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Archives for November 2016

QRI Talk Program, Heidi McLarty

QRI Talk Program

by Heidi McLarty

QRI

I have practiced as a pediatric occupational therapist for 10 years, and have had a lot of training in various sensory integration techniques as well as in methods of reflex integration. I had also completed training in the Quantum Reflex Integration (QRI) program, but up until fairly recently, haven’t had much opportunity to use it. I was interested and somewhat skeptical about purchasing the new specialized programs that have recently been offered to use with the QRI program, but one of my clients I have worked with for awhile was interested in trying out the specialized program related to Speech with me. So I decided to give it a try. Here is my story, I have been amazed at the changes that I have noticed after using this program with my client!

Danny is a 5 year, 4 month old boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder. I have been working with Danny since August of 2014 incorporating various occupational therapy techniques related to help Danny with sensory processing and self-regulation skill development. Danny was noted to be a very busy boy who had a hard time sitting to focus on activities, but instead loved to seek out all kinds of movement input through jumping, running and crashing. When I would visit with Danny, I felt it was incredibly difficult to engage Danny in any type of sit down fine motor or play activity, because he would quickly get up and move around the room. When I would try to interest him in an activity I would show him what to do and try to take his hand and encourage him to hold and manipulate things. He always seemed to make his hand go limp and would not even hold any of these items (even toys I thought for sure he would be interested in!). I wondered if he was showing some significant problems with motor planning skills and didn’t know how to use his hands to manipulate toys or understand about functional play skills. Danny seemed to be using body on body and body on object play and I did not observe him to use the highest level play, object on object play. During my visits with him and his family, Danny often repetitively threw a ball up in the air and caught it or preferred to jump on a trampoline. He did not seem to engage with anyone in his environment for very long, using fleeting eye contact and very limited and infrequent speech sounds or words. When Danny did attempt to communicate he would look briefly at someone, grab their hand or make an attempt to use some sounds or single words. Receptively Danny seemed to be able to understand directions and seemed generally aware of what was going on around him. Even though Danny seemed to understand directions and what was asked of him, he rarely seemed to respond to requests such as cleaning up his toys. He showed a limited awareness of referencing others using eye contact.
Danny’s Programs
Danny had been engaging in an intensive daily Therapeutic Listening program since mid August of 2014 to help him with sensory integration and self-regulation, and he had also been engaging in some specialized rhythmic movements as a home program from the Rhythmic Movement Training Program to further help mature his nervous system. Danny’s parents have noted positive changes in his behaviour through the use of these programs over a period of 4 months. They noted that he seemed more regulated and aware of his environment. In mid December, I had informed his parents that I had received a specialized laser program called QRI Talk and noted that I would like to try this program with Danny. This protocol involved using the QRI laser along with a special LED attachment on certain points on the body as well as using the laser to integrate 3 specific reflexes. I initially tried the protocol with Danny (running through it twice) on December 20th, 2014. During this session, I brought a small Tupperware bin with rainbow rice in it for Danny to explore while I completed the protocol with him, as his parents noted that something highly sensory like this was needed to keep him sitting for a long period of time. Danny was able to sit for a period of about 45 minutes playing with the rice, but was noted to move his body around a lot, even in sitting. I had requested the parents to take a note of any potential changes they noticed after this session. When I followed up with Danny’s parents in the New Year, they were happy to report that Danny had shown some tremendous improvements in his behaviour after the first session and that the improvements had lasted! (it had been just over 2 weeks when I contacted them). They noted that Danny was more interested in the world and what was going on around him and he was able to show more patience and better behaviour in activities like going for a longer ride in the car. They expressed interest in using the program intensively for a period of a week or so.
