The link of the ATNR retained primitive reflex to dyslexia.
A lot of children diagnosed with dyslexia have one unintegrated (‘stuck’) primitive reflex, the ATNR. This reflex should have inhibited by the time a baby reaches 8 months or so of age, but for those with dyslexia, it is usually still there. It is this pernicious reflex which messes up the eye’s ability to track smoothly across a line of writing, causing the eyes to jump at the midline, resulting in the words appearing to move and lines and words frequently being skipped over. It is also the reason why writing is so poor, as it also blocks the hand from being able to hold the pencil correctly.
The problem with a retained ATNR reflex as in dyslexia causes children to have mixed laterality – kicking a ball with the left foot, throwing a ball with the right hand etc. It is also potentially the reason for the different states of retinal development recently discovered between the eyes of dyslexics.
The Child centre method can help by targeting the retained reflexes to give the nervous system a second chance to develop. This is done through a kinesiology balance and a series of repeated ‘neurodevelopmental exercises’, done every day to inhibit the ATNR and any other retained reflexes. Following treatment, the eyes become able to track as they should, making reading and focussing much easier. (Ocular-motor exercises alone are often insufficient to improve eye functioning where primitive reflexes are still present). The writing too often improves, as it becomes easier to hold a pen and cross the midline.
For the first time, a child becomes able to access their full potential, without draining their higher brain’s resources with the need to continually compensate for a stuck ATNR primitive reflex.
How can the Child Centre method help?
The Child Centre Method is a “systematic integrated programme that allows the practitioner to firstly identify the individual challenges that each child/client faces and secondly, to create a unique program for that individual.” By training to use this unique and effective holistic therapy you will be able to help children to integrate primitive reflexes. As a result, the child will be more emotionally stable, calmer, and happier. To find out more click on full course training or book to train to.
