Some kids just can’t sit still, act out, or consistently struggle with academics. They’re frustrated, and so are their parents, but are they just “misbehaving”? It could be something more.
These children could have ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, dyslexia, learning difficulties, or behavioral or social issues. Brain Balance Center of Princeton-Pennington can evaluate a child to determine what’s creating the struggle.
“When a family comes in, the first step is to perform a comprehensive assessment to see if there is a sensory motor issue, a cognitive issue, or both,” said Center Director Lauren Peters, MEd. “It could be there’s an eye issue that’s impacting reading comprehension, an issue with developmental delay, any number of things that’s holding the child back.”
A detailed report is created for each child based on the assessment’s results. This is the blueprint Brain Balance Center of Princeton-Pennington implements during the next 12 weeks with the child, who comes in after school three times per week for an hour-long session. Some need fewer sessions, some more; the program is specific to each student.
Brain Balance Center of Princeton-Pennington employs two sensory motor coaches — one with a physical education degree and another who is completing occupational therapy training — and cognitive coaches who are specialized, certified teachers.
The results are impressive, and Peters has the testimonials to back it up. Norm H. went from being extremely withdrawn and non-verbal to reading aloud in front of his class. Jonathan R. was able to avoid medication for anxiety and depression through the program. Tommy P. overcame sensory sensitivities including a fear of loud noises; now he enjoys fireworks. All three are doing well in school, too.
“We also look at the nutrition aspect and test for food sensitivities,” Peters added. “We discovered one student, Erik W., had protein deficiency. Once on amino acids, we saw an immediate improvement in his attention span.”
Peters is extremely experienced in dealing with school-aged children, having taught for a decade. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Rhode Island, a master’s in elementary education from the College of New Jersey, and a master’s in educational technology from New Jersey City University. During her tenure as a teacher she gained a broad knowledge in the field by teaching both special needs and regular education children.
The center is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Brain Balance of Princeton-Pennington, 21 Route 31 North, Suite A2, Pennington. 609-737-1310 or www.brainbalancecenters.com.
