Temporal processing – the brain's ability to perceive and process time intervals accurately – plays a pivotal role in how we speak and read. As professionals striving for excellence in our respective fields, understanding the intricate workings of temporal processing unveils a whole new realm of comprehension and skill development in speech and literacy. When we hear speech, that information comes into our ears, through the cochlea, down to the brainstem to the Reticular Act

As parents, caregivers, educators, and health professionals, our primary goal is to provide our children with the best environment for optimal growth and development. One fascinating area of study that has been gaining attention in recent years is the impact of vibration on brain development. From enhancing reflex integration to improving development of the sensory and motor systems, the benefits of incorporating vibration into everyday activities are vast and noteworthy. Und

In my practice and in my Facebook group, I often have parents share that suddenly their child's speech has regressed, dysregulation has increased, or negative behaviors have emerged. Usually, a recent illness precedes this new development. A couple of years ago, I had a wild and scary experience. Due to a very stressful situation in our lives, my EBV (Epstein Barr) and CMV (Cytomegalovirus) were reactivated. Within a couple of hours of feeling unwell, a fever spiked, and I fo

One very common comment I hear from parents I work with is that their child doesn't seem to "hear" them and/or the teacher complains that they aren't paying attention. Oftentimes , parents wonder if this is ADHD and, more often than not, the child was referred for hearing testing when they were younger. Usually, the hearing testing is normal and so that is dismissed as a reason why the child isn't "listening" or paying attention. When you get a hearing test done, what is bein

Individuals with dysgraphia may struggle with translating their ideas into written form. In other words, they have trouble “getting it on paper.” There are three types of dysgraphia: motor-based, language-based, and combined. Motor-based Dysgraphia People with motor-based dysgraphia experience difficulties with fine motor skills that affect their penmanship. Signs of motor-based dysgraphia may include: Writing unclear, irregular, and/or inconsistent letters, which may have d

In the last two blogs, we explored what the gut microbiome is and how it forms in infants. In our final installment of this series, we are going to look at how the composition of the microbiome affects brain development, cognition, and cognitive decline. We have 300-500 different strains of bacteria living in our intestinal tract, known as the microbiome. These bacteria are called microbiota They can communicate with our central nervous system (our brain) and cause changes th

In my last blog, I provided an overview of the gut microbiome and how important it is to our everyday functioning. This week, I want to focus in on how our microbiome develops as an infant, what can cause dysbiosis, and how that can affect children later in life. A baby's intestinal flora is much different than an adult's. However, it reaches a stable state similar to an adult's by the age of three. Beginning at birth, the gut microbes have many important roles: digestion met

For decades, the traditional medical community has been treating ailments and mental health as unrelated issues. However, an overwhelming amount of evidence is now showing that the microbiome in our intestinal tract regulates a tremendous amount of our body AND mind. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the microbiome has now been linked to a wide variety of physical and mental health conditions, behavioral disorders, and learning challenges. This two-way communication is termed the

Over the last twenty-five years that I have been an educator, there has been a flurry of studies and reports that clearly show that we are not doing a good job of teaching children how to read. On the heels of each of those reports has come just as many initiatives to “fix” the problem. However, here we are in 2026 and the number of children who don’t read on-time or at a proficient level continues to grow. The arguments as to why this continues to occur are diverse; some of

Loud noises .Crowded rooms. Public places. These environments can cause great anxiety or even emotional meltdowns for some children and even adults. I’ve felt this first-hand. Seven years ago, I suffered a moderate traumatic brain injury after falling on some concrete and cracking my head open playing basketball with a young student. Within days of the injury, I noticed that listening to even one person talk to me was so difficult and exhausting that I just wanted to curl up

Kids struggle to understand what they read for a variety of reasons. If they still have difficulties decoding with automaticity, this can have a significant impact on their reading. Once students are fluent decoders, many of them still struggle remembering and understanding what they read. A common misconception is that repeated readings or “more practice” will somehow improve comprehension. For some students, particularly those with vocabulary deficits or learning a second l

If you or your child has ever giggled uncontrollably, cried for no clear reason, felt shaky, especially tired, or experienced vivid dreams after reflex integration exercises, you are not alone. These reactions can be confusing or even unsettling, but they typically indicate that the nervous system is undergoing meaningful change—not that something is wrong. ​ How Neuroreflex Exercises Affect the Nervous System ​ Neuroreflex exercises go beyond simple stretches. They guide the