Understanding Learning and Behavioural Challenges: A Holistic Approach

 

There is never just one reason why there may be difficulties such as Dyslexia, ADHD, Sensory processing issues, or other Learning Difficulties. That's why it's so important to approach each person as unique.

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Imbalances in neuro-development, sensory processing, auditory processing, gut functioning, or our mindset/emotions can have many effects, often leaving individuals feeling overwhelmed.

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When we think of someone with learning, emotional, or behavioural difficulties, we tend to focus on their brain development. But we are missing so much more. The brain is developed by the body, senses, nutrition, environment, and movement.

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Just like a plant has a set way of growing, so do we. We develop primitive reflexes while in the womb, which enable the baby to move and descend the birth canal, and they also develop connections with the brain. Vaginal delivery also primes the immune system as the baby is exposed to beneficial bacteria. This helps confer natural resistance to environmental exposure.

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Primitive reflexes are also present at birth and, through movement, continue developing connections, laying the foundation for automatic functions like picking up a glass of water. These reflexes train the brain and body to understand themselves and make vital connections. They should integrate into the central nervous system by the time the baby is approximately one year old, allowing postural reflexes to support balance, posture, coordination, and movement. The 'higher brain' can then concentrate on learning and developing our potential.

 

There are many reasons why primitive reflexes might not integrate properly into the central nervous system. For example, a C-section birth might not provide the necessary stimulation. If these reflexes are ‘retained,’ they can create blockages to the body/brain connection, leading to anxiety, overwhelm, delays in processing skills, and difficulties with eye functioning, among other issues.

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Primitive reflexes also impact our senses. The clue is in the word 'primitive'—it is all about our most basic reactions, being on 'high alert' in case of trouble. Our senses provide information about our environment through vision, hearing, touch, taste, sound, smell, balance (vestibular system), and proprioception (the body's ability to sense its location). There is also a lesser-known sense called 'interoception,' which helps us understand what is going on inside our bodies, such as whether we are hungry, thirsty, hot, or cold.

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Individuals with poor interoception can also have trouble 'feeling' their emotions. They are not tuned into their bodies and unable to interpret their body sensations, making it difficult to clearly identify their emotions.

 

Hearing is another crucial aspect of development. Hearing problems are often considered a matter of amplitude, but the characteristics of sound and frequency also need to be addressed. The sound spectrum we perceive varies among individuals, but how a person hears can affect auditory processing skills, senses, balance, and behaviour. Hearing issues can create symptoms such as speech and language difficulties, Dyslexia, ADHD, and Autism.

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The microbiota of the gut is incredibly important. It starts with the baby picking up certain bacteria during its journey through the mother's vagina, which kick-starts certain processes in the baby's gut. The use of formula, cow's milk, antibiotics, and the lack of initial bacteria can lead to an imbalance in this internal ecosystem. This imbalance encourages yeasts and parasites, damages the gut wall, and allows the spread of toxins into the body.

 

The lack of adequate nutrition and the release of toxins lead to primal behavioral states of fear, stress, anger, and nervous tension.

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As mentioned before, we are all unique. 'One person’s food is another person’s poison' (Roman poet and philosopher Titus Lucretius Carus). Therefore, certain foods can be toxic to different people, leading to dysfunction within the mind and body. Environmental toxicity can also be a factor, especially for individuals with Autism and ADHD who are more sensitive to environmental toxins.

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Then, we have the internal dialogue that we start to learn as we grow up. Positive internal dialogue is beneficial, but unfortunately, there is a tendency to gather negative thoughts that impact the way we live our lives. These thoughts create emotions that can profoundly affect our body's processes. For example, anxious thoughts can lead to turmoil in our stomachs, affecting our biochemical processes and leading to disturbed neurotransmitter production.

 

It's clear that we need to look at the full story behind your or your child/teenager’s difficulties to provide effective support.