53: Building Better Brains for ADHD with Lorraine Driscoll

04/20/23 • 36 min

Think back to when your little one was an infant. Do you remember when he or she first wrapped their little hand around your finger or when that startle reflex was so strong that they would even wake themselves up if they weren't wrapped tight? Both of these things are primitive reflexes.

In this episode of the Soaring Child, Lorraine Driscoll explains how retained primitive reflexes and brain imbalances can affect children with ADHD. Discover the three most common retained reflexes that children with ADHD often have, as well as how parents can integrate brain training technologies and techniques to help build better brains.

Lorraine Driscoll is a brain integration therapist, nutritionist, and the founder of Building Better Brains. As a former teacher, she's passionate about optimally developing the brain so kids can thrive.

Key Takeaways:

[2:48] How Lorraine got into this work

[5:27] Retained primitive reflexes

[7:54] Brain imbalances

[8:14] Potential causes of retained reflexes or brain imbalances

[12:03] 3 common retained reflexes that children with ADHD have

[16:15] The role that brain imbalance plays with ADHD

[20:46] Where to start

[24:03] Brain training technologies that can be helpful for kids with ADHD

[28:48] How this is different than neurofeedback

[29:56] How brain imbalances & retained reflexes affect picky eating

[31:59] What parents can do TODAY to start building better brain connections

Memorable Quotes

"There are a ton of reflexes that infants have, and their purpose is #1 to keep them alive...and then further on in infancy, to assist with gross and fine motor development."

"These reflexes definitely serve a purpose but they should disappear by 3 years of age or sooner, depending on the reflex. And if they don't, basically they create a block."

"With primitive reflexes, they can either be mildly retained or severely retained. And generally, the more reflexes that are retained and the more severely retained, the more severe the condition."

"Most kids who have true ADHD or even autism spectrum typically have an overdeveloped left brain and an underdeveloped right brain."

"The left brain is the gas, and the right brain is the brakes."

Start "with very specific exercises that very much mimic...the movements they would have done when they were an infant in order for that reflex to be integrated."

"The research shows it's best when it's done morning and afternoon or evening."

"If you do nothing else, the best thing you can do is get your child moving."

"Kids who have ADHD where they have poor vestibular function can either sit still or they can pay attention."

How to Connect with Lorraine Driscoll

Website: https://lorrainedriscoll.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.better.brains/

Dana Kay Resources:

Website: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/mycompany/