Diagnostic examination (both hardware and hardware-free)

Diagnostic examination (both hardware and hardware-free)

At the NeuroLogopedic Center «Above the Rainbow» the neuropsychologists conduct hardware-free diagnostics (neuropsychological tests) and hardware examination to see and realize not only the external manifestations of the problem, but its primary causes. Afterwards, an individual remedial route is made up, that may include (one or several of the thirty remedial programs functioning in the center): a program of neuropsychological correction, speech therapeutic program, a program to » launch» the speech or neurologopedic program, neuroacoustic program Tomatis or In Time, a program of sensory integration or defectological route, etc. But the most important thing is that in our center any program is created for every child taking into account his or her individual peculiarities, as well as the goals and objectives of correction. There are no standardized programs, because our specialists are well aware of the fact that there are no «universal» children, «universal» problems and panaceas for all the troubles — what helps one, for the other can be absolutely useless and even harmful. That is why the «universal» methods are not followed in our center. The children with the similar symptoms very often have completely different nature of the similar disorders. For this reason, a serious integrated neuropsychological examination is carried out with every child before the process starts.

Neuropsychological diagnostics are based on the neuropsychological tests (certain tasks and exercises), created by the founder of neuropsychology A. R. Luria. They are adapted by the psychologists for children.
Such an examination allows parents not only to understand the peculiarities of the child’s development, but also to see his/her current and potential possibilities.

In our center there is an assessment of the brain’s ability to process vestibular, visual and sound information, an assessment of the blood supply quality of the brain, as well as the energy supply of the brain stem structures with the help of devices to confirm and specify the results of hardware-free diagnostics.

Sometimes it is obvious to parents that they need to consult a neuropsychologist. But in some cases it doesn’t even occur to us, and parents go to doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors, tutors and no one can solve the problem.

Neuropsychological diagnostics helps to identify the reasons for the child’s backwardness or irregularity of development with the help of tests that show the degree of maturity and the level of interaction between different parts of the brain.

Probably your child:

— is very fastidious and capricious in the choice of food
— reacts acutely to changes in the weather
— is getting carsick
— is irritated by loud noises or pungent smells
— is careless
— doesn’t speak well.
— is restless
— is capricious
— is anxious
— often cries
— is clumsy
— is lazy

Do you think all this is about character?

In fact, these are neurological peculiarities. If you don’t pay attention to them now, they can result in serious behavioral disorders, retardation of speech and general development, and, consequently, the difficulties of studying at school.

The fact is that many neurological disorders can be easily corrected and forgotten at an early age. In adolescence, however, the small problems often turn into big ones and it is difficult to cope with them.

Therefore, it is better not to set aside a visit to a neuropsychologist.

Many researchers point out that poor school performance, poor memory, low workability, slowness, hyperactivity, clumsiness, speech problems, speech disorders, emotional instability are always of a neurological nature.
This does not mean that children with such problems are sick. It’s just because their brain doesn’t know how to handle the information from their senses effectively.
This situation can be improved if the child is provided with the proper neurocorrection support in time.
Experienced neuropsychologist, thanks to special tests and tasks, will determine that the child

— is terminated,
— restless,
— is falling on deaf ears (as if he can’ t hear it),
— doesn’t notice the half of the text on the page,
— has a hidden left-handedness,
— mirrors,
— forgets everything,
— can’t concentrate,
— has difficulties with memorizing and getting into a new instruction .

However, the degree of manifestation of these problems is identified more effectivly by special devices:

• TAVS
• EYE-tracking
• Audiometry
• Play Attention (to determine the child’s ability to hold attention)
• Interactive Metronom
• Computer diagnostics of lateralization features
•  Stable platform

At the NeuroLogopedic Center «Beyond the Rainbow» the diagnostics is conducted by one specialist or, if necessary (a combination of problems, many diagnoses and disorders), by a consultation of specialists: neuropsychologist, speech therapist and defectologist.

After the diagnostics and at the consultation the specialists discuss with parents the results of the hidden causes analysis, the child’s problems, the current status, the prospects of correction, as well as the program of the non-medical correction course and non-invasive influence.

