Attention, Balance and Coordination: The A.B.C. of Learning Success

by Sally Goddard Blythe, Lawrence J. Beuret (Contribution by), Peter Blythe (Contribution by)

Overview

In Attention, Balance and Coordination, Sally Goddard Blythe explores the physical basis for learning. She explains the importance of early reflexes, their functions in early development, and their effects on learning and behaviour if retained. Goddard Blythe also investigates the possible effects that these early reflexes haveon other aspects of development such as posture, balance, motor skills and susceptibility to stress and anxiety in later life.

Attention, Balance and Coordination also includes:

• a review of relevant literature in the field
• a review of the origins of The Vestibular-Cerebellar Theory
• The Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP) Developmental Screening Questionnaire, together with an explanation on how its use and interpretation
• a chapter by Dr Peter Blythe looking at the development of the INPP Method

Attention, Balance and Coordination is the most up-to-date handbook for professionals involved in education and child development, providing a new understanding of the source of specific behavioural problems.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781119964148
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	08/24/2011
Sold by:	JOHN WILEY & SONS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	440
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Sally Goddard Blythe is a Consultant in Neuro-Developmental Education, a frequent media contributor, and International Director of the Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP) in Chester, UK. She has worked in the area of neuro-development for more than twenty years and is the author of many books and papers on child development and neuro-developmental factors in specific learning difficulties. Her first book, Reflexes, Learning and Behavior (1996), provided the basic information for many professions around the world now using reflex assessment. She has since written further books on including Assessing Neuromotor Readiness for Learning (2012) and Neuromotor Immaturity in Children and Adults (2014). She is a regular keynote speaker in the areas of neuromotor immaturity and early years education.

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Table of Contents

About the Author ix

Contributors xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgements xix

1 Windows on the Brain 1

Introduction 1

Development Readiness for Education 2

What Is Neuro-development Delay? 3

What Is the Connection Between Neuro-development Delay and Specific Learning Difficulties? 4

Primitive and Postural Reflexes-the Medical Model 5

Neurological Dysfunction in Specific Learning Difficulties 7

Diagnostic Criteria, Signs, and Symptoms of Specific Learning Difficulties 9

Dyslexia-Signs and Symptoms 10

DCD (Dyspraxia) 13

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) 21

Underachievement 23

The Sensory-Motor Connection 23

Theories of Motor Control 25

2 The Significance of Primitive and Postural Reflexes 31

What Are Primitive and Postural Reflexes? 32

What Can Primitive and Postural Reflexes Tell Us? 32

The Developing Brain 33

The Emergence of Spinal Reflexes 34

Reflexes Mediated at the Spinal Level 35

Reflexes Mediated in the Brainstem 36

Reflexes as Reflections of Hierarchical Development 38

Areas of the Brain Involved in the Mediation of Primitive and Postural Reflexes 42

The Multisensory Reflex - the Moro Reflex 45

Characteristics of the Fear Paralysis Reflex 53

Moro Reflex Activators 56

Functions of the Moro Reflex 56

Physiological Response to the Moro Reflex 56

Implications of a Retained Moro Reflex 57

Symptoms of Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome (SSS) 61

General Symptoms Associated with a Retained Moro Reflex 63

Behavioural Outcomes Associated with a Retained Moro Reflex 66

3 Primitive Reflexes of Position 71

Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR) 71

Development of Head Control 74

Why Is Head Control So Important? 78

The Tonic LabyrinthineReflex (TLR) and Early Feeding 78

Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) 80

Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) 89

4 Primitive Tactile Reflexes 105

Palmar Grasp Reflex 105

Plantar Reflex 109

Rooting Reflex 114

Suckling and Sucking Reflexes 120

The Spinal Galant Reflex 122

5 Postural Reflexes 135

Head Righting Reflexes 139

Righting, Placing, and Equilibrium Reactions 149

Parachute Reflex 154

6 Use of the INPP Screening Questionnaire 157

The INPP Screening Questionnaire for Children 159

How to Use the INPP Questionnaire 161

7 Post-natal Factors Using the INPP Questionnaire 201

Schooling 224

Scoring the INPP Questionnaire 234

Research into the Reliability of the INPP Questionnaire 234

8 The Development of the Vestibular-Cerebellar Theory 239

Origins 240

Development of Balance 247

Cerebellum and Balance 247

Significance of Vestibular Dysfunction 265

Symptoms of Vestibular Problems 265

9 The Effects of Neuro-development Delay in Adults and in Adolescents 271

Problems in Higher Education 274

Vestibular Connections to the Reticular Activating System (RAS) 278

Adolescent and Adult Manifestations of NDD-a Clinical Perspective 292

10 Development of the INPP Method-from Theory to Fact 311

11 Other Factors in Specific Learning Difficulties 325

Unravelling the Threads 325

Use of Physical Tests to Assess Neurological Readiness in Schools 347

Application of the INPP Method 358

The Neuro-educator 359

Attention, Balance, and Coordination 361

Appendix 1 Screening for Neurological Dysfunction in the Specific Learning Difficulty Child 365

Abstract 365

Introduction 366

Early Identification 367

Aim of the Study 368

Method 368

Analysis of the Questionnaire as a Means of Identifying Specific Learning Difficulties 370

Analysis of Individual Questions 370

Results 371

Discussion 371

Conclusions 375

Appendix 2 Frequency Range of Vocals and Musical Instruments 379

Glossary of Terms 381

Bibliography 389

Index 411

Editorial Reviews

"[An] important book.... Provides a new insight into the source of many elusive problems which interfere with effective learning.... Highly Recommended." (SEN Magazine, January 2010)

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