away after birth in

the first few months but in those with neurological damage they can persist

indefinitely--our developmental optometrist checked for these and sure

enough--when he moved her head her arms and legs moved when on the floor sitting

on knees and elbows.  These things mean the brain gets easily overwhelmed when

sitting still trying to pay attention--if the head moves--the whole body

moves--hard to pay attention--gets hyper and starts moving even more---so OT

helps with these as does vision therapy, as does diet and fatty acids and other

vital brain nutrients.  Crawling is

just a little piece of thsi puzzle---but I can see how it helped, it's just

that so much more is needed to understand what is going on and help ADHD/ADD

kids self regulate so they can pay attention and learn--not disturb their

classmates, not have the teachers begging the parents to put them on harsh

medication that shrinks their brain.  Literally, this is what it does, plus many

other bad side effects. 

Every parent should try a combination of dietary/supplement interventions--with

a good holistic nutritionist, not just what they think, and OT and vision

therapy, along with classroom accommodations as needed before resorting to any

drugs that proclaim to " cure " ADHD/ADD. My daughter is not yet diagnosed but

that's just becuase I did not necessarily want her to be--we know what the

problems are and are addressing them naturally. The developmentla pediatrician

was ready to write a prescription for Aderal. 

We are continuing wioth the dietary/supplement interventions and increased focus

on sensory issues in OT--along with vision therapy as soon as she can do it--now

she's too inattentive. But she was also given blue tinted glasses to help keep

her focused on the page. Black on white writing is very distracting for some

kids, noises of various kinds really bother others---even if they cannot let you

know because they may or may not be aware of it.

So there's a lot to do for ADHD/ADD before resorting to drugs--which do not

really " cure " anything---just mask some symptoms while creating many others

including organ damage and worsening of neurological symptoms either immediately

or over time.  Longitudinal studies looked at MRIs of kids on Ritalin and noted

the shrinking of brain areas in kids who have been on it for more than 3-4

years. No wonder they calm down!!

All the best,

Elena

From: liralendoncov <liralendoncov@...>

Subject: [ ] Re: Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

Date: Wednesday, November 3, 2010, 10:04 AM

my older brother (ADHD) did this in first grade.  He walked at 6 months and so

hardly crawled at all.  He was jumping out of his skin in the classroom and

couldn't write at all.  The school therapist had him do crawling games and I was

a baby, so my mom encouraged crawling games between us also.  Made a huge

difference for my brother and his schoolwork, but he's so hyper...so it didn't

totally help with focus

Liralen

>

>

>     * Video: Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

> http://www.theindychannel.com/health/25609642/detail.html

>

>

> Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

> Purdue Researcher Training Teachers In New Method

>

> POSTED: 5:03 pm EDT November 2, 2010

> INDIANAPOLIS -- Something as simple as relearning to crawl could diminish or

eliminate hyperactivity in children, a Purdue University researcher claims.

>

> O'Dell, a professor of child development, blames the behavior on

symmetric tonic neck reflex, a normal response in infants to assume the crawl

position by extending the arms and bending the knees

when the head and neck are extended, 6News' Stacia s reported.

>

> She said it disappears when neurological and muscular development allows

independent limb movement for actual crawling but can cause issues later in

childhood if not addressed.

>

> " If they don't crawl enough or properly, this reflex is going to make it

really hard for them to sit still in school, really hard for them to write and

really hard to pay attention, " O'Dell said. " It's the same behavior as ADHD. "

>

> O'Dell is working with four teachers at Immaculate Heart of School in

Indianapolis to help their students stay calm and focused in the classroom.

>

> Fifth grade teacher Parton took part in the training with student Conner

Kennedy.

>

> " He can be distracted. He can get up and be moving around the class when he's

really not supposed to be, " she said.

>

> Parton learned to guide Kennedy

through a series of crawling exercises that O'Dell said will train the boy's

brain to do what it should have done when he was a baby, without drugs.

>

> Kennedy said he found the exercises, which force him to hold up his neck, a

bit challenging.

>

> But Parton and O'Dell said they are confident the discomfort will eventually

go away.

>

> " I think this exercise will be good for Conner, just to relieve the tension

and help him sit down and stay calm in class, " Parton said.