REVEALING OF VESTIBULAR AND PROPRIOCEPTIVE PROBLEMS

The stable platform is designed to perform an objective and quantitative assessment of imbalances with regard to the ability of maintaining a certain body position (postural function).
Many children who suffer from difficulties in memorizing and retaining information, have difficulties in keeping their balance, problems with coordination of movements and sensory integration ( brain processing of information from all the senses).
Although these difficulties are not always evident, disorders of basic functions prevent the brain from mastering more sophisticated «advanced» activities, such as speech, reading and writing. The brain has to spend too much resources on the control of body position and the regulation of simple movements.

REVEALING PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTROL OF EYE MOVEMENTS AND CENTRAL PROCESSING OF VISUAL INFORMATION

By means of the video-registration method, with the help of EYE-tracking, which was developed by Interactive Minds (USA, Germany), the peculiarities of eye movements are investigated.
This method allows you to evaluate the unrecognized eye movements during the reading or viewing of any images.
In this area dysfunctions interfere with the automation of reading and writing skills, make it difficult for the brain to analyze visual information. In the process of controlling the brain’s fine eye movements the dysfunctions interfere with the automation of reading and writing skills as well as complicate the analysis of visual information. A child, suffering from such problems, needs special exercises for the training of these functions.

REVEALING OF PROBLEMS WITH CENTRAL PROCESSING OF SOUND INFORMATION

The brain’s ability research to process the auditory information is carried out with the help of the TAVS battery, developed by Advanced Brain Technologies (USA).The dysfunctions ,identified by these tests, point to the difficulties that the brain may face in processing the auditory information.

TAVS assesses the following capabilities: the ability of the brain to process information about the order of perceived stimuli (auditory and visual); auditory and visual motor skills; the ability to distinguish between sound stimuli that differ in their frequency; the ability to determine the localization of the sound; the ability to perceive the intervals between sound stimuli in the noise; the ability to correlate the motion with the rhythm (sound and visual); the ability to determine the duration of the sound or visual stimuli.

Play Attention is a method of diagnostics and correction of active attention. The program uses the latest biofeedback technologies, which allow you to control your computer with the help of «attention». Petr Freyer’s method has been developed using NASA (national aeronautics and space administration) technologies and has been used for 25 years. With the help of this technique, the astronauts prepare to work in different conditions. Play Attention is one of the most popular educational, cognitive and behavioral programs. After several years of development, research and improvement, Play Attention has been introduced into the public school system all over the United States. During the diagnostics, even with the naked eye, it is possible to understand how much the child is able to hold and concentrate.

In some cases, a neuropsychologist-diagnostician uses a program called Interactive Metronom during the diagnostics. Diagnostic exercises are based on the principle of «feedback». The child should clap his/her hands or stamp the foot in accordance with the rhythmic sounds of the metronome. A sensory glove or mat can be used to evaluate the accuracy of a child’s task. The technician evaluates the child’s auditory attention and the ability to retain information and rhythm.

It is especially important to conduct neuropsychological diagnostics among the children before entering the first grade, to detect and correct neuropsychological disorders in time, so that children do not develop «school failure», which will affect not only the learning process, but also the psychological state of the child.

For example, in the temporal lobe of the left hemisphere there are areas «responsible» for sound analysis of speech. If neuropsychological tests that check the condition of this brain area, are performed incorrectly, it is possible not only to diagnose its immaturity, but also to predict the appearance of certain types of errors in speech, writing, reading and memorizing the information.

Neuropsychological diagnostics allows you to understand the problems of cognitive, emotional, motor and motor-movement sphere of the child and correctly organize remedial work.

During the consultation, which must take place afterwards,the neuropsychologist, according to the diagnosis (tests and device readings), gives the parents recommendations on how to behave with the child who has difficulties in learning, development or communication. Later on, the specialist prescribes an individual program of neuropsychological correction with integration of different types of innovative equipment, unique facilities and special educational space.

Neuropsychological diagnostics can be performed from the age of 1.5.

