Posts Tagged ‘learning disability’

Happy New Year!

 Little Giant Steps has the fortunate history of seeing children, teens and adults leave behind their  struggling with learning for almost 2o years.  We are very blessed to work in a field now called “neuroscience” of which we’ve called “neurodevelopment”.  The good news for this year and all of the years we’ve been helping families, is that we get to see the potential realized in their children along side the parents.  Getting the brain and body’s connections functioning efficiently is a matter of doing what was missed during early development.  Yes, there is a discipline one must follow in order to accomplish that goal, but it is very achievable!

Please take a moment and read some of the histories of those with whom we’ve worked.  Then make a New Year’s Resolution that this year will be the year to set your child free from learning disabilities!  God bless you and yours in the coming year.  Thanks and much gratitude to all those who support Little Giant Steps and our sister non-profit agency, Steps of Hope.

Since the weekend is coming, we are going to share with you some cold hard facts about the results of our Neuro-Educational Programs and the results we see in just four (4) months of doing the program right at home with the supervision of their parents.  It’s really remarkable!  We hope you’ll take the time to really study these results.

The following test results are raw data from client files. All received a battery of preliminary tests upon admission. The tests establish baselines on educational grade level functional abilities. All received a neurodevelopmental evaluation and an individualized plan was written by the neurodevelopmentalist. All programs were executed by the parents after being trained in specific activities on their child’s individualized program, with the exception of adults participating on the program. This report also shows the educational grade level scores after four months on the recommended program via a repeat of the same battery of tests. Parents following initial training, were supervised via follow up calls. Support was available at all times. LGS cannot guarantee programs were followed as recommended, but tracking sheets were used to help parents stay on schedule. Many clients continued the program, and completion scores for those are listed, as well. Both males and females participated.

7.11 to 8.8 years of age

8.10 to 9.4 years of age

9.8 to 10.4 years of age

10.6 to 11.11 years of age

11.11 to 12.2 years of age

12.2 to 13.2 years of age

13.3 to 14.11 years of age

15.0 to 20.5 years of age

54 and 55 years of age

  After Three Months On LGS Neuro-Educational Program

 Little Giant Steps knows the value of having a child who seemly has no self-control, despite the effort and good parenting that has been a part of his up-bringing, become a “normal” kid.  We also know a child will often mis-behave when his processing abilities are low, his brain is disorganized, or mixed dominance is going on due to the fact they have a few gaps in neuro-efficiency or neurodevelopment.  If you see the symptoms, then know there is a way to treat them without drugs or expensive intervention.  It’s a matter of development, and that is an opportunity for you to educate yourself and then get busy learning how to help change your and your child’s life for the better, just like this mom did!”  

“Kyle (age 9) has settled down a bit and really good news. We spent over 3 hrs getting our cells phones changed out and he didn’t do any of the personal body space invasion or intense attention getting antics he usually does when we are in a public place. He was just your typical bored 9 year-old. Woop woop! Thanks for everything!”

Listen to this parent’s experience with their son following the implementation of the Little Gaint Steps‘ Neuro-Educational Program. After just a few short weeks on program, one mom wrote the following in an email: 

“We are already seeing progress! Edward (age 7) is looking us in the eyes when he talks to us and when we talk to him! This is huge, because this has been a point of frustration for years. We always assumed that he was more interested in TV or toys than looking at us, but apparently not. I was shocked the first time I called his name and he looked right at me a couple of days ago instead of looking off to the side. We have not changed anything other than adding his LGS program to our routine, so it is clear that the program is responsible for the change.  Thank you, LGS!”

 Parents Often Underestimate The Difference They Can Make!

Little Giant Steps has been working with families for over 20 years showing them how they can be the “game-changer” when it comes to helping their child through math or reading difficulties.  In fact, over these many years, Jan Bedell, The Brain Coach, has been developing programs that not only help a child grasp the concepts of math, but work at helping the child process information much better.  A Neuro-Education Program, whether it’s addressing functional issues found in ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Sensory Disorders, PDD, Down syndrome, or Special Needs, works on the foundation of learning at the root causes in the brain!  If the brain is not organized, and neuro-pathways are not complete, then the child may show signs of some or all of the learning disabilities mentioned above.

 Learning Disabilities or Difficulties Are Not A Life Sentence!

