The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is rising globally, with mean estimates suggesting that 1 in 160 individuals worldwide have autism. While symptom severity varies significantly, the overall social, psychological, and economic costs of this trend are substantial. The increasing rates of ASD also underscore an increasing demand for services to prevent adverse outcomes.

This lecture provides a research-based overview of risk factors, core features, associated characteristics, and comorbidities to support a deeper understanding of autism as a spectrum disorder. Best practices in clinical and educational identification are discussed. This lecture also explores highlights from current research on brain overgrowth, sex differences, related motor anomalies and milestone delays, and reflex profiles of individuals with ASD in the MNRI® studies. 

A brief report of a peer-reviewed study on the evaluation of the therapeutic effect of the MNRI Reflex Neuromodulation on children diagnosed with ASD also will be presented. This evaluation is based on reflex assessments, QEEG brain mapping, and neurotransmitters analysis Autism Awareness Treatment Checklist (ATEC) questionnaire results also will be presented. The correlated study shows the links to improvement in:

• The reflex patterns
• Brain maps
• Social-behavioral-cognitive traits of children ages 6 to 19.

This lecture shares some unique concepts of the MNRI® program, and specific techniques and exercises for the rehabilitation of early sensory-motor reflex patterns — the units of the nervous system and neurodevelopment — to optimize the brain functions of children with ASD targeted at improvements in self-awareness. Neurophysiological aspects of self-awareness are proposed in specific groups of exercises targeting the establishment of visual contact, desire to imitate, release of reactivity and anxiety, increase of calmness/inner peace, and focusing abilities and cognitive activity. This lecture also explores how maturing self-awareness can occur through the “resetting of” deviated reflex patterns and normalizing the functions of protective and rewarding centers in the brain.

 Selected MNRI® reflex integration exercises will be shared to provide participants with a sampling of the MNRI® techniques to support the best practices of therapeutic intervention for individuals with autism.

Presented by:

Dr. Amy Watson-Grace, MOT, OTD, OTR/L, BCP and MNRI® Core in Training

Dr. Svetlana Masgutova, MNRI® Creator and Founder 

Isabelle Renard-Fontaine, PT, MNRI® Core Specialist, MNRI® Instructor

Video Runtime:  2 hours, 25 minutes, 04 seconds.