Brain Hemispheres: A Delicate Balance
The human brain is like a perfectly timed orchestra, with each hemisphere playing its part. The right hemisphere excels in processing emotions, creativity, and big-picture thinking, while the left hemisphere focuses on logic, language, and detailed tasks. This balance is essential for smooth development, but in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or developmental delays, the harmony between hemispheres can be disrupted.
Understanding Hemispheric Imbalance
Hemispheric imbalance occurs when one side of the brain develops more rapidly than the other. For example, in children with AS D, the left hemisphere may show overconnectivity, leading to intense focus on repetitive behaviours, while the right hemisphere lags, impacting emotional regulation and social skills. This imbalance can manifest as:
Difficulty with social cues: Struggling to understand facial expressions or tone of voice.
Motor challenges: Trouble with coordination and balance.
Sensory processing issues: Overreacting to or avoiding sensory input.
Research also links retained primitive reflexes to hemispheric imbalance. Reflexes like the asymmetric tonic neck reflex (ATNR) can disrupt the natural development of neural pathways, further widening the gap between the hemispheres.
How Therapies Restore Balance
Therapies that address retained reflexes are vital in reestablishing balance between the brain’s hemispheres. These include:
Crawling and bilateral movement exercises: Activities that engage both sides of the body to stimulate neural pathways in both hemispheres.
Sensory stimulation: Techniques like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or rhythmic activities that promote hemispheric synchronisation.
Cognitive exercises: Tasks that challenge underdeveloped skills, such as solving puzzles or interpreting social scenarios.
By targeting specific areas of imbalance, these therapies encourage the brain to function more cohesively, leading to improvements in attention, coordination, and social interaction.
The Power of Awareness
For parents and caregivers, understanding how hemispheric imbalance affects a child can provide clarity and direction. Recognising the signs of imbalance—whether it’s difficulty focusing, clumsiness, or struggles with social interaction—empowers families to seek the right interventions.
Balancing the brain’s hemispheres is a journey, but with patience, guidance, and tailored therapies, children can achieve greater harmony in their development. This balance not only helps them navigate challenges but also unlocks their potential to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