 Here are some parents  telling of their experiences who have taken advantage of our in-home programs (Developmental Foundations (5-Adult), Early Learning Foundations (2-5 yr.),or who’ve  had an Evaluation with Individualized Programs:

“When I was asked to use one word to describe my experience with Little Giant Steps, I said, life-changing. When our daughter started the program, she was highly frustrated, emotional, and her attention span was terrible. The only way she could focus on school work was in a totally quiet environment. She wanted to help and follow instructions but could not remember. She was also hyper-sensitive, we had to cut out all tags from her clothing. Megan improved two grade levels in math, word recognition and comprehension in one year.“  T.E., Plano, TX

“My son was 10 years old, in the 4th grade and having problems at school (and other places), becoming too emotional in class and causing problems with off-task behavior. When he did get really upset, it took him a very long time to calm down. He was brilliant at some times and totally absent-minded at others; having trouble recalling what he had mastered the day before. Focusing on tasks for 15 minutes was a real challenge and his work required constant supervision for him to complete assignments. He longed to play with other children but would withdraw when playmates were around. He was hypersensitive to touch and had trouble controlling his hands. There were other issues as well.

We took our son to an Educational Diagnostician and a Pediatric Neurologist. Both professionals agreed he was a bright child with mild ADHD. One advised medication and the other did not. Then, I heard a talk given on neurodevelopment and what kinds of problems it can correct. It was as if they were talking about our son. We had our son evaluated and began a Program of Neurodevelopment. By the end of 6 weeks, he began to be able to skip; he had never been able to do this. By the end of four months, he was going to the principal’s office less than once a week, before it had been 2 — 3 times a week. By the end of the school semester, at about 5 months, his interaction with his peers had dramatically changed and he was not so solitary as before.

During the summer, he surprised us by swimming in a straight line across the pool (without any coaching). In summers past, he always swam in a curve, since one side of his body would not do what the other side would (3 years of swimming lessons had been unable to correct this). This year, in the 5th grade, we have seen steady progress. Our son can now stay on task for hours a time and can remember much better what he has learned. He has not been to the principal’s office once!  This Neuro-Educational Program really works! Everyone is a lot happier at our house these days. Neurodevelopment is an answer to prayer.  Grateful in TX.

 In Just A Month, I Can See A Difference!

“I have been so excited to see how Jason has improved in his ability to interact, remember and even pay attention after just a month on the Little Giant Steps Neuro-Educational Program!

We are playing the processing games and doing the crawling activities that are on the program and working with his eye tracking and it seems to be producing such fast results, it’s hard to describe!  He seems more content and not so frustrated at every little thing.  At first, I thought it was just that he was getting more attention from me, which can never hurt, but it’s more than that.  He actually seems to be thinking differently and is not so impulsive and jumping from one extreme emotional state to another as much.

I believe we may be seeing the “brain organization” you were talking about and I just wanted to tell you we are so grateful we found Little Giant Steps and your programs. Our whole family is amazed with some of the things he’s saying and noticing, which would never have happened before.  In fact, his siblings tried to avoid him, because of his foul moods.  All I can say is a big “THANK YOU”!  We finally are seeing the son we knew was there, but couldn’t gain access to!  God bless, Jason’s Mom.”

Note: While Little Giant Steps is delighted with the progress Jason has made in such a short time, we cannot predict how long it will take for the body and mind to respond to the Neuro-Educational Program. Each child is different.  It really depends on the status of incompleteness the neuro-development is at the time the program is instituted and how faithful the family or tutor is to the program.  It sounds like much of Jason’s neuro-connections were ready to grow, and the program is finishing the job.  He’s gone from what seemed like a brain working on a dial-up connection to one with high-speed connections. We call it “neuro-efficiency” and that is what we pursue with all of our clients ~ an organized brain and neuro-efficiency!  That’s how learning becomes easy! Life becomes much better!

 One Word To Describe Experience with Little Giant Steps

“When I was asked to use one word to describe our experience with Little Giant Steps (LGS), I said, “Freeing!” I knew Joseph was smart.   He had a hard time focusing and when he did math, he jumped all over the page. It took him hours to get school work done. Also, he would have little bursts of frustration with his brothers and was hard to reason with. I was tired of always having to keep my eye on him and everything.

After the improvement  in his brother’s life (from the LGS Neuro-Educational Program), we decided to have Joseph join the program. Joseph really took the initiative and work up early and did his hour of therapy before his other school work. It has been very freeing to see him change.  At completion he is reading  at 10th grade level.  He is actually enjoying Algebra and he can focus and complete his work twice as fast.  He doesn’t skip around anymore.  I do not have to check on him constantly and he is trustworthy to get his schoolwork done.  He gets along much better with his brothers and will actually reason out situations.  He is much calmer, yet fun and still our comedian . R. Bradley, TX

  Infants Sitting Upright Most of Their Waking Hours = Developmental Gaps

 I learned the hard way about this.  I was a germ-a-phob (frightened of having too many germs around my children). Therefore, my son spent very little time on the floor where he should have had the opportunity to strengthen his muscles, establish strong efficient neuro-pathways between his brain and body and help map the brain as to the location, locomotion, and responses of his limbs and mobility of his body.  Thanks to the Neuro-Developmental Approach, (a methodology Little Giant Steps has implemented for thousands of children with learning issues) my son’s brain and body were brought into alignment as God intended and his future became very bright and still is today!

