Learning The Method
MNRI® IPET Oral-Facial-Motor Reflex Integration: Improve feeding abilities and speech-language skills
Course Description
Oral-facial-motor reflexes first appear in intrauterine time and infancy and remain active throughout life, supporting a broad range of protective mechanisms, physiological needs, and developmental resources essential to:
• Human survival including breathing, rooting (food source orientation), eating (suck-swallow-breath coordination, suckling, nibbling, biting, munching, chewing).
• Developing links between tactility and the sucking reflex pattern for safety and bonding.
• Accessing and managing coordination systems: “sucking-suckling,” “tongue-taste,” “tongue-breathing,” “tongue-eye movements,” “tongue-visual space orientation,” “visual-auditory-vestibular,” “tongue-oral cavity-vocalization,” “oral cavity-cranium,” and others.
• Coordination systems of higher developmental chronology: “mouth-hand-fingers,” “mouth-head,” “tongue-eyes-head righting,” “tongue-vestibular-head righting,” and “tongue-oral cavity articulation.”
• Communication development for speakers and non-speakers.
• Language development, comprehension (formation stages), and self-awareness.
• Infant play and games for the development of inner control (volitive) and intellectual processes, including speech.
Oral-facial-motor reflexes affect function throughout the entire brain-body system. This MNRI® program works to activate and engage reflex circuit actions and their motor and postural patterns. This process is necessary for the maturation of more complex sensory-motor integrative schemas and conscious skills for speech and language development, advanced communication and cognition. The engagement and maturation of oral-facial-motor reflexes can be impeded by congenital disorders; non-congenital disorders; traumatic events that occur in utero, at birth, or any time after birth; chronic or prolonged stress. Additionally, about 40% all children in the U.S. have a diagnosed chronic health condition such as a neurodevelopmental disorder. A chronic health condition can affect the neurophysiological maturation and functions of oral-facial-motor reflexes. Depending upon the degree of maturational delay, a broad array of associated life challenges can appear. MNRI® Oral-Facial-Motor Reflex Integration program techniques have been demonstrated to successfully optimize the neurodevelopment of individuals experiencing various developmental delays in the coordination systems listed above.
The MNRI® IPET Oral-Facial-Motor Reflex Integration course provides in-depth information for professionals and parents who want to gain deeper knowledge and understanding on:
• the importance of primary oral-facial-motor reflex pattern maturation
• why a reflex might not be matured and integrated
• the developmental consequences of a non-integrated reflex
• The MNRI® techniques designed to facilitate the oral-facial-motor reflex developmental continuum.
Primary motor reflex patterns must follow their predictable developmental milestones, with each successive reflex emerging to secure a child’s survival and protection as their system advances. A reflex that works according to its naturally given code anchors a neurophysiological, emotional, and psychological sense of security (protection and survival). This optimal state of function enables an infant, child, or adult to achieve higher-level consciously controlled abilities and skills.
Learner Objectives
Upon completion of this three-day, 24-hour MNRI® IPET Oral-Facial-Motor Reflex Integration IPET, participants will be able to:
- Describe key underpinnings of the MNRI® Oral-Facial-Motor Reflex Integration program.
- List the dynamic and postural oral-facial-motor reflexes and their roles in potential sensory-motor and neurodevelopment.
- Describe the maturational role of oral-facial-motor functions within the primary motor reflex system and the developmental consequences associated with dysfunctional and pathological reflex patterns in children and adults.
- Learn how to apply proprioceptive touch, assuring proper application for oral-facial-motor reflex techniques and exercises that facilitate tongue activation, suck-swallow-breath coordination, rooting, eating, speech and language development, communication, neuro-cranial and oral-facial-motor functions.
- Learn how to incorporate the use of MNRI® IPET Oral-Facial Reflex Integration IPET class content into daily client and home practice, individual client MNRI® Home Program, and authorized MNRI® specialists for MNRI® Oral-Facial-Motor Clinics and MNRI® Family Educational Conferences.
Hourly Agenda
DAY 1
Hour 1: A 15-minute overview of ethics, code of conduct and basic standards associated with the
MNRI® Oral-Facial Reflex Integration.
Hours 1-2: Key concepts of the MNRI® Oral-Facial Reflex Integration program.
Hours 3-4: Neurophysiological aspects of the dynamic and postural oral-facial-motor reflexes.
Hours 5-6: Maturational and developmental role of oral-facial-motor reflex exercises.
Hours 7-8: Practicum: Demonstration and applied practice of Oral-Facial-Motor reflex integration exercises that facilitate tongue activation and suck-swallow-breathe coordination.
DAY 2
Hour 1: The impact of dysfunctional and pathological reflex patterns in children with challenges. Brief overview of prevailing or new trends in clients with oral-facial-motor reflex dysfunction.
Hour 2: Nonverbal and verbal communication development. A. Luria’s model of “speech-mind system” development.
Hour 3: Accessing and managing coordination systems: “sucking-suckling,” “tongue-taste,” “tongue-breathing,” “tongue-eye movements,” “tongue-visual space orientation,” “visual-auditory-vestibular,” “tongue-oral cavity-vocalization,” “oral cavity-cranium,” and otherS.
Hour 4: Coordination systems of higher developmental chronology: “mouth-hand-fingers,” “mouth-head,” “tongue-eyes-head righting,” “tongue-vestibular-head righting,” and “tongue-oral cavity articulation.”
Hour 5: Practicum and discussion: Demonstration and application of oral-facial-motor reflex exercises to facilitate positive protection and survival.
Hours 6-8: Practicum: Demonstration and application of oral-facial-motor reflex techniques and exercises to support: breathing, rooting (food source orientation), eating (suck-swallow-breath coordination, suckling, nibbling, biting, munching, and chewing).
DAY 3
Hour 1: Levels of tactility in oral-facial-motor reflex integration for healthy bonding & attachment.
Hour 2: Language development, comprehension (formation stages), and self-awareness.
Hour 3: Essentiality of infant play and games for development of inner control (volitive) and intellectual processes, including speech.
Hours 4-5: Practicum and discussion: Demonstration and applied practice of oral-facial-motor reflex exercises that facilitate vocalization, articulation, speech, and language development.
Hours 6-7: Practicum: Demonstration and application of oral-facial-motor reflex techniques and exercises addressing the coordination systems of higher developmental chronology: “mouth-hand-fingers,” “mouth-head,” “tongue-eyes-head righting,” “tongue-vestibular-head righting,” and “tongue-oral cavity articulation.”
Hour 8: Discussion of concept and practice on early intervention tools for a child and an adult with delayed neurodevelopment and feeding/language/speech. Extrapyramidal nervous system-oriented approach for facilitation and restoration of impaired reflex patterns and higher cognitive functions.
All IPETS include:
- A 15-minute overview of Ethics and Code of Conduct of the MNRI® Oral-Facial Reflex Integration Specialist.
- Written test before class. Results to help guide in-person class discussion.
- Hands-On exam during IPET class
- Practical Hands-On Graded Exam following 30 conference or clinic hours.
