sensory workout program
Preparing caregivers of individuals with disruption in their life skills
We call delays and difficulties “disruptions” because the behaviors and sensory components associated with the skill acquisition and maintenance impede the learning of functional tasks causing disruptions in life skills. The disruption is also a term that explains a possible root cause of the maladaptive or delayed learning of life skills and function.
The children and adult populations whom we have been working closely with have had a variety of diagnoses such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Developmental Delay, and a variety of neurodevelopmental diagnoses. The foundation and basis for the SWP has been a direct outcome and a natural progression from the close work we have performed with our clients.
The SWP approach focuses on the pathways which information travels through the neurons of the brain and strengthens the specific neural pathways needed for skill acquisition and maintenance. This Program can make a difference for all individuals affected by a disruption and delay of the neuro pathways in current use.
Without a doubt, the dedication of caregivers and consistent to use the Program guidelines are a critical component to effectiveness. This Program is not intended to replace any of the ongoing therapies or Biomed treatments currently used. It is a critical component for a concentrated positive effect in the entire healing process of a person’s disruption in function.
Disruption in development
Our work has always been oriented to the analysis and treatment of the components affecting each person’s disruption in skill development. What happens when these components are not developed? Basic skill development in the areas of self-care, functional activities such as eating, dressing, bathing and even maintaining eye contact are disrupted. Neural pathways are considered disrupted and require strengthening.
As caregivers, family members, and friends of persons with disrupted life skill acquisition, we know that associated with these effects are sensory processing concerns. The disruptions in development of sensory processing areas have been closely related to often cognitive delays, social and physical delays.
There are suggested Biomedical components related to a variety of food and environmental allergies and intolerance that may have a significant impact on the developmental process. There are also persons who have suffered trauma/disease that has caused the disruption to occur, so affecting the ability to progressively learn or relearn life skills.
We witness and live our lives teaching and caring for those we love having disruptions from any of the etiologies suggested and yet we continue to spend our time and energy following the traditional routes and pathways to acquire the skills. The SWP offers a caregiver approach to such disruptions, this a positive and effective program for all ages.
It can be changed
The Sensory Workout Program (SWP) has its foundation in the brain’s ability to change and adapt because of experiences that are strengthened over time with repetition and practice.
Over time the brain may develop and strengthen neural pathways that are maladaptive for functional use, yet, adaptive for calming and avoiding non-preferred experiences, as in avoiding, calming behaviors including but not exclusive of hand flapping, throwing objects, hitting, decreased eye contact, rushing through tasks and even self-sabotaging by overeating and excessive sleeping. No doubt the brain’s ability to generate increased pathways through neuroplasticity strengthens these behaviors, causing disruptions in functional skills.
The program uses a variety of graded and specific targeted exercises to strengthen the neural areas underlying skill acquisition and taps into the ability of a person to focus and acquire new skills. This is a multisensory approach changing behaviors and acquiring new skills through neuroplasticity and sensorimotor activities. This is a key to success for the SWP.
The premise of the SWP was founded to assist with learning, re-learning, and the acquisition of new skills with specific exercises tapping into the brain’s ability to undergo neuroplastic changes. Repetitive and multisensory exercises allow the opening up of the neural pathways and the strengthening of the pathways begin for acquired new skills.
The SWP´s exercises begin with shadowing/mirroring the facilitator. The facilitator (leader) begins with the one-step repetitive sensorimotor activity that continues to build and increases in complexity at the rate of the neural pathway acquisition. There are a variety of skills the facilitator will use to build attention and follow-through, however, each Program and sequence is calibrated and performed for the strengthening of the base neuroplasticity to occur.
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