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:

1. Describe key underpinnings of the MNRI® Oral-Facial-Motor Reflex Integration program.
2. List the dynamic and postural oral-facial-motor reflexes and their roles in potential sensory-motor and neurodevelopment.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.

Target 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. Discussion of concept and practice on early intervention tools for a child and an adult with delayed neurodevelopment and feeding/language/speech.
• Hours 3-4: Developmental consequences associated with dysfunctional and pathological reflex patterns.
• Hours 5-6: Maturational and developmental role of oral-facial-motor reflex exercises and levels of tactility for healthy bonding & attachment.
• Hours 7-8: IPET Practicum: Demonstration and applied practice of Oral-Facial-Motor reflex integration exercises to release stress and facilitate positive protection: Bonding and TLR, Head Righting for Vision, Eye Convergence/Divergence, Head Righting and TMJ Position for Regulation for Breathing, Head Righting Ocular and Labyrinthine for Breathing.

DAY 2

• Hour 1: Concepts of facial symmetry and asymmetry and common congenital craniofacial anomalies.
• Hour 2-5: IPET Practicum: exercises that facilitate facial symmetry, suck-swallow-breathe coordination, and tongue mobility: OFM Tendon Guard Reflex for Skull Symmetry Activation and Basic Protocols
• Hour 5-6: IPET Practicum: Innate Tongue-Mouth Movements and Suck-Swallow-Breathe, Yawning & Pandiculation, Mouth Opening-Closing and Rooting
• Hour 6-8: IPET Practicum: Nibbling, Biting & Chewing, TLR, Babkin Palmomental

DAY 3

• Hours 1-2: IPET Practicum: Hands Grasp for Tongue Coordination, Babinski and Jaw Position and Mobility, and ATNR & Head Righting (Vestibular and Auditory)
• Hour 3: Nonverbal and verbal communication development. A. Luria’s model of “speech-mind system” development.
• Hour 4: Language development, comprehension (formation stages), and brain processing.
• Hours 5-6: IPET Practicum: exercises to facilitate vocalization, articulation, speech and language development: Breathing Reflex Pattern Activation, Babkin Palmomental and Pendulum
• Hour 7-8: Overview: Essentiality of infant play and games for development of inner control (volitive) and intellectual processes, including speech. Practicum: Pavlov Orientation

All IPETS include:

1. A 15-minute overview of Ethics and Code of Conduct of the MNRI® Oral-Facial Reflex Integration Specialist.
2. Written test before class. Results to help guide in-person class discussion.
3. Hands-On exam during IPET class
4. Practical Hands-On Graded Exam following 30 conference or clinic hours.