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Special needs children and their families are finding new hope in Bahrain thanks to Noraini Mahmood. By integrating fun with exercise routines, the experienced trainer and kinesiologist is helping to bring stability and stimulation into their lives. GulfWeekly's Anasuya Kesavan met with parents of four children living in Bahrain who say they have witnessed dramatic improvements after regular "brain gym" sessions.
People generally look at unique problems concerning children with a stigma and give it a label. I look at it as a surplus gift from our creator," said Ameera A Al Rehaimi, 49, mother of two hyperactive boys, Hafithe M Al Ghusain, 13, and Abdul Aziz M Al Ghusain, eight.
Medically they have been termed children with ADHD - Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. They have been learning to cope with their condition thanks to a regular exercise regime which helps stimulate the left and right side of the brain - both the physical and emotional sides.The sessions have been so successful that their schools have noticed a notable difference in their behaviour.
"They are children whose brains function like a short wave radio with loads of signals coming in at one time," said Mrs Al Rehaimi from Isa Town.
Experts say ADHD_is generally considered to be a developmental disorder, largely neurological in nature, affecting about five per cent of the world's population.
The disorder typically presents itself during childhood, and is characterised by a persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, impulsivity, and distractibility which presently has no medical cure.
Mrs Al Rehaimi explained: "I took my children to specialists in the US who prescribed Retalin, a medicine that had to be given to my children every four hours. It was highly inconvenient and I felt that a frequent visit to the school nurse would also send wrong signals to my children. They might develop low self-esteem and believe that they were not normal.
"It was by sheer chance that I heard of Noraini four years ago.
"My son Hafid is light sensitive and he wears specially made glasses. Unnatural neon light causes great discomfort to children suffering from ADHD. They start shifting, moving and talking.
"My elder son's condition is worsened by the fact that he is forced to eat lunch served in his school, that is sugary, refined and full of carbohydrates which exacerbates symptoms. It was difficult for him to sit and read for 10 minutes without taking a break. He was constantly forgetting what he has been asked to do and he would always get into trouble in school.
"Brain gym classes have helped Hafiz and Abdul Aziz develop their concentration."
Noraini said: "There is a thin line between behaviour that is intentionally disruptive and that which is compulsive. Awareness of the problem is the first step in understanding your child and their problems. Everything - food, environment, physiology, mother's state of mind during pregnancy and the delivery itself can affect your child's growth.
"The brain gym methodology is a natural way to integrate your senses and develop your balances.
"Energy exercises at the brain gym helps control reflexes, tackle difficult issues, stop, think and keep pace.
"Simple exercises can be included as part of your daily life. It can help you approach difficult tasks in a more positive manner by helping you relax and concentrate. Being positive helps you avoid pitfalls.
"There are special exercises to help bring about a balance between the left and right side of the brain - the physical and emotional sides, which are important to bring about simple changes such as punctuality, organisation and less irritability in an individual.
"It wakes up neural connections in the whole brain and body to make us feel safe and emotionally centred and has been proven effective in helping to arrest academic challenges like reading and comprehension, oral and written communication and maths."
Case study one
SCHOOLBOY Steven is the youngest in a family of three children. Things came to a head when his school advised that he should repeat the reception year. His mother, Gloria, was initially shocked.
"Both my elder daughters are intelligent and are doing very well in school. I thought Steven was plain lazy and was only interested in playing. I did not take the school's advice as I thought, generally, children catch up as years go by."
However, Steven's problems persisted and was advised to consult an educational psychologist in Dubai.
Petrified at the very thought of her son facing a psychologist, Gloria decided to find a solution herself.
"Steven never wanted to celebrate his birthdays. He would never socialise. It was always a 'no' when it came to inviting friends and I always found him playing on his own," she recollects.
"He could never read right. The word 'cat' was always read as 'tac.' And all the b's were mixed with d's. He was good at colours and art. But when you talked to him you could never guess that anything was wrong.
"Last year, he could not read a single sign on the road. He couldn't read the name of the shops. I think I began pushing him too much and always wondered why one of my children was different while the other two are fine."
Frustrated, Gloria, a leading executive at a personnel management firm, began spending more time with her son and helping him with his daily homework. On a close friend's recommendation she started brain gym classes with Noraini two years ago.