QRI Talk
We started using the QRI Talk program with Danny intensively after school daily for 5 days one week and 4 days the next week for a period of about 45 minutes each day. This allowed me to go through the QRI Talk program 2X each day. For the first week I brought the rice with me daily for him to play with while I used the laser. On the 7th day, I decided to move the rice away from Danny and play with some other toys in front of him. To my amazement, Danny was very interested in all of my other toys and started playing with them like I had. This was something I had never seen Danny show any interest in! He was turning small twist toys to make them work, playing with a rapper snapper tube that you pull out and push in, activating my claw toy to pick up items, feeding my toy dinosaur rice, scribbling on a magnadoodle and imitating basic lines up/down, side to side and circles, and he was noted to take buttons out of putty. His mother also reported that Danny had started eating with a spoon during the first week of the program, something that he had shown limited interest or awareness in before. For the 8th and 9th session, I engaged Danny in playing with a variety of toys, which he happily played with in their correct way. He even started engaging in playing with my marble works game with me (something he showed limited interest with in the past). He no longer needed the rice be able to sit to get the laser work done because he was interested and engaged in a variety of activities! In terms of his speech and language progression, he was noted by his parents to be repeating a lot more words and sometimes putting two words together much more frequently than before. His parents also noted that Danny seems to be saying words that sound more closely to the word he is trying to say, for example, his “good night” has become very clear and almost perfect, as compared to before when he would try to put two works together and say them really quickly such as “goonight.” He showed a dramatic increase in his eye contact and his interest in others around him, and would often look at me and smile when I was completing the laser program with him. Danny’s parents reported that this interest in others and eye contact has lasted beyond the intensive treatment protocol. One big thing they notice is that Danny is now able to react happily and playfully by smiling and laughing when someone interrupts what he is doing. For example, recently when he was playing repetitively by putting his feet into his father’s shoes, his older brother came along to have a turn to do the same thing. Danny smiled and laughed when his brother did this, as compared to before when he would have gotten very upset because his brother was interfering with his routine.
Results:
During the 2 week intensive where we completed the QRI Talk program 2X daily for 9 days (during the week days), his teacher and support staff at his school were not aware that he was engaging in a specialized program after school. I checked with them a week after completing the intensive program and they mentioned that they had recently noticed some pretty significant changes! The most significant of which were improvements in Danny’s attending skills to what was going on in the classroom as well as an improved attention to task. They noted that Danny participated more in activities with the class and needed very few prompts or reminders to do things like put away toys after finishing with them, or picking a new task to complete, or check his visual schedule. They explained that now Danny was completing a task, going to put it away and check his schedule right away, instead of wandering around the room and requiring several prompts as he required before. The school staff also reported that Danny seemed to be engaging in more functional play now with toys, rather than mostly “stimming” with toys before. He was showing an increase awareness of his peers and was using eye contact a lot more to attempt to engage his peers in play such as when jumping on a trampoline with another student. Danny was also reported to show more awareness of his own needs/adaptable responses such as covering his ears when someone else was crying (as before he was noted to not seem aware that anyone was crying and did not respond by covering his ears). Danny was also reported make a funny face and laugh appropriately at a teacher when he had made a joke! Danny was noted to be repeating more words at school as well. In addition to all of this, Danny also seemed more affectionate and cuddly with staff (which seems could have been a result of his increased engagement but also due to the fact that Danny had been in the classroom with the staff for 5 months).

