Purdue Expert Touts Crawling To Unlock ADHD

November 3, 2010

* Video: 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.

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