Early Roots is a specialized therapy practice for children and adults with learning, behavioral, social, and/or emotional problems. We assess each child (or adult) for signs of immaturity in the central nervous system, also known as Neuro-developmental delay (NDD). We look to find the lowest point of breakdown in their development and then we create a program that works up from there. Our program always follows the natural progression of development.
The first part of the central nervous system to develop and mature is the spinal cord, followed by the brain stem, the cerebellum, and lastly the cerebral cortex. At birth, the lower sections of the brain are more mature than the higher sections. Each section is responsible for more and more advanced functions. The brain stem is responsible for automatic processes like breathing, heart rate, blood pressure and infant reflexes. The cerebellum is responsible for both controlled and automatic motor movements, and the cortex is responsible for advanced learning and processing. During that last part of pregnancy and the first 12 months after birth, brain development occurs rapidly. As the upper regions of the brain mature, the lower sections of the brain relinquish some control and enable the child to do subsequently more and more.
The brain stem is the first part of the brain to mature and it provides the foundation for higher-level brain function. Our program starts here because immaturity at this level can have a huge impact on the development and functioning of the upper levels of the brain. If it is not functioning properly, then it can interfere with balance, coordination, attention, emotional regulation, reading, writing and much more.
Most other therapy programs focus on one or more of the higher levels of the brain (cerebellum and cortex). For children who have immaturity at their brain stem, this will not fix the issue but rather teach compensation techniques. These techniques will vary in effectiveness, but will never allow the child to function at their full potential. At Early Roots we evaluate each child to determine their earliest point of dysfunction and then we create a specialized program based on their individual needs.
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Neuro-Developmental Delay (NDD) refers to immaturity in the central nervous system. One of the main things we look for is the presence of retained infant (primitive) reflexes and underdeveloped adult (postural) reflexes.
In utero, babies develop a set of infant reflexes that help to facilitate the birth process and that help them to survive outside of the womb. These reflexes are also critical in helping them achieve developmental milestones. During the first year, these reflexes should systematically disappear and are eventually replaced with mature, adult reflexes. There are many things that can happen during pregnancy, birth, and the first year that interrupt this process and prevent proper development. The presence or absence of these reflexes provides us with reliable landmarks that show how the child's central nervous system is functioning. Often times, there is a mismatch between a child’s physical age and the maturity of their nervous system.
The impact of NDD varies from person to person. Symptoms will depend on which infant reflexes are present, which adult reflexes are absent, what other areas in the body are affected, and how the child has learned to cope.
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Poor attention
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Poor balance and coordination
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Emotional instability
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Poor hand-eye coordination
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Difficulties in school
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Anxiety
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Hypersensitivity
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Motion Sickness
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Decreased immune system
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Inflexibility
NEURO-
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY
PREGNANCY
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Medical problems
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Sickness
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Injury requiring bed rest
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Extreme emotional stress
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Alcohol or drug use
BIRTH
INFANCY
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Difficulty with the birth process
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Vacuum or forceps delivery
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Cesarean birth
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Birth trauma
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Prematurity
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Breech presentation
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Loss of oxygen / Low heart tones
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Very long or very fast labor
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Skipping motor stages such as crawling
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Ear nose and throat problems
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Restricted movement
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Negative reaction to medications or vaccines
Step 1: Fill out our screening questionnaire
10-15 minutes | Free
If you click on the link below it will take you to our screening questionnaire. This questionnaire is used to identify children (or adults) who have certain risk factors for Neuro-Developmental Delay (NDD) It asks several questions about your child’s early developmental history starting with their pregnancy and ending at present day. Once you submit it, we will look it over and contact you. If you have any questions you are always welcome to contact us directly.
Step 2: Phone Consultation
30-45 minutes | Free
Once you submit the screening questionnaire we will schedule a phone consult. During the consult we will:
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Discuss the results of the screening questionnaire
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Answer any questions you have
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Make a plan for your child
Step 3: Screening Assessment (optional):
30 min | $50*
You always have the option of scheduling a screening assessment. This is typically used if parents are unable to complete the screening questionnaire (foster care, adoption, ect…) or if we are unable to determine whether or not this program is a good fit for your child based on the questionnaire alone. During the screening assessment we look at:
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Gross Muscle Coordination and Balance
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Aberrant Reflexes (2-3 of the main ones)
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Tests for Cerebellar Involvement
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Tests for Patterns of Motor Development
This screening assessment will let us know if this program is a good fit for your child.
