Brain Maturity

Wonderfully Made Therapy provides a comprehensive evaluation and assessment to help identify areas in the brain that may be immature or underdeveloped.

At Wonderfully Made Therapy, we celebrate every milestone, supporting young minds through their unique developmental paths!

  Understanding the journey of a child's neurodevelopment is key to unlocking a child's potential!  

Neurodevelopment delays can be impacted by:

• Brain Immaturity

• Poor Communication Between Different Parts of the Brain

• Weaker Areas of the Brain

• When the Brain is Not Communicating Properly Within its Own Structure

It can also impact how the brain processes information with the signals going out or coming in from the the rest of body. These delays can affect a child’s physical, cognitive, communication, social, emotional, visual, vestibular, academic or behavioral skills.  

Neurodevelopmental delays can also impact one's ability to process sensory information in their environment.   

Commonly, these delays may impact multiple areas of the child's development. Some developmental delays have an identifiable cause. However, for many children, the cause of the delay, or multiple delays, is not clear.  

At Wonderfully Made Therapy, we provide a comprehensive evaluation and assessment to help identify areas in the brain that may be immature or underdeveloped. We will address and treat the weaker areas at the lowest neurodevelopment level that may be impacting higher-level skills, functioning, and processing.

Three Areas in which Occupational Therapy Supports Children Struggling with Neurodevelopmental delays:

1. Sensory Integration: Occupational therapists specialize in sensory integration techniques, helping children process and respond to sensory information effectively. For children with brain immaturity, sensory processing challenges can hinder their ability to focus, regulate emotions, and engage in daily activities. OT interventions such as sensory diets and sensory-based activities can enhance sensory processing skills, enabling better participation in school, play, and social interactions.

2. Motor Skills Development: Brain immaturity may show as delays in fine motor, balance, and coordination skill development, impacting a child's ability to grasp objects, manipulate tools, attend to tasks, and perform self-care tasks. OTs utilize therapeutic exercises, activities, and adaptive equipment to promote the refinement of bilateral motor skills. By addressing these challenges early on, OT interventions can enhance a child's independence and confidence in performing essential activities of daily living.

3. Problem-Solving and Planning Assistance: Children with brain immaturity may struggle with problem-solving, planning, and organizing tasks. OT provides tailored strategies and activities to help children develop these essential skills, enabling them to approach tasks more effectively and independently. Through structured interventions, children learn to break tasks down into manageable steps, set goals, and adapt their strategies as needed, fostering academic success and improved daily functioning.

• How long does it take for a child's brain to mature?

  A child's brain grows so fast between birth and 6 years old. Main nerve pathways are in place by age 2. Your brain is the larges between the ages of 11 and 14.

• 5 stages in brain development:

  Brain development progresses through a series of stages: neurogenesis and progressing to neural migration, maturation, synaptogenesis, pruning, and myelin formation.

• When does a baby's brain form?

  An embryo's brain and nervous system are formed at six weeks old! What a remarkable thing to think about.