Neuroplasticity Treatments Through Sensory Strategies: Changing Function and Advancing Milestones

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Handouts/Brochure

Speaker

Karen Pryor, PhD, PT, DPT, CH, CFPS Related seminars and products

Health Sphere Wellness Center

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Karen Pryor, PhD, PT, DPT, CH, CFPS, has a doctorate in physical therapy and has practiced for 40 years in the field. Dr. Pryor is the owner of Health Sphere Wellness Center, an integrative therapy clinic in Nashville, Tennessee. Involved with early intervention in the birth-three population for over 30 years, she has developed neuroplasticity techniques that are used in a wide variety of settings, including homes, childcare centers, and school systems, to advanced pediatric therapy programs.

Dr. Pryor serves on several boards, including the Leadership Interagency Council for Early Intervention (2014-2019), a position to which she was appointed by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam. In 2010, she received the President's Volunteer Service Award for her contributions to the advanced treatment of children from President Barack Obama. In addition to her work with children, Dr. Pryor has served as an adjunct professor at the Tennessee State University Occupational Therapy Assistant program. She is a clinical instructor for several universities and colleges. With her years of experience and passion for complete wellness, Dr. Pryor advances a more expansive view of how to integrate therapy throughout the lifespan by using neuroplasticity techniques.

 

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Karen Pryor is the owner of Health Sphere Wellness Center, LLC and is a field examiner for PDMS-3. She has employment relationships with Tennessee State University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Physical Therapy School, the Daymar Physical Therapy Assistant School and the Volunteer State Community College. She is a paid consultant for Evergreen Certifications. Karen Pryor receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Karen Pryor is a reviewer with Tennessee Physical Therapy Association and American Physical Therapy Association. She is an Ambassador for National Down Syndrome Society. She serves on the editorial board for APTA Journal.

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Objectives

1. Determine how to use the receptor centers in the lobes of the brain and cranial nerves for optimum use of sensation for neuroplasticity to occur.
2. Use central brain structures to enhance functional sensory processing pathways and integration potential to promote occupational tasks.
3. Identify challenges post drug exposure, difficult birthing process, and the relationship to sensory processing and milestone attainment.
4. Utilize cranial nerve sensory functions to coordinate sensory processing and organization of learning strategies.
5. Distinguish pathways that connect to higher neurological centers of the central nervous system for increased occupational function.
6. Utilize vision and other sensations to decrease primitive reflex elicitation and toe walking.

Outline

• Sensation relationship to receptive information
• What is working and what is not
• Sensory processing challenges and influence

• Neuropathways through the insular cortex
• Primitive reflex testing
• Why is rotation important
• Success in testing through telehealth

• Primitive reflex retention with trauma
• Poor balance responses
• How it may influence sensory processing disorders

• Sensory processing challenges
• Reciprocal connections
• Brain differences
• Environmental toxins and influence on the child

• What is first to rotate
• Importance of trunk rotation
• Reduced rotation in primitive reflexes

• Observation of primitive reflexes
• Treatment of the child for integration
• Autism

• Ventral visual processing related to autism
• Specific measures and history of symptoms
• Consideration of similar symptoms and diagnoses

• Sensory teaches the brain, motor is output of the CNS
• Sensation and influence in autism symptoms

• Cranial nerves related to sensation
• How sensation is utilized for integration of voluntary movements
• Re-test of primitive reflex movements

• Frontal lobe
• Temporal lobe
• Occipital lobe
• Parietal lobe
• Cerebellum

• Methods to integrate primitive reflexes
• Voluntary movements to integrate voluntary postures
• Teaching the caregiver daily home programs

• Genetic underdevelopment of midbrain and occipital lobe
• Before and after 12 months of treatment

• Location, location, location
• Autonomic Nervous System

• Adding sensation to change motor responses
• Effects of color
• Effects of sound
• Long term bracing
• Brain dictates function

Target Audience

• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• COTA
• SLPs
• Early Interventionists, Behavior Therapists - ABA