*If you wish to move forward with the program after the screening assessment the $50 fee will be applied toward the full Comprehensive Assessment
Step 4: Comprehensive Assessment:
2 hours | $750*
The Comprehensive Assessment is used to create a baseline of your child’s developmental functioning. From this, we can create a program that meets their individual needs. This assessment is going to be your biggest investment (of both time and money) but it will give us the information we need to create the best program for your child. The comprehensive assessment includes:
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Tests for Gross Muscle Coordination and Balance
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Tests for Patterns of Motor Development
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Tests for Cerebellar Involvement
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Tests for Dysdiadochokineasia (rapid alternate movements)
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Tests for Aberrant Reflexes (both primitive and postural)
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Oculo-Motor Screening
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Visual-Perception Screening
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Diagnostic Assessment Report
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First Exercise
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1 1/2 hour Phone Assessment Review to discuss the results of the assessment
*Unfortunately we do not accept insurance at this time. If finances are a problem I am always happy to create a payment plan that works for you family. I never want finances to be the reason a child can’t get the help they need.
Step 5: Follow-up Visits*
30 minutes | $125
Follow-up visits are scheduled every 2 months. During these visits we will re-screen and make adjustments to your child's exercise.
*If you ever have any concerns about whether or not you are doing an exercise correctly you can schedule a time to come in to the office and have it checked at no charge. Your child's safety and well-being is always my number one priority.
Emily Roper is the owner and founder of Early Roots. She has an education background in psychology, midwifery, and neuro-developmental delay. She also has a personal and family history with learning difficulties that makes her uniquely qualified to help children with neuro-developmental delays. Emily first became interested in NDD therapy after seeing how much it helped her cousin.
“Having a child with developmental problems impacts the entire family. It becomes such a large part of normal, every-day activities. I got to experience some of this when I was younger. I grew up with a cousin who struggled with developmental issues and I remember my Aunt constantly looking for something that would help him. For years, they tried everything they could find with minimal success. Eventually, my Aunt found an NDD therapist and my cousin started getting the help he needed. As a young teenager, I got to witness his success with the program and it had a huge impact on me. It was not long after this, that I decided I wanted to be able to offer other families the same thing.”
Emily graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. While she was getting this degree, Emily had the opportunity to spend a month in Colorado interning under an NDD therapist at Anna’s House. One of the things she learned during this internship was how impactful pregnancy and birth are to normal brain development.
"In all of my developmental classes, my professors spent a lot of time on pregnancy and brain development. It was not until later that I realized labor and birth also have a huge impact on brain development.”
During her senior year at UCO, Emily completed the necessary classes to become a childbirth doula. After college, Emily decided to continue her education and began studying midwifery. She was accepted into the midwife’s assistant program at the Oklahoma Midwives Alliance and also began a clinical apprenticeship at Community Midwifery Services.
In 2015, Emily began her post-graduate program for Neuro-Developmental Delay at the Institute of Neuro-Physiological Psychology (INPP). In 2016, Emily completed their one-year training program and became an INPP licentiante.
Moro (startle) Reflex
Stimulus
Any sudden change in head position or any of the five senses: light, sound, touch, smell, or taste
Response
The baby’s arms first stretch open and then grasp forward. Their sympathetic nervous system is also activated and it triggers a physiological fight-or-flight response.
Function
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Helps baby survive during the first few months after birth
-
Alerts caregiver to possible danger
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Helps stimulate breathing after birth
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Early fight-or-flight response
Symptoms if retained
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Over-reactive
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Hypersensitive
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Hyposentitive
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Hyperactive
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Poor balance and coordination
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Visual-perception problems
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Poor impulse control
Children with a retained Moro are consistently put in a state of heightened arousal. This can have a huge impact on their ability to function. Children learn to cope with this in different ways. Some become very anxious, fearful of things that might trigger this reflex, while other become over-excitable, using the reflex like an adrenaline rush.
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Emotional immaturity
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Motion sickness
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Immune issues
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Anxiety
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Low self-esteem
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Stimulus bound
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)
Stimulus
Flexion or extension of the head
Response
The arms and legs flex when the head flexes and extend when the head extends
Function
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Helps baby get into a good position for birth
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Helps baby adapt to a world with gravity
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Helps develop muscle tone
The TLR is triggered by a specific change head position (detected by the vestibular system). The vestibular system also has connections to the child’s visual, auditory, and motor control systems. Children with a retained TLR have an immature vestibular system and often have immaturity in these other systems as well. Their brain receives mismatched information from each of these sensory systems.
Symptoms if retained
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Poor balance and coordination
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Visual perception problems
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Motion sickness
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Under or over developed muscle tone
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Poor posture
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Toe walking
Spinal Galant Reflex
Stimulus
Any tactile stimulation to the skin on either side of the spine in the lumbar region
Response
Rotation of the hip 45° on that side
Function
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Encourages movement in the womb
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Helps during the birth process
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Promotes hip flexibility
Children with a retained Spinal Galant often have trouble staying still, particularly while seated. They may be very uncomfortable sitting in chairs that touch the lumbar region of their back or wearing tight pants or pants with tags.
Symptoms if retained
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Difficulty sitting still
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Hypersensitivity in the lumbar region (tags, waist bands, ect..)
