Symptoms
Breathing quality affects all aspects of development
and is involved in the symptoms commomly seen in Global Developmental Delay:
- Delayed motor mile stones
- Delayed cognitive and social development
- Delayed speech
- Delayed postural control
See also symptoms of cerebral palsy.
Causes
- Brain injury, prematurity, abnormal brain development and pre-natal stress all have a negative effect on the development and control of the breathing of a child with global development delay.
- Abnormal movement in early life also affects breathing development in the child with GDD.
- The frequently unnoticed abnormal breathing patterns in GDD have far reaching consequences.
- Besides meeting routine oxygen requirements, breathing provides the oxygen energy that drives brain growth.
- The quality and control of the breathing organs is involved in posture, movement, body structure, head control, speech, vision, learning, cognitive development, chewing, swallowing, digestion and overall.
- Abnormal breathing can adversely affect some or all of the above.
- Many problems associated with GDD may therefore be related to abnormal breathing.
Therefore breathing quality matters to children with GDD
Effects
Parents’ report that after TST ‘massage’ therapy their children’s development begins to speed up.
- Posture and balance improve. Children who cannot sit become able to do so.
- The children begin to develop other motor abilities such as rolling ,crawling, standing and walking with increasing confidence.
- Hand control also improves and play becomes more adventurous.
- The children sleep better and are generally more alert and interested in their surroundings.
- Sound production increases and the children are increasingly able to express themselves in words.
- Learning ability and problem solving are faster.
- The children seem healthier and have more stamina.
- The children’s digestive systems improve and they are able to chew their food better.
- Behaviour is more mature and less emotional.
- Bowel and bladder control become better and the children get out of nappies.
- The children are more social and better able to make friends.
- These reports are not so surprising once it is recognised how breathing is affected in GDD and that breathing has such a powerful and dynamic influence on so many functions.
Reading parent’s stories for both GDD and CP will further help you to see how much Breathing Matters to children with GDD.