See Ways to Prevent Dementia

How Eye Exams Keep Your Brain Young

Am I seeing this right? My eye health offers protection against dementia? According to RealAge, people with untreated vision problems were nine (9) times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. That’s because poor vision keeps people from engaging in brain stimulating activities – like reading this blog, playing games, walking and socializing. Talking about walking, read the ‘Walk on the Cerebral Side’ article when you get back from your hike.

Hyper-vestibular system (video)

Know why so many are challenged in school and life

People with an oversensitive or ‘hyper’ vestibular system often feel overwhelmed. Visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive (muscle and joint) and the attentional systems are directly connected to the vestibular apparatus located within the inner ear. Sitting in the back seat of a car, walking over a bridge, being on the playground, gym, or a class where there is excessive talking, writing or movement can be very challenging.

Rocking, walking, and other linear movements can soothe the oversensitive vestibular system, helping people relax and focus. As the video shows, at times we need to “rock it, to calm it.”

Physical exercises designed to strengthen the vestibular system can greatly help academics. Daily Physical Education taught by movement specialists enhances the body-brain helping students with a hyper-vestibular system achieve their living and learning potential.

LD Remedy… We Hold the Key!

Helping People… Unlock their Potential

Living and Learning… Movement is Central!

Neuro-education connecting Neuroscientific research and learning suggests the most effective ways to optimize body brain cells and systems to boost attention, sharpen focus, heighten motivation, enhance learning performance skills, and extend memory.

But what if, despite our good intentions and diligent work, these methods don’t work?

Then take a step backwards and return to the basics, helping the challenged learner retool their sensory, processing and motor systems that may be struggling. One or multiple systems might be involved, including the visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, reflex, tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular systems.

Let’s explore each of these systems over the next few months. Discover what people are doing to mature the sensory input system, brain processing/memory system, and motor output system called upon to express learning through talking, writing, art, music, sport, and other life-enhancing performance skills – this will be great fun!

TV Viewing and Cognitive Development

TV Viewing Before the Age of 2 Has No Cognitive Benefit

Newwise.com reported the first longitudinal study of its kind measuring the effect of TV viewing on young children’s language and visual motor skills. According to Michael Rich, MD, MPH a pediatrician who directs the Center on Media and Child Health and contributing author on this study, TV viewing before the age of 2 does not improve a child's language and visual motor skills. The study suggests that maternal, child and household characteristics are more influential to a child's brain development.

Dr Rich adds, “TV exposure in infants has been associated with increased risk of obesity, attention problems, and decreased sleep quality. Parents need to understand that infants and toddlers do not learn or benefit in any way from viewing TV at an early age."

ADHD – Medicate? Remediate?

Focus on root causes -- then use body-brain exercises to resolve problems

Rather than treating ADHD symptoms, neurodevelopmental specialists like Toni Hager, http://www.kidscanlearn.net/kids.htm identify, address and remedy parts of the sensory motor system causing the learning and behavioral problems. The body/brain strengthens itself using specific exercises that mature the visual, auditory, tactile, motor, vestibular, cerebellar or other systems causing the challenges.

Music Linked to School Success

New Research Links Music to Increased Brain Power

Lois Thome reports how studying a musical instrument improves student’s school work. Visual and verbal ability improved on certain tests carried out by Harvard researchers. The longer and more intensely students practiced their piano and stringed instruments, the better they did on tests.

Visit Madeline Frank’s monthly Article and Musical Tips for current research connecting music and the arts to social, emotional and academic success.

STNR, ATNR, TLR Learning Activities

Physical Activities for Improving Children’s Learning and Behavior

Billye Ann Cheatum and Allison A. Hammond have coauthored a highly useful book for parents and teachers interested in helping their children be more successful in school. 99 physical activities are offered to help reduce the effects of sensory motor problems. Primitive reflexes are addressed with many fun activities designed to enhance the visual, auditory and kinesthetic systems called upon to read, write and relate well to others Read sections of Physical Activities for Improving Children’s Learning and Behavior. This book is one of my favorites!

Jeff Haebig

Are Big or Small Movements Best?

Which actions boost attention best – large or small?

That is an excellent question. There are many variables that we will soon address; for example, does the child prefer angular, twisting and rotating actions to stimulate their hypo-slow vestibular system, or linear forward and backward movements to calm their over-sensitive hyper vestibular system? Play catchy music and encourage people to move freely – watch how their body brain seeks the most satisfying movements.

You might offer a follow-along movement sequence that combines fine (small) and gross (large) motor movements, with age appropriate complexity that challenges the mind. Physcally connecting gestures to words or lyrics engages the auditory, visual and kinesthetic systems boosting attention. Crossing the body’s vertical mid-line stimulates both sides (hemispheres) of the brain.

In their own way, (moving big or small) encourage people to mimic gestures and echo the words shown on http://www.wellnessquest.com/videos.html. This Vibrant Learning Sequence engages the basal ganglia (brain’s transmission) connecting thinking, feelings and motion. This demands more attention-boosting dopamine (transmission fluid) to aid mindbody shifting. It's also the pleasure/reward chemical raising motivation. Memorizing the gesture sequence recruits the cerebellum, further boosting attentional centers.

Above all, encourage people to move freely in fun, safe and satisfying ways.

Jeff Haebig

Natural Ways to H.A.N.D.L.E. ADHD

New Perspective on ADD and ADHD with Natural Solutions!

The HANDLE Institute http://handle.org provides Highly Effective, Non-Drug, Holistic Treatment for Learning, Behavior and Other Challenges. What does HANDLE think about ADD/ADHD? Visit http://handle.org/index2.html and get their perspective. I like Judith Bluestone’s approach, addressing attention deficit as APD… Attentional Priority Disorder.

Activities are offered that strengthen the vestibular system and treat hypersensitivity of the senses including touch, vision and sound. Once again, the body brain has remarkable ability to strengthen itself through movement and exercise! Hats off to HANDLE for heading us down that natural path.

Jeff

Motion Sickness -- Mayo Clinic

What Role Does Exercise Play in Easing Motion Sickness?

Watching the YouTube http://podcasts.mayoclinic.org/2008/11/24/motion-sickness-2/ video from Mayo Clinic regarding motion sickness... I noticed that remedies suggested did not include exercise designed to strengthen the vestibular system, part of the inner ear that connects balance, visual, auditory and proprioception systems. Let's ask some experts what they think about this. Please comment, better yet, share your thoughts with using video too.

What a wonderful way to share information. Check out Mayo Clinic's Podcasts and then let's make our own Podcasts to show our thoughts and practices, emphasizing how movement and exercise can effectively remedy physical conditions.

Jeff