Exam & Diagnosis
To identify the source of the children's difficulties, Dr. Winter uses a combination of neurological, graphomotor, sensory, and neuro-ophthalmological tests.
So what does the child go through?
The diagnosis begins with an extensive historical questionnaire of the child.
From pregnancy, through his first year, to the toddler years and on. As many details as possible are asked in order to put together a true picture of the story described by the parents and the environment.
In the second stage, in the diagnostic process itself, Dr. Winter will examine various brain functions, Brain-stem, Cerebellum and Cortex.
Dr. Winter will check whether the "software" that runs the brain is up-to-date or is developmentally stuck with primitive reflexes.
Dr. Winter will scan the brain lobes to check for a status where certain areas on one side of the brain function noticeably faster than other areas, thereby interfering with synchronization of attention or other circuits.
Finally, Dr. Winter will examine the child's eye movement and functions and then summarize everything for conclusions and recommendations.
Primitive
Reflexes
One of the most important things Dr. Winter is examining is the primitive reflexes.
What are primitive reflexes?
The primitive reflexes are a set of certain movements that each baby performs in their first year of life.
When you place a finger in a baby's palm, the baby's palm will close around our finger, and when he feels a stimulus around his mouth, his lips will jump to suck. It was never taught, it is reflexive.
More complex reflexes will cause the baby's arms and legs to flex or extend according to the head movements, or raise his head from the mattress to the famous Superman position.
Just like a software found in every baby, these reflexes are responsible for the baby's survival in the first year and the proper development of his brain.
These reflexes should be present in the first year of life and then withdraw and disappear, if we see them, in any way in children, adolescents or adults, that means that the brain's software is "out of date" and we have the research that points to a relationship between learning difficulties and these reflexes.
Hemispheric Imbalance
This is a term used to describe a brain activity that is greater in some parts but lower on other parts, usually we are comparing one side of the brain to the opposite side.
What that means?
We are all dominant in one side of our brain, but doesn't mean that one side can stay idle.
Think of our brain as a giant orchestra, with the best players in the world. If only few players will go off the beat, you would hear it immediately and the same goes to our brain.
Our brain is constantly transmitting information from side to the other, if there is a delay in the information transferred to a brain region, that region can not process the information on time and causing a global delay in brain function.
As a result, we can see all sorts of symptoms, depends on the brain areas. It can look like learning difficulty, lack of social skills or emotional instability, merely all human functions relay on proper brain function.
The Treatment
Dr. Winter Treatment Plan
Following the questionnaire, interview and examination, assuming the findings adds up, it is time for personal treatment plan.
The personal treatment plan is designed and tailored specifically for every child, including exercises for the Primitive Reflexes, Hemispheric Imbalance and eye movement training,
where the end goal is training the brain for optimal performance.
The treatment plan can include daily home exercises, some of them with a software and some physical exercises, as well as treatment in the clinic that amplify brain performance. There might be nutritional recommendations as well.
following six to twelve weeks into the program, there will be another assessment to determine the effectivity of the treatment and if there are any adjustments that are needed.