Without the pressure, tactility, experience of temperatures, textures, and all those experiencial factors being practiced each day, he was left with gaps in his development.  He was bright, but unable to do things like tracking sentences with his eyes. Color within the lines. Coordinate movements.  His brain was very disorganized as was evident when he talked and of course his constantly loosing his stuff and creating messes where ever he landed for ten minutes.  Even developing either his right or left handedness was still up in the air by the time he was ten!  Yes, his developmental status was leaving him in a dysfunctional position with his school work, trying to read, write, and achieve what he was capable of intellectually.

Sitting upright in swings, car seats, high chairs, etc. does not allow those little toes to push against the hard surface.  Nor, do the arms, elbows, hands, and fingers experience the weight of the body and the pushing up, which is crucial in developing the muscles that will allow the child to bring their heads up so the development of sight gets off to a good start.  It’s a cascading effect on physical and cognitive development and each year the child gets further behind if no intervention is implemented.

What Is The Solution?

The solution if you see them struggling with organizing their thoughts, struggling to remember, muscles being weak, reading and tracking objects with their eyes, comprehending, failing at phonics, is to get your child evaluated, put on a neurodevelopmental program and pick up all the stages of development they lost due to ignorance as to the cost of leaving them in all these “gadgets” that look great, but are really best for dolls, not living, breathing, developing infants!

Here is the article that will more fully address this issue:  Teaching Babies .  But simply what is the best you can do for your new born?  Have them on a hard surface (floor so they won’t fall) and allow them to “root” and “scoot” around for as long as they will. I know it’s not as convenient for you, as you can’t see their face quite as easily as when you’ve got them in a car seat sitting on the counter, but the dividends in creating a neurologically efficient child who’s body and brain are truly in sync allows them to reach their full potential!  Don’t just think about this….Do It! Your child’s future is the most important thing you can affect positively and establishing an efficiently functioning brain that will last him/her a lifetime is worth more than gold!

There Are No Saints In Raising Children

Little Giant Steps is aware that traumatic events during early development can change to course of some areas of the brain.  We see this phenomena occur with our clients who have been exposed to verbal abuse, trauma and deprivation.  There are areas of the brain that respond to “Fight or Flight”.  When a child is threatened daily by an exposive parent who yells and hollers at them, their developing brains are impacted.  Typically, the result shows up as learning issues later on.  The trauma to the central nervous system is repairable, but a parent needs to be aware of the dynamics their behavior when it comes to younger children.

One way I can relate is, I still go ballistic over an event that is prevalent with children under age five.  What is the trigger?  Spilling drinks at the table!  Why does this send me into (as my son would say,) “The Red Zone?  I really don’t know for a fact, but I suspect it was something that sent my dad (who was no longer in our household after I was four years old) into a rage when I was little.  I have no recollection of any specific time it happened, I only remember the horrible feelings of “Fight or Flight”  he could produce in a heart beat. He had a very powerful demeanor and thank goodness I was the youngest and the only girl in the family, as I witnessed very harsh punishment occurring with my brothers. I do recall having a hard time learning anything during the tumulchuous time before he left.

I am not unique in this experience.  Whether parents stay together or divorce, a child suffers long lasting repercussions not only on an emotional level, but the development of all those connections stop when the “Fight of Flight” response is in play.  We all must be aware it is during the early years when the brain is  paring down all unused connections.  In fact, over 50% of the connections a baby is born with will be pruned from the system if left unused and what mother nature thinks is un-needed!

We All Have A History

The details of our history is not as important as the resolve to stop that vicious cycle that not only make us behave in ways we do not desire, because it has a critical impact on those little ones with whom we are to be an example.  If an adult is out of control, then the child will emotionally close down, but also learn to pattern his or her behavior after what they experience.

Several Ways To Go

First, just stop!  Counting to ten can be very helpful to get past that initial flash of rage, which most likely is way out of proportion to the incident and for the child.

Next, breath at least five deep slow breaths.  Get some blood to that brain of yours so you can think, rather than just react.

Finally, use your head.  Did the child accidentally spill the glass of milk? (Or, whatever was done that has you so disturbed.) In all the times I recall my grandsons spilling things, it was never malicious, therefore the corrective action needs to reflect a solution to the accident and a discussion about how you and the child might avoid it happening again.  In fact, it’s amazing if you will view this situation as it really is:  The child has a problem that needs some help in solving.  If you take on the ownership of the problem, nothing good can come out of that…. you’ve already learned how to avoid spilling things!  Understand?

