What is Auditory Processing and How Does it Affect my Child?
Day 7 – Change
As I sat hear doing my Listening Program today I thought about change, as you can see these people have embraced “no change” Everything that was- still is -and there is little evidence of “new”
It got me thinking about the children we work with and how sometimes the changes we see can be difficult for us as parents to accept. “Be careful what you wake up” words spoken to me by Alex Doman founder and CEO of Advanced Brain Technologies nearly 15 years ago. I have never forgotten them and have been presented with many many delightful examples of his words over the years. To explain -think of the child who drifted along, had little opinion for what or how something happened suddenly with the new found confidence in their world they have evolved into quite a different individual that now has an opinion and wants to have a say on how things are done around the place. This results in a more interesting parenting path and as a consequence we may need to change our own parenting methods J
When you see this change emerge through your child’s journey of the Listening Program celebrate the beautiful ignition of engagement they are experiencing as they connect more successfully with their world. Now it’s your turn to change and enjoy them and their new found confidence on a new level.
Now just for today I am going to sit here and do my second session of listening in this little space of no change…..thank you Pine Creek
Day 6 – The Lonely Road Ahead
As I looked down this somewhat desolate road with no end in sight, I thought about how so many of my families feel this way.
It can feel like you are the only one travelling this path, uncertainty if you are going the right way, in trepidation at what may lay around the corner. A giant buffalo, a brown venomous snake? Much like the brutal bully at school or the venous words sometimes spoken by others who have no concept of what it is like to be travelling this path you have found yourself on.
Truth is even with the threat of buffalo or snake there is equally the opportunity for sweet birds singing their comforting song, butterflies blessing us as they fly by and at the end of the day the most incredible starry skies to share our deepest secrets hopes and aspirations with.
They too lay just around the corner on this incredible journey.
To the parents and children who have trusted me over the past 15 years to take this road with them and enjoy the sweet journey and all the beautiful outcomes we have seen along the way today I give thanks and gratitude.
Day 5 – Waterfalls…Experience shapes us
Everything that happens today shapes our tomorrow.
As a sat and did my Listening Program today looking at this magnificent gift of nature, I thought about how the hours, days and years of water flow have moulded and changed the rocky surface to what it is today. Different to what it will be like next year.
I thought about our kids, the process of rolling and crawling creates and shapes neural pathways in the brain just like that water on the rock. So what if there is a drought? That process is interrupted, just like if the process of crawling is interrupted in our early walkers the integration in the brain is also potentially interrupted.
Unlike our waterfall we can give the brain a second opportunity to wire more efficiently therefore process more efficiently with targeted training using the right frequency intensity and duration. As naturally as drug free and as enjoyable as this water cascading down these rocks.
I’m off to finish my second 15 min session of The Listening Program before a swim…..
Day 4 -Team Work
These termites with incredibly small brains have the most stunning process of teamwork. Although so small – when they work together they create something so much bigger than themselves.
This made me think about our role as therapists/teachers/parents working with children, only when we work together can we truly achieve greatness. Good communication and team work is essential for the best outcome for our kids. I always encourage a parent to complete The Listening Program with their child. Two significant benefits:
- A beautiful message of solidarity, we are doing this to be the best we both can be. Not something is broken and I am trying to fix you.
- As a parent of a child with a challenge we have our own stress that needs support so we can be part of that essential team that our child needs.
Day 3 The Lotus Flower – Everything is not always what it seems.
When we look at the dark, muddy water we may not know about the breathtaking beauty in the Lotus Flower preparing to burst open and shine in all its undefinable glory.
Today I thought about the 100’s of children I have seen over the years who have been judged categorised even labelled based on what is seen on the surface. What if we took the time to look deeper under the surface of obvious symptoms? What if just like the Lotus with the right conditions below the surface magically emerges a perfect Lotus Flower. So too with the right conditions under the surface emerges our child shining brightly to their true potential.
Through the gift of neuroplasticity, we know we can change the often invisible underlying conditions and then stand back and watch them grow into a spectacular individual a process that will take our breath away just like these Lotus Flower
Sorry I couldn’t get closer to the Billabong the crocodiles had me bluffed!
Day 2 The Promise of tomorrow- Ubirr
Ubirr is incredibly famous for its spectacular sunsets. It didn’t let me down….
Those who know me well, know that one of my greatest pleasures is a sunset. The colours in the sky for me are a time for valuable reflection on what has been coupled with the promise of a brand new tomorrow. So many parents say to me “I wish I had known about The Listening Program sooner” You know what? It really doesn’t matter because NOW really is the perfect time and everything that has come before has helped shape today. Without yesterday we wouldn’t appreciate and have gratitude for all the beautiful changes we know we will start to see through our headphones in our tomorrows.
In your sunset tonight reflect on how far your child has come in their already short lifetime, and feel the joyful anticipation for the tomorrows waiting to begin.
