A Worthwhile Journey

A Worthwhile Journey

Countless times during my career I have been asked how come the Neurodevelopmental approach is not the most common, mainstream method when it can make such amazing changes in persons of any age. The answer to this is complicated. Many things play into the reality of it, including things such as funding, politics, and especially bureaucracies. But the most compelling reason is that the plain truth is, the Neurodevelopmental approach requires dedicated, consistent, long-term specific interactions based on completely individualized functional developmental needs. In other words, it is hard work and consistency that enables us to assist people in moving forward in their abilities and development. It is not magic and it is not an overnight fix—it is an actual way of building new physical pathways and connections in a brain that then turns into beautiful changes in outward function.

Since every person is different there is no way to tell at the beginning which person will change the fastest and which one will change more slowly. We cannot predict which areas of function will change first or second and which ones will take the longest. What we do know for an absolute fact is this - If you do nothing specific—nothing specific will happen. If you provide individualized stimulation with the proper frequency, intensity, and duration change will occur and function will improve.

It is our belief that each human being is born with an innate ability to have unlimited potential. Each human being is made perfectly by our creator and there are no mistakes. And each person has complete, intact intelligence. The problems come when some insult or injury occurs that begins to block the typical channels of input needed to develop and so development gets interrupted, disorganized, or damaged along the way. Each of us has the ability to improve our function, regain our function, or develop new function. To the extent that we are not able to make change in a person, it is because of our present lack of adequate knowledge to know how to correctly impact the weaknesses. But it is never because of an individual’s lack of potential or innate intelligence.

So the question then becomes; is this journey of unlocking a person’s potentiality and function a worthwhile endeavor or not? For delayed adults each progression in function will open new opportunities and provide new choices that were not available before. Each new ability results in a person having more opportunities for jobs, more variety of employment, more independent employment, greater independent living, increased choices over their own life along with a less restrictive living arrangement, and more fulfilling personal relationships. In other words, unlocking potentiality opens up the possibilities of choices where there were none before. Is it worthwhile to begin a journey when the end result is unknown?

I liken the journey of engaging in a neurodevelopmental program to climbing Mount Everest. How many times have you heard a person talk about how they were just out taking a walk and before they knew it they accidentally ended up on the top of Mount Everest? Of course you have never heard such a thing; it doesn’t even make logical sense. Getting to the top of Mount Everest takes a long term plan and commitment. It takes daily training in the skills needed to accomplish it with minimal risk to life and limb. It takes months and years of planning and attention to the details. And what if the climber doesn’t make it all the way to the top? Is that considered a failure? What if they made it only l/2 way or 3/4th’s of the way? They have still succeeded and accomplished something that only a tiny percent of the population has ever done. And in the training and planning they have gained knowledge, skills, health, and abilities superior to the majority of the typical population. All of this to say, you do not get to your point of destination without a specific plan of how to get there, and without a vision of how it will be accomplished. If you have goals for your loved one of better function, more opportunities, more independence, improved social interaction then you must have a plan and a path of how this is going to happen. Unfortunately, hoping and wishing it will happen is not the method which provides the most consistent success. The NeuroDevelopmental Approach provides the information necessary and creates an individualized plan for progress and change.

Below are some comments and testimonials of typical adults and delayed adults and the changes they or others have noticed in them as they implemented their individualized neurodevelopmental plans.

TESTIMONIES

Young Adult Enters College:

Today because we have a marvelous praise, I
told my husband that I must write and tell you all this great
testimony.
Our 24 year old son, Robert presently at Bob Jones University is living in
the resident hall ready to start classes tomorrow. Because of advice from
his advisor we had an educational assessment done yesterday. We got the
results back today. (The tester promptly got the results back).
His scores in verbal IQ, Performance IQ and Full Scale IQ are now average in
the 45 percentile rank.
When he had the assessment done nine years ago the numbers were below
average in the 18 percentile rank.
In all areas the subtest scores improved.
We only had the test done so that Robert will receive special help in the
Learning Resource Center, but we are excited to see the results. Also
Robert hasn't been doing program for at least 9 months. There are still
issues and problem areas like processing speed, visual processing, and
reasoning, reading comprehension, and written expression.
I am convinced that ND program is the best, most efficient way to help our
children and grandchildren.
If you need more details write and ask.
Praising the Lord for His great goodness and blessings to us.
Joyce L.

