Traditional thinking has believed there are limits to the brains capacity. Research into neural plasticity of the brain (the brains ability to change and adapt) is greatly changing how we work with brain injuries, learning inefficiencies, sensory problems, and genetic syndromes. It can also help guide all of our children, or ourselves, to our fullest potential. While traditional thinking is “catching up” with neural plasticity, it is something that neurodevelopmentalists have been working with since it’s pioneering days in the 1940’s.

The neurodevelopmental approach is a “wholistic” approach. Rather than looking at each area of development individually it looks at all the pieces in relationship to the entire picture. The neurodevelopmental assessment evaluates where an individual is functioning compared with a developmental profile. The developmental profile shows the normal progression of development as it relates to tactility, auditory, visual, language, manual and mobility. The neurodevelopmental assessment evaluates short and long term memory, processing skills, the organization of the central nervous system and academic function (where applicable). The assessment results are combined with parental information regarding the individual’s history, health, diet and any other parental concerns. Finally an individualized program, or plan of action, is designed based on all the information.

There is hope for your child. Whether your child has received a label of Brain Injured, Autistic, Down Syndrome, PDD, Asperger’s, Cerebral Palsy, William’s Syndrome, ACC, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Learning Disabled, Dyslexia, ADD, ADHD, or any other of the myriad of labels abounding, there is hope