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What is the Learning Connections Centre?
Children's Connection was formed in Melbourne in 1972 and in Brisbane in 1976. It is now called Learning Connections Centre and is a division of the Children's Connection Ltd.
What services does Learning Connections Centre provide?
Learning Connections provides Individual Assessments for the child who is experiencing learning difficulties, attention disorders, behavioural problems and developmental delays. A home-based therapy program is tailor-made specifically to your child's needs. Support and reassessment visits are performed on a regular basis as required.
Kickstart - after school sessions individually designed as a boost for children who have learning difficulties, attention disorders and behavioural problems.
Learning Connections School Program Teacher Training Workshops. Learning Connections holds regular workshops in our highly successful Learning Connections School Program. Workshops are also offered that specifically target the Early Years from 3-6 years-this is ideal for Prep teachers. Workshops are held regularly at the centre or can be arranged in-house.
Workshops give participants an increased awareness of the causes of children's problems and most importantly, what to do about them. Training now also includes SMART activities.
What is a Learning Connections assessment?
An assessment at Learning Connections varies and is dependant upon the age of the child and the difficulties the child intitially presents with. Areas evaluated include reflex development, visual and auditory processing, perceptual skills, eye function skills, motor development (including cerebellar-vestibular function), nutritional status and academic levels as appropriate.
As well as evaluation, an assessment includes parent or carer consultation and instruction on the child's home based program. The initial assessment takes three hours.
Does Learning Connections treat the cerebellum?
Yes, Cerebellar dysfunction may be an aspect of some children's problems, however there is much more to learning difficulties, attention disorders and behaviour problems than the cerebellum. Most children have immaturities across a range of areas which may include eye function and processing, listening, auditory function and processing, reflex immaturity and balance and co-ordination problems.
For some children nutritional and biochemical factors will be a significant factor in their learning, attention or behaviour problems.
What might a Learning Connections home based program involve and how long does it take?
A Learning Connections Program will include physical exercises, learning strategies and dietary advice specific to your child's needs. The program will usually involve around 15-20 minutes of activities daily. Check Back visits are at approximately three month intervals and take around 1½ hours. Most children require around three Check Back visits.
How soon could we expect to see results?
Some children improve very quickly, usually in concentration, behaviour and co-ordination. Most children begin to show some academic improvement after four to six weeks of the Learning Connections Program and this improvement will continue. A small group of children will take more than six weeks.
What if other professionals suggest my child be on medication for ADD/ADHD?
This is a very individual and contentious issue. It should be discussed and considered from more than one viewpoint before a decision is made. Learning Connections' aim is to overcome factors which may contribute to ADD/ADHD, for example, auditory processing disorders and ADD/ADHD are overlapping conditions.
When the causal factors are addressed some children no longer need medication. Learning Connections Centre is happy to discuss all the relevant arguments for and against medication after assessing your child.
What if my child has already had speech therapy, occupational therapy or a similar program and how is Learning Connections different?
These programs can be highly beneficial. However, many of them do not treat the core problem. The core problem usually lies in immaturity of the reflex, visual and auditory systems. The learning difficulty is a symptom of the problem. Remove the cause; the symptoms disappeared; the child's learning improves. Unlike tutoring and remedial programs, Learning Connections does not give children more of what they cannot do.
What is the difference between Learning Connections Programs and programs such as Dore and Perceptual Motor Programs?
Vestibular exercises for the cerebellum in programs such as the Dore program are also used by Learning Connections. However, these are just one part of a big picture. A multi-disciplinary approach is the most effective approach to learning difficulties, behaviour problems and attention disorders. This what is offered through Learning Connections.
Whilst Perceptual Motor Programs and "Brain Gym" are based on the same neurological premise as Learning Connections approach, they work in different ways. Perceptual Motor Programs and "Brain Gym" focus on higher levels of brain development. Learning Connections Programs work on brain organistation at lower levels, including the integration of primitive reflexes.
Good organistation at these lower levels is essential for learning. Perceptual motor skills will not readily develop whilst there is a lack of integration at lower levels of brain development.
Do Educators support Learning Connections methods?
Increasing numbers of teachers from both private and state schools, are attending Learning Connections' teacher training programs. These teachers carry out the Learning Connections School Program with their classes. They collect research on its effectiveness and refer children to Learning Connections.
Does anyone else use Learning Connections' methods?
No. Learning Connections is unique in it's methods, using a holistic approach and multiple strategies to overcome learning difficulties.
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