After this 2 week intensive period using the QRI Talk, we took a week break before starting Danny with the QRI ASD protocol. We started using this one for 45 minutes (getting 2 runs of the protocol done each day) for 3 days the first week. Danny was noted to show more referencing with eye contact when engaging in activities and continued gains in engagement and functional play skills. His mother reported that on the weekend after starting the QRI ASD program, he was playing tag with his older brother! This was something that he had never done before! We used the QRI ASD program again 3 days the next week. His mother reported that he seemed to be showing less repeating of words lately and was questioning whether we should switch back to the QRI Talk. His parents noted that they are pleased that Danny’s changes have lasted, especially things like his improved eye contact and engagement in his world.  We are taking a couple of weeks break and I look forward to more exciting changes with this child and others!

http://www.superiortherapyconnections.com/

 

Why I Decided to Purchase

October 31, 2016

I want to share my story about how and why I decided to invest in QRI and a laser. I have had several people ask me this question so I thought I would share here…

I work full time outside of the home. I am a CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist). I work in surgery (and other areas) putting people to sleep. I have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a masters degree in nurse anesthesia. That DOES NOT make me an expert on anything that has to do with reflexes or cold laser but it is how I gained my first insight into light therapy.

I used to work in a small community hospital and I was working with a surgeon who had a particular patient with a massive wound. He kept bringing the patient back to the OR multiple times over a few weeks to wash out the wound and work on closure. After a few trips to the OR, we noticed a significant improvement in the wound in-between wash outs. We all made comments about the improvements. The surgeon told us they had started “light therapy” on the wound. Everyone was intrigued and started asking questions. He explained the light promoted healing by “regenerating cells” and “promoting new cell development”. As a parent of a child with T21, these words brought me to my feet and I appeared over my “drape”. Of course I had to ask…. “Are there studies???” He said, “Oh yes there is or insurance wouldn’t approve it”. (eye roll) Anyway, now I’m a super busy lady and quite honestly, I let it go at that, but the seed of information was planted.

So, back in the summer I’m wasting time on FB (as usual) and I see Andi Durkin post about the QRI cold laser. I always love to see what Andi is up to, so I watched her video. I joined this page. I read the studies. I read Bonnie Brandes‘ book. I bought a laser. Yes. I bought a laser.

It is overwhelming. It is time consuming. I work full time. I don’t have time to run my daughter to 5 appointments in a week but I do have time to work in a 20 minute laser session on most days.

Since starting the laser in July I have noticed these improvements in my 3 year old with T21. Vast improvements in her gross motor skills. Climbing, running, hopping… She has made tremendous gains in her speech and communication. She is very close to being completely potty trained. Stays dry all day and at nap time. Still has a wet diaper in the mornings. I feel like she is doing so well overall. I know there are other things that I just can’t put a label on. I am not going say for sure it is the cold laser but I do know the laser is the only thing that has been added. She does go to PT and ST every other week and the therapists are amazed at how well she is doing. I will also add the laser isn’t the only extra thing we do, but as I mentioned before, it is the only thing we have added in the last year and I’ve seen tremendous gains.

This is our story… It’s just a story. You can take or leave it. I am always happy to answer questions but I am far from an expert or even a “warrior mom”. Most days I’m not even sure what I am except for exhausted.

I am so looking forward to the class in January!!!!

Blessings everyone… Set your intentions and shine on!!!

Just to be perfectly transparent here, I want to say that I am NOT employed by Quantum Reflex Integration nor have I been given any gains to tell my story. I purchased my laser and the class with my own private funds. I just wanted to share my experience because I see so many posts from people who want to know more about the laser before taking the plunge.

Totally Different Kid

chance_jfsOctober 5, 2016

OMG I got a hug from my son today. He. Initiated. It. Last night after I completed the whole protocol for the first time. Coincidence?? Doubtful.

Update: October 21, 2016

OMG! I’m in speech therapy with Chance.

TOTALLY DIFFERENT KID!!!!

Ok…my son had the attention span of a flea…literally. Today he sat with Catherine Coleman, engaged, kept eye contact and even started a conversation (via sign language) which she brilliantly ran with and wove speech and cognition into. He answered questions, followed directions, all while he was exhausted (apnea). He had impulse control than I’ve ever seen before. Then the speech…really coming along. He has severe apraxia and is now saying the first and last sound of a word I.e. P _ G not just “p” like we’ve heard for years. And the “words” are coming unprompted!!

Then at home the miracles continued! He woke up from his nap a cuddly, affectionate little boy that wanted his mama. He cuddled with me. AHHHHHHH!!!!! Before he was very independent and elusive.

And all of this comes one day after I completed my third round of the whole protocol. Soooo happy!

Update: October 22, 2016

I’m not sure what I saw tonight. Am I seeing things? Making things up??

My son was always in his own world stimming. Today he was in the bath and I started singing a silly, made up song that would cause him to follow directions. And honestly I did it to entertain myself because I’m exhausted but needed to stay awake. I’m very used to being ignored by him..especially at bath time. The song…

Arms up
Arms up
Over head

Arms down
Arms down
touch your toes…

When I suddenly realized he was NOT facing me but facing the wall of the shower and DOING EVERYTHING I SAID. Huh!?! Auditory processing??

