Learning & Behavioral Difficulties – from an NIS perspective

By Dr Allan Phillips D.O.

ADHD/ ADD/ Dyslexia/ Aspergers/ Hyperactivity

The area of learning difficulties may be considered the NIS systems ‘flagship’ complaint. An investigation into neurological disorganisation and this very area is where Dr Phillips research started and what has made him well-known locally in New Zealand.

Learning difficulties are expressed by a range of labels: ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, aspergers syndrome and increasingly—autism, affecting not only children but some adults also.

There are a myriad of symptoms for this area and each person (child or adult) may possess a different combination. The key areas are: Learning difficulties (reading, writing, spelling and mathematics), Speech (stuttering), Recall (short-term memory), Co-ordination with sport/physical activities, Behavioural (anger and frustration), Emotional (lack of confidence, low self-esteem).

Regardless of the combination of symptoms – as far as NIS is concerned they are represented by the one banner of “Neurological disorganisation”.

There are many types of treatments available that others use—these are assistance and/or educational programs. They help the person to COMPENSATE for the deficit. Compensation is stressful and tiresome.

With NIS we use a system to reset neurological pathways to allow automatic function to be restored. The brain will initiate change—not the patient.

Other methods work on the basis of stimulating the brain or doing something active to the body to effect change. Some programs work on the basis of minimising cerebellar developmental delay. They claim the cerebellum is the physiological cause of the learning difficulties. Some of these programs will often claim that if the connectors between the thinking brain (cerebrum) and the cerebellum aren’t fully developed the cerebellum can’t process information quickly enough. Their exercises are then designed to stimulate the cerebellum and create new neural pathways.

What we do is different!

With NIS we address the neurological disorganisation so the symptoms will in time resolve.

We do not see the neural pathways as impaired nor the cerebellum itself as a problem.
What is not happening in the neurologically disorganised person is that the cerebellum is not congruent (or in appropriate dialogue) with all the other cortical centres.

The cerebellum is only one area considered through treatment with NIS.  Other areas are: Limbic Brain, Auditory Cortex, Association Cortex, Motor Cortex, Pre-motor, Sensory Cortex, Visual Cortex, Gait Patterns.
Why? Because…..you need to be able to write AND visualise what you are writing AND and listen all at the same time.  Other treatment methods do not take this into consideration.

How long does it take to see change?

Every patient is different, the combination of symptoms, the length of time they have had the complaint, and age of the patient will all influence time frames for change.
However, on average it takes a period of 4 months to see a full pattern of improvement. The brain starts its changes from the very 1st visit. Small improvements should start to show within a week or two of the first visit.

How many visits are required?

Depends on the patient and how NIS visits are structured in your practice but at least 2-3 visits a couple of weeks apart and a re-evaluation visit 4 months from the first one.