"I soon found that he was enjoying his brain gym classes and would go happily every week,"_she said.
"Noraini never pushed him and integrated a lot of fun in the routines. He soon moved from the one-to-one classes to a group.
"Today, he talks about his school. He is able to memorise spellings albeit for a short while. He can now read simple stories by himself and is happy to attend parties as well.
"As parents we must try and not get our child branded and be treated as a child who needs help. We shouldn't pass on our stress to him. He just needs a little more time than others."
Case study two
Seven-year-old Adam is Angelina's special child.
"As a toddler I remember him crying more than the others when he fell down. I realised that his skin was very sensitive and that he could not stand the slightest of pain," she said.
"At play school he would only play with children younger than him and was very touchy if he was teased. I forgot all about it until his teacher in his reception year talked to us separately.
"I was told that he had a problem with his sense of co-ordination and balance. He could not run down the steps or catch a ball.
"In the summer I took him to a neurologist and psychologist in the UK who advised me to take help from a sensory integration therapist."
She was advised that with proper therapy there was a good chance that he would be cured in two or three years. However, Bahrain lacks such facilities and the school suggested Angelina contact Noraini.
Adam started attending his brain gym classes in January, 2005.
"In three to four weeks we saw a great improvement in his handwriting. He was much calmer and more confident. He would frown less and was much more relaxed with new kids.
"Repeatedly doing lazy 8's helped him improve his reading and holding his pencil. He was initially jumping words and his reading was not smooth. The cross crawl exercise helped in his co-ordination."
Noraini said: "I had to use tactile therapy to calm him down. I had to work on him very gently. I remember he wanted me to tell him stories. He loves trees and the colour green, which I used as a metaphor to get him grounded.
"I was also very nervous as he was a very sensitive child. But, thankfully, we connected and one day when Angelina walked in she was stunned to see Adam standing on one leg."
Follow ups and reinforcements are very important to the success of this therapy and both mother and son were spending time every afternoon repeating exercises taught by Noraini.
"This May, Adam has learnt to ride a two-wheel bike. His emotions are much better. He is stronger, calmer and does not get scared easily. I just want to see him doing more physical activity and join boys when they play group games such as basket ball," said Angelina.
The Moves
Instructor Noraini Mahmood says that the Brain Gym is not only for those with special needs but also for stressed executives and over-burdened students. Here are some tips:
Begin with a glass of water. It increases energy levels and connects the electrical circuits that are carrying information around our body.
Exercise 1: Brain buttons - Half minute each time
With one hand rub the points just under the collar bone. Put your other hand on your navel area. Breathe in deeply as you look left and right. This helps you calm the flow of adrenalin and increase oxygen flow to the brain.
Exercise 2: Cross crawl - 10 to 15 times
Swing your left arm as you raise your right knee and let your left hand or elbow touch your right knee. Do the same with your right arm and left leg and while listening to your favourite music.
This helps you get active and integrate both sides of the brain and body, which is essential for learning and doing well.
Exercise 3: Hook up's - One minute each
Part 1: Cross one ankle over the other and cross your arms as well. Twist your arm and bring it close to your chest. Breathe and exhale very slowly and deeply. Relax your shoulders, neck and body. You may do this sitting or standing.
Part 2: Put your fingertips together and continue to breathe deeply. Visualise your goals for the day. Hook ups help us feel positive about ourselves and our future experiences.
Exercise 4: Lazy 8's
Draw the number 8 over and over again. This exercise helps these students to neurologically cross the visual midline, thereby activating both right and left eyes, integrating the right and left visual fields and increasing hemispheric integration.
Educational Kinesiology grew out of over 30 years'research by founders, Gail and Paul E. Dennison Ph.D., an educational therapist working with children and adults with learning disabilities in California, US. It is practised in over 90 countries today.
Ms Noraini runs the Brain Body Dynamics, a centre she established two years ago in Budaiya. She lives with her event management executive husband Miswadi Siskandral and sons - Zulhilme Miswadi, 17, Afiq Miswadi, 16, and Naufal Miswadi, 14. Log on to https://www.brainbodydynamics.com/ for more information.