Chiari Malformation causing regression in function:

The year I received my teaching degree I began to notice an increase in problematic symptoms related to my scoliosis. As part of the remedy process I tried chiropractic care, which resulted in a neck manipulation that triggered stroke like symptoms and left me with lingering balance issues along with false nerve sensations roving throughout my arms and legs (loss of sensation, false heat or cold, wet arms) and a debilitating "brain fog". Through investigating this I was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation I and after 5 years of dealing with these symptoms on my own and simply running out of options, I finally entered somewhat skeptically into a Neurodevelopmental (ND) program.
The results? Clearer thinking, marked pain management, vast improvement in balance and gait, an ability to engage proper core muscles for movement such that I experience far fewer movement related injuries and a clearer perception of the root causes of my condition such that I feel able to guide and direct my other treatment pursuits with greater insight. Not only does my ND program help me over the long term, but I can notice immediate results and can even at times derail a scoliotic flareup if I begin some of my ND activities when I notice my muscles preparing to rage. My physiotherapist feels like we are finally making progress, as my body responds more favorably to her treatments.
I had come to the point where I couldn't work much, and now, after 2 or 3 months on the program I notice I am able to do far more. I am by no means finished yet. It is a long process. But I see a light at the end of the tunnel and for that I am ever thankful.
Professionally, my ND program has provided me with new insight into some of the challenges faced by students at school. Ever a proficient reader, reading comprehension had become a huge problem for me, to the point where my work was being negatively impacted. Similarly, spelling and editing that had once been simple had become impossibly arduous.
For me, no amount of reading comprehension or spelling activities would have remedied this, but my eye patch, pinhole glasses, and other visual activities help me retain and understand what I'm reading and writing with greater accuracy. There are many avenues with which ND is able to improve a person's function. In my case, I have become keenly aware that schools need to find a way to incorporate activities aimed at targeting visual deficiencies into their kit bag of strategies if they are going to help all children succeed.
Leslie L.
Valhalla Centre, AB, Canada

Testimony From A Typical Adult Mom

Hi. I'm not very far into program, but the things that have improved are as
follows:
Better focus
Getting better at focusing with distraction
Improvement in small tasks -- One example: It used to take several minutes
for me to get dishes from the table to the kitchen sink with intense
concentration. My husband has noticed that it does not require near the
same amount of effort for me to get things from point A to point B.
Immediately after doing gross motor exercises (see saws, lizard, patterning
on the back) energy level, concentration, and thought organization are much
better.

After slow spin with eyes closed for 21 days followed by spin variety of
speeds for about 2 months, I am now able to read some in the car with no car sickness.
(note: after not doing this exercise for 3 months I have reverted)

Irritability and sensitivity to touch are improving.
These improvements follow 4 months of doing program fully and then 4 months
of doing only Samonas Sound Therapy and ear occlusion (didn't follow rest of program
during last 4 months).
I am writing this with continual whining and bickering in the background.
lol
Allison (age 40)

Adult Daughter

My daughteris 24 1/2 years old. We started working with Cyndi Ringoen, Certified Neuroeducational Developmentalist whenCarleen was 19 1/2 years old. I had been home schooling her since she was 10 years old. She was making progress but it was VERY SLOW.

Carleen has had a speech condition that noprofessional was able to diagnose, normal conversations were not possible. Usuallywe could figure out what she was saying, but a lot of the time she would give up because she had to repeat so much. Her reading and math skills were very low and it appeared she wasn't interested in learning or improving in these areas. She was very uncoordinated, had an abnormal gait,and her body muscles were very tight andstiff.

My husband and Irealized we needed to research and decide what the next step would be. I took her to Maggie Dail for testing and Maggie said she had just received informationabout anND Therapy seminar and was going to attend to find out more. I attended the seminar and a lot of whatwas presenteddescribed Carleen's behavior.

It was determined Carleen didn't hear sounds the same every time. She was using her peripheral vision instead of her central vision.

Today Carleen is much improved,we can now hold a conversation with her. I believe SamonasSound Therapy plays a major role in this phenomenal improvement. In addition, sheis seen by Dr. Cavanaugh (an Osteopathic Physician), he has been working on a restriction in her left temple, where the speech area is located.It brings tears to my eyes to think how frustrating it was for both her and us in thearea of communication. She has a wonderful sense of humor, which has manifested itself since the emergence of her language skills.

We have done vision activities on her ND programso she's usinghercentral vision, which has addressed tracking for reading. Along with hearing the sounds correctly, her reading is greatly improved. She enjoysand desires to readnow.

Math scores arecoming up slowlyand continue to improve.

Carleen's left leg was 1/4" shorter than her right. Dr. Cavanaugh was able tocorrect and her legs are now the same length. In our program we have had activities thatmassage and stimulate the muscles. This combination has resulted in a much smoother gait, her body is more relaxed and not tight and stiff. She is aware of where her body is in space and moves with much better coordination.

ND Therapy has been veryproductive. She asks lots of questionsand is continuing to make great progress for which we thank God. ND has provided the tools and skills necessary in order to interact and communicate with her family, friends, and others. In spite of my many failings, she is quick to smile and she makes us laugh daily. She has endured so much pain and sorrow in her short life; I admire her for all she has and will overcome and envy her ability to keep looking at the positive side.

The Lord has blessed us many times over and has taught our family so very much in the process. When I'm wallowing in self pity the Lord has laid on my heart that it is indeed a privilege to teach Carleen!

Peggy K.