>

> The teachers will work with four students 15 minutes a day for the next eight

months. The exercises could eventually become part of curriculum.

>

> " Next year, it could help identify other students to go through the training

to enhance their learning, " said Principal Peggy Elson.

>

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Crawling has something to do with 'crossing the midline' it develops connections

between the right and left side of the brain. Think about it, you use your

right arm, left leg, left arm, right leg. Crawling creates cross connections in

the brain as you have to use the right side to move the left arm and the left

side to move the right leg and so on. Look it up, because I don't know a huge

amount about it, just that it is important. My son was a late crawler, over 9

months and still not even trying. I got down on the floor and we practiced, me

over him moving his arms and legs. It took more than a week and we practiced

about an hour every day. My husband (a former Marine) said that the recruits who

had trouble with marching in formation, also were the ones who did not crawl

much as a baby. When you march, you are supposed to swing your left arm as you

step with your right foot and vice versa.

My son is VERY hyper--most likely ADHD--but I consider that a blessing.

Children with ADD or ADHD are on average smarter. The brain is bored and jumps

from thing to thing making school hard. They are more inventive, more intuitive

and if they learn to discipline their mind--have razor sharp focus when they

focus. And you don't have to be focused all the time...only when it is

necessary. ADHD kids also have higher physical movement needs--I think there

was an article forwarded earlier this week about it. They learn best is short

burst with lots of movement in-between to slow down the body and allow the mind

to focus. They do best in hands on, also.

Crossing the midline does not change these physical needs--but if the child has

trouble with the midline, then the brain will distract instead of learning. You

have to cross the midline to write left to right and to read. If the brain

didn't develop those connections then it will distract and the child will act

out in class cause it is harder for them. Well, that is the theory as best as I

understand it, anyway.

As for crawling games, tell him to pretend he is a dog and teach him to fetch.

Or build a low tunnel and crawl through it. My son's favorite game when he is

bored in storytime or whatever is to crawl under the 'tunnel' of my legs and

then around my back and under my arms that I'm using to prop myself up with.

tell him you are a dog and he is a cat and you are going to chase him and crawl

up and down the hall. Pretend you are crawling robots and move very robotically.

Or if that doesn't work, teach him to march swinging the right arm when stepping

with the left leg and put on marching music and march around, out to the car, in

the store, etc.

Liralen

> > >

> > >

> > > * Video: Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

> > > http://www.theindychannel.com/health/25609642/detail.html

> > >

> > >

> > > Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

> > > Purdue Researcher Training Teachers In New Method

> > >

> > > POSTED: 5:03 pm EDT November 2, 2010

> > > INDIANAPOLIS -- Something as simple as relearning to crawl could diminish

or eliminate hyperactivity in children, a Purdue University researcher claims.

> > >

> > > O'Dell, a professor of child development, blames the behavior on

symmetric tonic neck reflex, a normal response in infants to assume the crawl

position by extending the arms and bending the knees when the head and neck are

extended, 6News' Stacia s reported.

> > >

> > > She said it disappears when neurological and muscular development allows

independent limb movement for actual crawling but can cause issues later in

childhood if not addressed.

> > >

> > > " If they don't crawl enough or properly, this reflex is going to make it

really hard for them to sit still in school, really hard for them to write and

really hard to pay attention, " O'Dell said. " It's the same behavior as ADHD. "

> > >

> > > O'Dell is working with four teachers at Immaculate Heart of School in

Indianapolis to help their students stay calm and focused in the classroom.

> > >

> > > Fifth grade teacher Parton took part in the training with student

Conner Kennedy.

> > >

> > > " He can be distracted. He can get up and be moving around the class when

he's really not supposed to be, " she said.

> > >

> > > Parton learned to guide Kennedy through a series of crawling exercises

that O'Dell said will train the boy's brain to do what it should have done when

he was a baby, without drugs.

> > >

> > > Kennedy said he found the exercises, which force him to hold up his neck,

a bit challenging.

> > >

> > > But Parton and O'Dell said they are confident the discomfort will

eventually go away.

> > >

> > > " I think this exercise will be good for Conner, just to relieve the

tension and help him sit down and stay calm in class, " Parton said.

