Jackson’s Story
Hyperactivity & Reading
Jackson, age 8, was hyperactive and had difficulties with spelling, reading, and word-recognition.
His mother was looking for alternatives to medication to help Jackson maintain his focus and concentration in class, as well as improve his reading.
Jackson was very willing to do Brain Gym® and related sensory-integration movements. We implemented a variety of movements from primitive reflex integration methods, Touch for Health, and Brain Gym®, with a focus on the Five Step Balance Process of Educational Kinesiology to guide our sessions.
After 10 sessions Jackson was able to sit in class without fidgeting or squirming and keep his focus. His reading improved along with his word-recognition and his mother noted that he was much happier in school.
Christina’s Note
Hyperactivity is often the result of our primitive reflexes being in an active state, automatic and out of our control. A hyperactive child may experience discomfort and stress which they cannot define, resulting in constant shifting in a chair, repeated head movements as the eyes continually try to focus, or general irritation caused by the body’s discomfort. Whole brain integration methods can reduce hyperactivity by integrating these primal reflexes, or essentially shutting them off. When no longer being triggered by stimuli, both children and adults experience a relaxation and self-control they didn’t know existed.