When I stopped he signed “again”. He wanted more!

Then I start cleaning something and he was playing with his toys with a little more purpose than usual. He loves to make animals talk to each other. (Thank you Catherine Coleman) I said “Hello Mr Duck, I’m Mr Dinosaur.” Again, NOT looking at me he pauses to “think/process” then chooses the duck and dinosaur from his pile of bath toys.

Then, as I’m talking In different voices for each one HE MOVED THE CORRECT ONE ACCORDING TO MY VOICE (high pitched for the duck, deep for the dinosaur)

THEN I asked for a hug right before bed and he gave me one with no hesitation (a very quick one).

Where am I?

Update: December 1, 2016

I’m seeing so many wonderful changes 3 months into the laser and I keep saying I’ll write tomorrow…but it keeps getting pushed back. I’m using the laser on myself and detoxing a lot so I feel rotten. But my boy, Chance, is amazing me. More unprompted speech, less aggression, he cuddles with me at night (yes Andi Durkin!!!) when he used to sit clear across the bed as far away as possible. Now he’s right next to me, head on my shoulder even! My husband and I were on our bed with Chance and he suddenly gave my husband a kiss then turned to me and gave me his cheek so I could kiss him. WOW!

He’s showing pride in his work from school. I showed a friend a turkey he made at school and he had a huge smile of pride and recognition on his face (which was enough of a big deal). Then…he took it out of my hand and handed it to her as if saying, “Look what I did!!” I have NEVER seen him do anything like that before.
I kid you not; I went into the kitchen sobbing tears of joy. He’s IN THERE. He’s REALLY in there!

I love all of you and feel blessed to be part of this amazing community!

Update: December 7, 2016

I am Chance’s  private Speech Pathologist. I have been using the PROMPT program with Chance along with visual cues. He has shown a big jump over the last few months since the laser treatments have been started. He is now able to demonstrate improved jaw and tongue control with improved productions of consonant vowel, vowel consonant and cons-vowel-cons productions. He also is showing improvements in movements requiring protrusion, rounding and retraction with lip and tongue control. Additionally, he is producing longer signed utterances demonstrating a jump in expressive language.

Dangers Of Baby Walkers

Babies who use baby walkers are at risk for serious physical injury as well as mental and developmental delays, according to pediatric studies. Ironically, these delays were even noted in walking.

In a study of 109 babies published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics in October, 2010, babies using the newest walkers learned to sit upright, crawl, and walk later than those who never used walkers or who used old-style walkers that allow seeing the legs.

The large tray used on new-style walkers blocks observation of the legs, denying the visual feedback necessary for learning how to move through space. The tray also prevents the grasping and exploring of objects that are critical to early development.

The unnatural upright movement of the child in the walker may cause overdevelopment of the calf muscles, which can lead to toe walking, while inadequate development may occur in the hips and upper legs.

In addition, on a standard test of mental development, no-walker babies had the highest scores, followed by those who used older, “see-feet” walkers and last by those using new walkers. The study noted that babies using new walkers may also be delayed in the development of memory, learning, and language skills.

Other investigators, say the authors, have found that developmentally-challenged babies, babies born prematurely, and very young babies are especially likely to have balance and alignment problems caused by walkers.

Use of walkers can lead to less desire or time to crawl, an essential element in developing neurological reflexes. Due to the unnatural posture, the Babinski, leg cross flexion, and foot tendon guard reflexes may be delayed in integrating. The ATNR, Bauer crawling, and stepping reflexes also may be delayed due to obstruction of the view of legs and feet.

Besides developmental delays, baby walkers are responsible for more injuries than any other children’s product, according to a 1994 report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Canada went so far as to ban baby walkers in 2004, but in some countries, more than 75% of parents still purchase them.

A major cause of injuries is the speed of the walker. Speed quickly takes the baby out of the caregiver’s range of control, preventing rescue before a collision or encounter with stairs, the swimming pool, sharp objects, dangerous chemicals, or hot appliances. Injuries include head damage, broken bones and teeth, burns, trapped fingers, and even death. Take the dangers of baby walkers into consideration before you make your purchase.

