A Fresh Approach To The Treatment Of Children’s Developmental Problems

For decades, the treatment of children's neuro - developmental problems, - difficulties including cerebral palsy, autism, PDD, AD(H)D and problems such as learning difficulties--- has focused upon either controlling symptoms or upon behavioural principles. Now a new approach, sponsored by Snowdrop is tackling these problems from a neuro - cognitive perspective. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) May 15, 2008 - Andrew Brereton, the founder of Snowdrop was himself the father of a child who suffered profound brain injuries at birth, but rather than accept the symptom centred treatments provided by the medical / educational establishment, Andrew gave up his job as a chemist in the ceramics industry and began a search for answers to his son's and other children's problems.

This search led him to alternative treatment centres all over the world, where he amassed a vast amount of knowledge concerning brain function and children's development. This led him to being involved in various projects including the construction of connectionist models designed to replicate the cognitive functions of children and designing strategies to build communication in and language in children who displayed such problems. Allied to this Andrew studied at various Universities in the UK, first obtaining a degree based in psychology and child development and later gaining qualifications in 'language and communication impairments in children' and finally an MSc in child development and cognitive psychology.

Earlier this year, Andrew formed Snowdrop, - a small organisation designed to focus all of this knowledge and apply it to the treatment of children's developmental problems. Snowdrop's approach is a neuro - cognitive in its foundation. This recognises that any problem which affects the developing brain is likely to impinge upon the child's ability to process sensory information coming into the brain from the outside world. In turn, these 'sensory distortions are inevitably going to affect the way in which the child relates to the world and reacts to it. The consequences of these sensory processing deficits express themselves in the output functions of the child, - namely the development of mobility, hand function, language, socialisation, etc.

Neuro - cognitive therapy focuses upon attempting to train the brain to process incoming sensory stimulation in a more normal manner and consists of providing structured sensory information, within an environment which has been adapted to take account of the child's sensory processing difficulties.

The second prong of neuro - cognitive therapy involves an assessment of the current level of the child's cognitive functioning and then building upon these abilities in a logical step - by - step manner. The approach focuses upon the way in which children learn naturally in their early years and applies this to stimulating the cognitive development of children with developmental difficulties. It recognises that early learning is a social phenomena which is concentrated within the interactions between the child and more skilled partners (parents, siblings, etc) and that over time and with repetition the child begins to not only take the lead in the learning process, but internalises the learning task into his own developmental capability.

Brereton has written two books on the subject, one aimed at parents of children with cerebral palsy and the other directed at parents of children who have autism. However parents of children with any developmental issues would find useful information within either text.

The books can be purchased through Snowdrop's website at http://www.snowdropcerebralpalsyandautism.com Alternatively they can be purchased from the following sites.

Cerebral Palsy. - http://www.lulu.com/content/1224218
Autism. - http://www.lulu.com/content/1225081

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