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Some connection to bedwetting
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
Stimulus
Rotation of the head to either side
Response
The arm and leg on the “face” side extend and the arm and leg on the “skull” side flex
Function
-
Encourages movement in the womb
-
Helps facilitate the birth process
-
Develops homolateral movement
-
Helps keep airway clear
-
Early hand-eye training
Children with a retained ATNR often have to adjust their posture in order to accomplish everyday tasks. This becomes particularly evident during school when they are using cognitive effort and when they are often required to sit at a desk. Children with a retained ATNR often have “bad” posture and may even be labeled as “lazy” because of it.
Symptoms if retained
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Poor balance and coordination
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Avoid crossing the midline
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Poor hand-eye coordination
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Difficulty writing
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Difficulty reading
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Difficulty tracking visual information
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)
Stimulus
Extension or flexion of the head
Response
When the head extends, the arms extend and the lower body flexes. When the head flexes, the arms flex and the legs extend.
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Moro (startle) Reflex
Stimulus
Any sudden change in head position or any of the five senses: light, sound, touch, smell, or taste
Response
The baby’s arms first stretch open and then grasp forward. Their sympathetic nervous system is also activated and it triggers a physiological fight-or-flight response.
Function
-
Helps baby survive during the first few months after birth
-
Alerts caregiver to possible danger
-
Helps stimulate breathing after birth
-
Early fight-or-flight response
Symptoms if retained
-
Over-reactive
-
Hypersensitive
-
Hyposentitive
-
Hyperactive
-
Poor balance and coordination
-
Visual-perception problems
-
Poor impulse control
Children with a retained Moro are consistently put in a state of heightened arousal. This can have a huge impact on their ability to function. Children learn to cope with this in different ways. Some become very anxious, fearful of things that might trigger this reflex, while other become over-excitable, using the reflex like an adrenaline rush.
-
Emotional immaturity
-
Motion sickness
-
Immune issues
-
Anxiety
-
Low self-esteem
-
Stimulus bound
Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)
Stimulus
Flexion or extension of the head
Response
The arms and legs flex when the head flexes and extend when the head extends
Function
-
Helps baby get into a good position for birth
-
Helps baby adapt to a world with gravity
-
Helps develop muscle tone
The TLR is triggered by a specific change head position (detected by the vestibular system). The vestibular system also has connections to the child’s visual, auditory, and motor control systems. Children with a retained TLR have an immature vestibular system and often have immaturity in these other systems as well. Their brain receives mismatched information from each of these sensory systems.
Symptoms if retained
-
Poor balance and coordination
-
Visual perception problems
-
Motion sickness
-
Under or over developed muscle tone
-
Poor posture
-
Toe walking
Spinal Galant Reflex
Stimulus
Any tactile stimulation to the skin on either side of the spine in the lumbar region
Response
Rotation of the hip 45° on that side
Function
-
Encourages movement in the womb
-
Helps during the birth process
-
Promotes hip flexibility
Children with a retained Spinal Galant often have trouble staying still, particularly while seated. They may be very uncomfortable sitting in chairs that touch the lumbar region of their back or wearing tight pants or pants with tags.
Symptoms if retained
-
Difficulty sitting still
-
Hypersensitivity in the lumbar region (tags, waist bands, ect..)
-
Some connection to bedwetting
Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
Stimulus
Rotation of the head to either side
Response
The arm and leg on the “face” side extend and the arm and leg on the “skull” side flex
Function
-
Encourages movement in the womb
-
Helps facilitate the birth process
-
Develops homolateral movement
-
Helps keep airway clear
-
Early hand-eye training
Children with a retained ATNR often have to adjust their posture in order to accomplish everyday tasks. This becomes particularly evident during school when they are using cognitive effort and when they are often required to sit at a desk. Children with a retained ATNR often have “bad” posture and may even be labeled as “lazy” because of it.
Symptoms if retained
-
Poor balance and coordination
-
Avoid crossing the midline
-
Poor hand-eye coordination
-
Difficulty writing
-
Difficulty reading
-
Difficulty tracking visual information
Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)
Stimulus
Extension or flexion of the head
Response
When the head extends, the arms extend and the lower body flexes. When the head flexes, the arms flex and the legs extend.
Function
-
Helps the infant defy gravity (move from the floor to standing)
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Helps with spine alignment
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Helps with visual accommodation
Similar to the ATNR, Children with a retained STNR often have to adjust their posture during everyday activities like school. Their postural and visual systems work against rather than with them. Many children try to accommodate this by adjusting their position e.g. they may tuck their legs under them when they sit in a chair.
Symptoms if retained
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Prevent proper crawling
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Poor posture
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Poor body control
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Difficulty with attention and concentration
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Poor hand-eye coordination
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Difficulty with vertical tracking
CONTACT
US
(405) 388-1972
