Frequently Asked Questions
Can you help my child? Which kinds of conditions don't benefit? My son cannot coordinate his body. Will he be able to do the exercises? How long does the programme take? I don't have time to manage the programme! How much time does it take daily? How will I know my child is improving? We live a long way from you! How do we get help? How is payment made? What is your attitude to drugs, like Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera and so on? What about supplements? Is my child too old to be helped? Why does my child constantly complain of tummy aches? Will my child do the exercises? How long before we can expect to see improvements? How will I fit these exercises into my already busy day? My child is only two, but I suspect there may be issues, possibly autism. What should I do? I am not dyslexic, but struggle to attend when people give me instructions. Am I just stupid? My child is bright, possibly even gifted, yet struggling at school. What could be wrong? My 3 year old hates crowds and puts his hands over his ears and runs crying into the house when we start the lawnmower. What could the problem be? My teenager is suddenly struggling at school, and just can't seem to retain information. She has to work twice as hard as her siblings to get the same results. What is the problem? My boy just can't sit still at school. He wriggles on his chair, and jumps up at every opportunity. The teacher says I should put him on Ritalin. What can I do? How many exercises will we need to do, and how long does the programme take? Can you help my child? Conditions that may benefit from ILT's programme include un/diagnosed ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, head injury, learning difficulties, speech delay, stroke, autism and many other kinds of unspecified learning and behaviourial problems. Which kinds of conditions don't benefit? We are currently unable to work with children whose learning ability is challenged through profound physical or mental disability. We are not equipped for such specialist requirements. My son cannot coordinate his body. Will he be able to do the exercises? You can help him through the exercises by moving his limbs for him. Moving arms and legs slowly and smoothly will stimulate the sensory part of his brain and nervous system. It may be possible that he will be able to develop a greater degree of motor control. How long does the programme take? The programme consists of an intitial consultation and evaluation followed by the design and demonstration of the home-based programme of activities. Following this, we see you within two weeks to ensure that you are comfortable with the programme and then further visits are arranged at four to six-weekly intervals. Generally, we work with our clients for a period of six to twelve months. In some cases, we find we need to work longer. This depends on the individual's progress. I don't have time to manage the programme! How much time does it take daily? Usually between 15 and 20 minutes per day. This can be done in one period during the day, or the activities can be divided up so that some are done in the morning, some in the afternoon and some in the evening, for example. With some really busy parents, we find it helps if we limit the number of activities so that the programme can be done in as little as 10 minutes each day. How will I know my child is improving? Usually the first signs are in the child being able to master the activities. Other signs can be quite subtle but among those most commonly reported include a general calming, and better focus. We also get feedback from the child's school. Frequently we do a 'before and after' questionnaire to monitor progress. Lastly, because we take a video during the first session, to help you remember the programme, you have that to compare with later performance. We live a long way from you! How do we get help? If you can manage to travel to us for the first appointment, we can usually conduct further sessions through video or skype. How is payment made? Either by cash, cheque or internet transfer. A special package deal is offered, too, allowing you one free visit. Please contact us for details. GST is charged on all prices. What is your attitude to drugs, like Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera and so on? We respect the choice of our clients to use or not use drugs. We don't prescribe drugs nor do we recommend drug usage. What about supplements? We favour a healthy diet over the use of supplements. If diet is not adequate, we may suggest that clients consider supplements to top-up essential nutrients. We do strongly advocate the daily intake of essential fatty acids. We also strongly advise the elimination of artificial colours and preservatives from the diet. This can make a huge change to behaviour. In the case of clients who may be suspected of having stored toxins, allergies, viruses and so on, we would suggest homoeopathy or some other therapy in order to try and correct the imbalances experienced by the body. Is my child too old to be helped? No-one is ever too old to be helped to overcome problems with neurodevelopment or neurological conditions brought on by injury, brain trauma and so on. This is because of the plasticity of the brain. Some occupational therapists believe that children who have reached the age of 11 or 12 cannot benefit from their therapy. People of any age can benefit from ours! Why does my child constantly complain of tummy aches? Children who experience difficulties at school (and at home) frequently complain about stomach aches, headaches, pains in their legs, and so on. Why? Very often, the reason is their bodies' response to the stressful situations they have to endure every day. Thanks to our autonomic nervous system (ANS), when we are stressed, we go into what is called the 'fight or flight mode' Will my child do the exercises? The exercises are easy and fun and we do change them during the course of the programme to help avoid boredom. However, they do take commitment - from both parents and children. The younger your child, the more commitment you will need. Older children are usually encouraged when they start to notice changes in themselves. This is not a miracle cure - you will need motivation and commitment, but like anything in life,you WILL see results if you stick to it. How long before we can expect to see improvements? Each individual is unique. We often see improvements within two to four weeks, but some children take a lot longer. Every child DOES improve, though. How will I fit these exercises into my already busy day? The secret is to break them up and fit them into your family's routine; doing perhaps two in the morning, a couple after school, and the rest before bed. As each exercise takes only a few minutes, most families find this manageable. My child is only two, but I suspect there may be issues, possibly autism. What should I do? The earlier problems are diagnosed, the greater your chances are of success. We can do a brief screening, followed by a home and school visit. This will give us a good idea of whether there are learning issues, and if autism is suspected. Don't wait until your child is five. Act now. I am not dyslexic, but struggle to attend when people give me instructions. Am I just stupid? I very much doubt that you are "stupid". It sounds like you simply have an auditory processing problem. In other words, the brain is struggling to process sounds received through the ear. This can be easily treated. My child is bright, possibly even gifted, yet struggling at school. What could be wrong? It is likely that his body is not supporting him in his learning. I like to use an analogy of 2 cars-both with the best engines available in them. One is in perfect condition, yet the other has flat tires and rusty body work, broken lights etc. Would one expect the same performance from both cars? The brain is only as good as the body that carries it. My 3 year old hates crowds and puts his hands over his ears and runs crying into the house when we start the lawnmower. What could the problem be? He is sound sensitive. His vestibular system, like a door that is opened too wide, is letting in more sound than he can tolerate. This is probably as a result of retained reflexes. My teenager is suddenly struggling at school, and just can't seem to retain information. She has to work twice as hard as her siblings to get the same results. What is the problem? She needs help in identifying the underlying cause. It could be many things, but don't leave it. Problems don't disappear. They may go underground and then surface later, resulting in a total breakdown. My boy just can't sit still at school. He wriggles on his chair, and jumps up at every opportunity. The teacher says I should put him on Ritalin. What can I do? Try and exhaust other options before you resort to drugs. It is likely that his vestibular system and/or muscle tone are weak-resulting in the need for constant movement. He is not being naughty. Help him. How many exercises will we need to do, and how long does the programme take? Probably about 8-10 to start with. The program can take from 6-12 months, or longer. It is difficult to predict at the outset. Every child is unique. 
Carol Laubscher 9 Willcox Grove Naenae Lower Hutt New Zealand Ph: +64 4 567 5568 |