Features and advantages of neuropsychological diagnostics in the NeuroLogopedic Center «Beyond the Rainbow»:

1. 100% accuracy — hardware-free method (neuropsychological tests) and confirmation by the devices (REVEALING OF VESTIBULAR AND PROPRTIOCEPTIVE PROBLEMS), REVEALING PROBLEMS WITH EYE MOVEMENT CONTROL AND CENTRAL PROCESSING OF VISUAL INFORMATION, REVEALING OF PROBLEMS WITH CENTRAL PROCESSING OF SOUND INFORMATION);

2. Diagnostics is specially developed by the neuropsychologists of our center in the appropriate form for the child’s age (from one year to 18 years). For example, babies are examined in a fascinating game form with the integration of a large number of interactive and innovative equipment and sensory environment, speleotherapy cave, «wet» zone, hall of sensory integration, etc.
Teenagers undergo examination with special devices, with the help of which it is possible to diagnose the functional systems of the body, providing mental functioning and energy supply to the stem structures of the brain.
3. At the NeuroLogopedic Center «Beyond the Rainbow» after the diagnostic examination, a specialist (neuropsychologist) or a team of specialists (neuropsychologist, speech therapist, defectologist) provides consultation for parents on the results of the hardware examination and hardware-free tests. The specialist gives the professional advice and recommendations.
4. A remedial program (individual, non-template) is drawn up, taking into account the results of the diagnostic examination and the characteristics of the child. A multistage remedial route is built up. At the first stage, the goals are set, without which it is impossible to proceed to the realization of the following ones.

We are the principled opponents of doing everything at the same time, setting all the classes at once. It is not necessary, but often harmful and, what is more important, it does not solve the objectives. For every child an individual remedial route is prescribed.

Thus, it is not worth working on the «launch» of speech without preparing the child to understand the addressed speech and the «inclusion» of its attention, etc.

Diagnostics is conducted in the presence of parents and clearly demonstrates the primary causes of certain child’s difficulties. Based on the results of the examination (hardware and neuropsychological tests), a neuropsychologist makes a clear conclusion about the current state of higher mental functions (HMF) such as: attention, memory, thinking, speech, visual, auditory and tactile perception, spatial views, arbitrary regulation and self-control.

These processes are the basic and determining processes for the successful learning of a child at school. Upon further enquiry of the parent, the neuropsychologist can make a written conclusion, which is made up and arranged on the letterhead within 7-14 days.

INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSTICS OF A CHILD’S READINESS FOR SCHOOL

This service includes neuropsychological diagnostics, through which the level of the current development of the HMF (higher mental functions) is determined.

The analysis of the revealed features allows define the degree of child’s readiness for studying at school.
In the process of consultation, based on the results of diagnostics, the child’s psychologist gives the parent recommendations on how to increase the effectiveness of education, choose the direction of the school (class), and can predict the possible difficulties in studying. In the case of necessity, the child will be offered developmental or remedial classes under an individual program with the integration of innovative equipment, special aids in a special educational space.

Complex examination of higher mental functions, professional diagnostics of teenagers (from the age of 13)
This diagnosis consists of two parts: diagnosis of the child’s emotional and personal sphere and directly. During the examination, the specialist uses various projective methods of testing, vocational- guidance techniques and conversation, innovative equipment, special tests, educational space. Professional diagnostics is aimed at revealing certain inclinations of a person to this or that professional activity, revealing abilities and predispositions on the basis of a hardware examination.

Accordingly, following the results of the meeting the child and parents are given recommendations on the choice of profession, taking into account the propensity and personality of the child.
The new technology allows to measure natural data of intellect, attention and memory, mathematical abilities or sports «anger», etc.

Special equipment makes it possible to make an objective automated analysis of the rhythms of bioelectric activity of the brain.

At any child’s age, it is possible to make an independent and accurate assessment of the potential of achievements in any field — mathematics, languages, music, sports and others.
On the basis of diagnostics it is possible to make an individual approach to the development of abilities, to achieve success in the classes, to choose a leading direction of development with the potential of prominent results, strong professional qualities.

USED EQUIPMENT

Diagnostic equipment

Diagnostic equipment: assessment of the brain’s ability to process vestibular, visual and sound information, assessment of the quality of blood circulation in the brain with the help of devices.

Biofeedback for active attention development (Play Attention)

Play Attention is a program of correction and attention enhancement, using the latest developments of biofeedback. Biofeedback technology allows you to control your computer through active attention.

Interactive metronome

Neuropsychological Correction with Interactive Metronome program (Interactive Metronome). A high-tech developing technique created by Interactive Metronome to overcome speech, attention and behavior disorders related to time calculation and movement planning, as well as the development of a sense of rhythm and time. Interactive metronome classes are assigned to the children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders…

Biofeedback of Timocco video-management system

Developing-correction complex with Timoссo’s video-management is a motor-visual program developed by specialists from Israel for children with special educational and developmental needs.