The Symphony of Reflexes by Bonnie Brandes

“In The symphonySymphony of Reflexes: Interventions for Autism, ADHD, Cerebral Palsy, and Human Development, Bonnie L. Brandes, MEd, provides a thorough discussion of these primitive reflexes and then presents specific movements in her program, “QRI Brain Boost,” designed to help children with learning disabilities and neurological conditions. As the founder of Quantum Reflex Integration, QRI®, the author uses acu-reflex points and cold laser to integrate primitive reflexes. Her programs are used in over thirty countries.

The timing of this book could not be better, because the incidence of autism and other sensory and neurological disorders continues to climb at an alarming rate, a rate that cannot be exclusively explained by better labeling or improved diagnostic techniques. Understanding primitive reflexes and the role they play in neurological and social development is the key to healing this newest generation.

The Symphony of Reflexes is not only a guide for the recovery of the nervous system for those with autism, ADHD, and other learning disabilities, but also a guide for human development and maximizing human potential.

Finally, Bonnie brings to life environmental factors, such as stress during pregnancy, diet and nutrition, EM Radiation, and the Brain-Gut relationship, as well as the ever-growing amount of toxic chemicals that are part of our environment. Being aware of the potential causes is a key step in securing a healthier future for ourselves and the next generation of children.

Bonnie has assembled an incredible amount of information and organized it in a helpful and straightforward manual. No matter how we are interacting with our environment, whether we are catching a ball, riding a bike, or holding a paint brush, each of these activities have their roots in The Symphony of Reflexes.” —Dr. Donald Gerken DC, DACCP, CSTD

Purchase at:   https://www.amazon.com/Symphony-Reflexes-Interventions-Development-Neurological/dp/150285502X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

“With ADD, ADHD and autism being disorders resulting from non-typical neural development, it makes sense to address the reflexes which are the foundation of neural development. Important, “must have” information for a classroom teacher or a parent with concerns about a child’s success in the classroom. I wish I had this information 18 years ago when my son was first diagnosed with autism at age 3. Investigating reflex integration 10 years ago, there were only expensive and lengthy therapies available. I believe the therapies that we did pursue would have had faster and longer lasting results with integrated reflexes. This book provides information so that parents can guide their children through exercises in their home and get results. I cannot think of a better gift to a child than having a neurological system that is able to perform the way it is supposed to perform. Get it, read it, do it.”

How QRI Differs From Other Reflex Integration Programs

Primitive reflexlaying-on-table integration using cold laser differs from other reflex integration programs in many ways.  QRI sessions are shorter, children often ask for the laser, and lie quietly during a session. The laser is placed on a series of points and patterns. For young active children, sessions can be given while the child sleeps. Unlike other reflex integration methods, we do not focus on 1-2 reflexes at a time. We follow a specific order which eliminates the need for primitive reflex assessments.

QRI acu-point and acu-point patterns are easy to follow and offered in an online class, in-person classes, and a comprehensive manual. These points are used in combination with cold laser. The QRI Home program is followed by parents in over 40 countries.

Cold Laser has been used in over 8,000 studies without any negative side effects noted. It has been used in Asia and Europe for over 50 years. That being said, adding the QRI points not only integrates primitive reflexes, but give an all-over body balance. Noticeable improvements in behavior, cognition, and movement are seen, sometimes within a few sessions, along with progress seen in reflex integration assessments.

Playing the CMT sound system independently can actually integrate the Moro, improve behavior, and health. As we can see in scientific research, many medical conditions are also addressed using cold laser/low level laser.  Cold laser works at a cellular level and increases ATP within the cell. An investment in the QRI Harmonic cold laser benefits the whole family. 

Diseased and damaged nerve cells can actually be regenerated and repaired by cold laser to develop and regain communication.  So it is not surprising that children may see neurological changes both forward and what appears to be backward, called Moro reorganization as primitive reflexes integrate.

Check out our Success Stories and News posts to see how QRI and the Harmonic cold laser can help you and your family.

-Bonnie Brandes

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