Information for Health Professionals

Our Treatment Philosophy:

Primitive Infantile and Postural Reflexes

In normal development, 'primitive infantile and postural reflexes' are present at birth and are inhibited by the brain during the first year or two of life. In cases of brain injury, these reflexes either are not inhibited as they should be, or, if the injury occurs later in life, they are released and reappear. The continued presence of these reflexes obstructs normal development and normal functioning, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Only when the brain has inhibited these reflexes can the individual develop transformed, 'adult' reflexes which we employ for the rest of our lives. This reflexive basis underlies abilities and behaviours, and our assessment procedures examine for 18 of these infant and adult reflexes as a matter of routine in the study of a given person's disadvantages.

Whether damaged early in life or later, whether 'developmental' in origin or 'acquired' by accident or insult to the brain, as in traumatic brain injury or stroke, the pattern that emerges in all of our patients is that:

  • they possess primitive infantile and postural reflexes
  • they do not have corresponding transformed 'adult' reflexes
  • they have problems of lateralisation of brain functions
  • they have eye-muscle dysfunctions, and they have a variety of perceptual difficulties.

The technical basis of our approach is therefore:

  • the elimination of these 'primitive infantile and postural reflexes'
  • the induction and stimulation of transformed 'adult' reflexes
  • the encouragement of unilaterality if possible
  • the correction of eye-muscle dysfunctions
  • the systematic treatment of perceptual problems,
  • thus promoting more normal development and functioning and enabling the patient to develop or regain abilities previously denied to them.

The method is known as 'DEVELOPMENTAL REFLEXIVE REHABILITATION' and the techniques employed were pionered and developed here in the North West of England by Dr David McGlown PhD. B.Ed., MSSR. MNCP.

Application

The method employed to achieve inhibition of the reflexes is a specialised set of neuro-physiological exercises, that is, a physical programme of movement patterns into which are built components affecting the eye-muscles, the vestibular apparatus, and ultimately hierarchic levels of the brain.

Parents/carers of patients are taught how to help perform the routines designed for each individual patient, so even the most physically disadvantaged are not excluded from the treatment approach.

The treatment programme takes only 30 - 60 minutes per day, allowing normal family life to continue - unlike some methods which require massive commitment of time and volunteer help - and permitting the patient to obtain the very best available in terms of specialised physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and/or special educational provision.

BIRD is not involved in the treatment of physically ill children or adults and offers no therapy or prescription other than reflex inhibition and related advice on improving functioning. We advise patients always to consult their doctors or paediatricians on all health aspects, or for any other advice regarding their wellbeing.

Co-operation

BIRD complements other therapies rather than seeing itself as a replacement for the standard therapies employed throughout the NHS. Instead, this treatment is an essential precursor to other approaches - a foundation on which other therapies can then build.

Once a 'more normal' neurological basis has been established, the patient is better able to benefit from all other input which may be appropriate to their case. One of the abiding principles and ambitions of BIRD is to foster full cooperation with other relevant therapies so that the main beneficiary will be the patient.

We strongly recommend that patients take full advantage of standard therapies, and are always keen to communicate with other therapists involved with any individual we see, to explain our methods and discuss the case.

Any help or education professional who wishes to visit the centre may do so at any convenient time, please ring 01244 678629 for an appointment.