Nervous System Regulation: A Whole Body Approach to Interventions for the Developing Brain

Nervous System Regulation: A Whole Body Approach to Interventions for the Developing Brain is organized by Texas Children's Hospital and will be held from Nov 01 - 02, 2025.

Description:
Despite the advances in technology, the developing fetal brain is placed in a “mismatched” NICU environment during a critical period of maturation. Research indicates that children who experience trauma early in life are at higher risk for retained primitive reflexes, nervous system dysregulation, difficulties with sensory processing, and feeding delays. New evidence shows the importance of supporting the autonomic nervous system through a “whole body” treatment approach. Therapeutic interventions such as “Body Work” offer a new perspective on evaluation and treatment across all settings. This course will cover prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal care. It also discusses factors that influence the function of neonates throughout the trajectory of their development, including maternal/infant health, whole-body regulation, and parent-child relationships. The approach taught in this course provides OT/PT/SLPs successful techniques for nervous system regulation, reflex integration, functional feeding, and overall motor development. Considering the short-term and long-term effects of trauma, the instructor will provide strategies for educating parents/caregivers on strategies to mitigate their infant/child's physiological and physical stress.

Course Objectives:
At the conclusion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Identify theoretical frameworks that drive developmental care and understand the evolution of standard of care in NICU
• Recognize fetal and developmental maturation
• Specify how neurobehavioral organization relates to nervous system dysregulation and the impact on infant growth and development
• Examine the effects of major medical comorbidities as well as the effects of the birth experience on infant/pediatric development
• Discuss interventions to support family-centered care in the NICU
• Identify common Diagnoses and Comorbidities (reason for referral) in outpatient pediatric treatment
• Articulate the impact of prematurity on sensory processing and regulation of a child
• Examine trauma-informed, bodywork interventions to support infant development and the mental health of infant and caregiver
• Determine appropriate interventions to support infant feeding skills