> > >

> > > The teachers will work with four students 15 minutes a day for the next

eight months. The exercises could eventually become part of curriculum.

> > >

> > > " Next year, it could help identify other students to go through the

training to enhance their learning, " said Principal Peggy Elson.

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

My ADHD son hardly crawled either due to torn neck muscles (diagnosed as

torticollis after I brought him to the doctor because he wasn't able to hold his

head up- even needed support when sitting.

What I did naturally and later found out was therapeutic was that while Dakota

lay on his back I used to take his arms and legs and sing to him and move them

in time to the song making him " dance " I wasn't thinking in terms of

stimulating nerves or helping neuro connections -I was just trying to get the

poor little bruised up guy to smile (with his drooped lip) and because he had

trouble even sitting because he couldn't support his head with his neck as he

got old enough that he should be able to. I got used to it after awhile- when

he first came home from the hospital he had so much damage to his head and neck

and face I used to turn my head to cry -wipe my eyes and I only wanted him to

see me smile at him. Strangers were not used to seeing a baby that looked like

Dakota- for real STRANGERS used to look at him at cry (especially back when he

was a baby each breath he moaned like he was in pain -he probably was)

But as he got older the bruises on the outside faded but the nerve and other

damage was still very much there- so I didn't want him to know he looked like

(as my sister put it) " someone beat the crap out of him " so I would make up

songs -but back 16 years ago we still had the amazing Shari

...but one of my favorites to sing to

him and move his body was skidamarink a dink a dink (here is Bieber

singing it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-tlf79-_C4 ) and when I got to the

end I'd pull his ankles up so his bottom came off the floor a bit and end with

" Baby Dakota! " and laugh and I typically got him to smile. I had to be careful

even working with him in therapy this way because at times when he was on his

back he'd stop breathing. He was in therapy overseen by a neurologist from 2

weeks old (after being in intensive care)

When he was a bit older my Aunt Leona who had her PhD in nursing told me that it

was important to get Dakota to crawl even though he was walking and we did that

too.

Needless to say Dakota was still diagnosed with ADHD and some thought perhaps

CAPD (least of my worries- no biggie to me here!) but as Liralen just said

-bright was an understatement -tested in 3rd grade as 99th percentile and as

sharp as a whip -but yelled at for joking around, not paying attention,

fidgeting, playing with things while the teacher was talking, sharpening his

pencil, standing when he should be sitting, needing to go to the bathroom (so he

could walk around) etc. Ignorant teachers yelling DAKOTA STOP THAT! over and

over and over and over! Thank goodness we were able to help him succeed in the

cookie cutter school system in spite of that and he did had some awesome

teachers...and then he flourished. Outside of awesome teachers, being

classified as gifted learning disabled back when he was younger -there was

really no answers that we got to help other than drugs from second and even

third and forth opinions.

But we never had to go that route. For Dakota it was fish oils (1/1 ratio of

ProEFA to ProEPA and we give him between 3/3 and 5/5 today since NV but prior to

NV he was at 5/5 for years) and now NV seems to have taken him to a level we

only dreamed of prior as far as responsibility for his own work without us

having to remind him. So because of all he's gone through I like to say it over

and over and brag about the fact that in spite of all against him -including the

massive delays and issues and as a baby a prognosis that he was at risk for part

of his body to not grow, wheelchair, and even at 2 permanently MR....Dakota is

brilliant and he's got a few plans for what he's heading towards in the future,

Disney Imagineer, computer animation (like Pixar) etc -and I'm just so proud of

him! (he's 16!) It's funny I haven't worked in the toy and film industry for

years that even still he's attracted to the same path - my " miracle child " which

is what many medical doctors call him if they look at his birth records (other

than " I can't believe he was born at an American hospital " or " barbaric " are

some other words to describe it...which is why I wrote what I did about teeth

yesterday)

Early Intervention -multisensory therapies (or brain stimulation as his

neurologist Dr. Trevor DeSouza from Madison NJ put it) in addition to

traditional appropriate for the condition therapies -whole food nutrients

including all the essential nutrients (fatty and amino acids) -those are all

some of the top things in my book!

=====