Neurological Developmental Assessment

Dr. Jemima Hoult

Dr. Jemima Hoult is a chiropractor who is trained in the field of paediatric neurological assessment and management. The Neurological Developmental Screening Tests are used to determine which parts of a child’s brain are functioning at the expected level for his/her age and/or which parts of the child’s brain are not functioning at the expected level.  The results will provide us with insight as to whether your child may benefit from treatment and if so what type of treatment would be best suited.  A combination of treatment modalities is usually recommended for optimal results.  This also may include referrals to other health practitioners.

The neurological developmental screening includes the following tests:

• • • Gross motor development

• • • Temporal exam (sequencing)

• • • Sensory exam

• • • Cerebellar exam

• • • Neuromaturation

• • • Estimation of Intellectual age

• • • Cranial and Neurological Examination

• • • Retained primitive reflexes

Primitive reflexes appear at birth or soon after.  They are vital in a baby’s neurological development.  They should naturally disappear on their own in the first 24 months of a child’s life.  If the brain ‘holds on’ to these reflexes it can interfere with the brain’s natural developmental progression.  This can also inhibit important pathways between two or more parts of the brain from forming.  These pathways are especially important for comprehensive learning.

Following is a list of signs and symptoms that may indicate your child may benefit from a neurological developmental screening test.

• • • Difficulty reading, writing or spelling.

• • • Commonly misplace or reverse letters or numbers in a word.

• • • Poor hand writing and/or noticeable difficulty with fine motor skills (ie. picking up pins or pebbles and putting them into a cup).

• • • Difficulty forming sentences.

• • • Difficulty with basic maths.

• • • Speech difficulties and poor balance and/or messy eaters

• • • Exceptionally clumsy child – poor motor coordination and hand-eye movements.

• • • Delayed expressive language – commonly shortening words or making up words.

• • • Difficulty understanding spoken commands and being able to execute them (unable to remember 3 basic tasks).

• • • Difficulty transferring written work from the white-board onto their own workbook.

• • • Visual or auditory difficulties.

• • • Sudden change in behaviour at school.

• • • Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Aspergers, Rett’s, Childhood Disintegrative disorder.

• • • Diagnosis of Autism.

• • • Poor social interaction for their age.

• • • Delayed verbal communication skills.

• • • Diagnosis of ADD or ADHD.

• • • Hyperactivity

• • • Recurrent inattention.

If you feel your child may benefit from a neurological developmental assessment please call our practice to speak with Dr Jemima Hoult. (03 97876999)

The neurological developmental screening initial consultation is a 45 minute appointment, which includes a comprehensive five page report. The second visit is 30 minutes at which time the report and the proposed management plan is discussed.