Children Are Capable Of Solving Problems, If You  Help

Recount the (after you’ve gotten yourself over your rage) what’s happened.  Even express to the child how distressed you are, if you need to.  They can handle it, because they tend not to take on other peoples problems!  Then ask them to help you. Ask how they think we can stop the spilling?  Coach them to brain storm with you over this situation.  It can move you out of the place of just being in “The Red Zone” and releave the child’s fear of you and stop with the impulse of Fight or Flight response.  In fact, this kind of constructive problem solving can turn out to be a way to allow them to express their solutions very creatively.  Once, my grandson and I drew a picture together showing the spilt milk and what we were going to do.  It didn’t look like anything when we finished this “action” drawing, but he and I were both on the same side of the situation and solving something that made “Nana hit the fan”!  Try to be creative. Move yourself and the child into a constructive bonding experience, rather than an explosion which can last a life time!

Learning Difficulties Can Be Resolved

At this time of year many of us are looking for the right costume for Halloween.  Children get very excited about “what they’re going to be this year”.  At our house, it looks like the “Caveman” costume will prevail.

As I think about children dawning masks and disguises, I immediately think about those daily challenges children with learning issues hide or cover up.  #Little Giant Steps#, a neuro-educational consulting group, is all about eliminating the need for children, teens or adults to wear a disguise about what they are able to learn or understand. In fact, there is a name for this behavior of “covering up”.  It’s called “Coping and Compensating”. 

Relying On Coping and Compensating Is Always Second Best.

There are programs out there, many grace the halls of our educational systems, that only teach coping and compensating.  Unfortunately, that is not the best solution for us today, in light of the research and developments concerning the function of the brain and body and how most learning issues can be eliminated if we address the root cause of the problem.  When I say root cause, I am talking about the symptoms that the individual displays.  How do you think our society decides on the diagnosis of learning issues? By looking at the symptoms.  Now the big brave question is; “Can these symptoms be treated at the source”?  Where’s the source? In the brain. Yes, they can and have been addressed through the Little Giant Steps Neuro-Educational Program quite easily, because we are talking about the root cause of our functional abilities, which is reflected by what happened to us as infants with our early steps of development.

What Intervention Is The Best? 

What #Little Giant Steps# has seen over the years is by utilizing the feature of the brain called “plasticity,” specific stimulating activities that mimic early developmental steps and stages can, in fact, cause the brain to become organized at the most primitive levels of the brain (the pons) and can also positively effect the mid-brain.  It allows the brain to create many new connections not only within the brain itself (that have been delayed in developing for a variety of reasons), but also establishes effective and efficient communication neuro-pathways (connections) between the brain and body. Our programs have been likened by our clients in this way, “It’s like going from a dial-up connection to high speed connections on the Internet.”  

#Little Giant Steps’# intervention methods are totally natural, no drug therapy needed, allows the areas of dysfunction and deficiency to heal or change and develop into what God had originally intended.  When a child, teen or adult reaches their appropriate level of function or grade level, the individual graduates from the program. The assist (completed development) that was needed to get the “connections” functioning properly has set the course for even more complete and total developmentally functioning brain and body are in order, as was designed by the Master of Creation.

Please see part of the thousands of children we’ve helped to become whole and reach their full God-given potential by viewing the results of our testing them on Math, Word Recognition and Comprehension.  All programs are done at ones convenience at home with parents, siblings, or (if a family prefers) with a tutor trained by Little Giant Steps.  We’ve made the whole process easy, convenient, and while you may be busy for a time, there comes a time when you’ll see your child (or maybe yourself) making progress in academics, coordination, behavior, conceptual abilities, and most important ~ you’ll see an individual who has mastered his or her abilities and now approaches the world with a healthy curiosity, and confidence to seek and enjoy the many mysteries of life and learning.  The need to disguise, mis-direct, act out, or create distractions are no longer needed. The coping and compensating that drains energy disappears. Life does not need a mask any longer.  And, as one little boy who was on program for the #symptoms of dyslexia# told his father, “Dad, I don’t have dyslexia anymore.  I’m over it!”  Now, the whole family has a new outlook on life, as what he said was true.  He no longer is required to struggle. In fact, he’s functioning above grade level! He is functioning with neuro-efficiency!  His mind and body were now working in unison, the way God intended.  It’s all a matter of  fixing developmental function for those at Little Giant Steps, and it’s the best life-long answer!

P.S. Please check out our Professional Programs and our At-Home Programs : “#Developmental Foundations# or pre-school: “#Early Learning Foundations#” . If math is the problem, see “#Rapid Recall System#” ~ you may what to check out the research done in public & private schools on this one! It’s amazing!  OH!  I almost forgot those of us over 18:  #Memory & Motion #.  God bless!