There is no charge to have a child screened. There is also no obligation to enroll in a course or to purchase anything. However, we do require that parents view all six of the short
introductory videos and read
Brain Development and
Brain Highways Basics, as well as the text below before submitting a request for an online screening.
Please keep in mind that our brief screening should not be viewed as any kind of medical diagnosis, nor should it be considered equivalent to comprehensive evaluations. Rather, it is just a quick way to determine whether underdeveloped lower centers of the brain may be a factor in a child's life.
No One is Expecting a Perfectly Filmed Screening Video
We created a Screening Instruction Preview Video and Screening Instruction Booklet in order to make it easy to learn how an assessment is done and to know what to say and do while facilitating a screening. That's the main purpose of these materials.
Since some folks want everything spelled out before they feel confident to move forward, these materials offer very specific guidelines - even scripted directions are included for each screening. But then, there are also folks who get bogged down by that kind of detail. In such cases, the specific directions end up being a deterrent (instead of being helpful) - and the screening video is never made.
We want both kinds of parents to be at their comfort level when submitting a screening video. That's why we're letting you know upfront, there's a lot of leeway in this process. Just do the best you can and know that we're able to provide very telling assessments even when people don't submit a video exactly as presented in our screening materials.
The bottom line: Ultimately, just send us whatever footage you can get with the least amount of stress - and that includes even if your child doesn't cooperate with whatever you ask him to do. In truth, almost any footage of your child is going to give us some information about her brain organization, and we're always going to do our best to provide you with the most helpful information from whatever you send us.
Also, note that parents are never "locked into" any of the three screening options (below). For example, a parent who originally plans to do all six assessment activities can easily change her mind and do just the pons and midbrain screening once she gets started. Likewise, a parent who plans to do just the two assessments can continue with more.
Three Screening Options: Choose What Works Best For You
Parents differ in how much information they need to conclude that lower brain development is incomplete, as well as how much time they have to find out. Read the different possibilities below.
Easiest, Most Informal Screening
This option requires no videotaping.
Print out
Signs of a Disorganized Brain, and place a checkmark next to any behavior your child demonstrates. Keep in mind that kids with a well-organized brain will have no or very, very few checkmarks. The site's introductory videos and information may also further help you decide whether your child is compensating for underdeveloped lower centers of the brain.
If you decide your child would benefit from participating in the program, send an email to
newreg@brainhighways.com to let us know you've chosen the Easiest, Most Informal Screening and are ready to enroll. We'll then send you an email to tell you what to do next.
Pons and Midbrain Only Video Screening
This option just requires filming two screening activities.
Here, you only video your child creeping and crawling. Believe it or not, such short footage still enables us to tell you a lot about your child's pons and midbrain development.
So for this option, you skip over the other four screenings in the Screening Instruction Booklet and Screening Instruction Preview Video, and focus only on the pons and midbrain assessments.
To do these two screenings, you'll need:
- An area of at least 10-feet of wood, tile or linoleum flooring
- A video camera or the latest model of an iPod Nano (with an iPod Nano, uploading is super simple: You just plug the camera into your computer, select the video files, and then upload to us)
- Knowledge of how to load your video onto your computer (if you have a regular video camera)
If any of the above seem like a showstopper, keep in mind that you can always borrow a video camera, go to a neighbor's house (who has the required flooring), and ask someone else to upload your screening video onto your computer.
Once we receive your video, we'll watch it and then add a voice-over that explains what we're observing (in terms of pons and midbrain development). We'll also tell you how that level of development is likely affecting your child. We then send your video with our voice-over back to you, along with a pdf of common Screening Results FAQs.
Six Activity Video Screening
This option presents a total of six different screening activities.
For those who want a more comprehensive screening, this last option provided opportunities to also learn whether specific functions related to pons and midbrain development are present. Note that the six activity video screening requires two adults to be present. That's because some of the screenings require an adult model or hold something (which can't be done simultaneously if that same adult is also filming).
Once we receive your video, we'll watch it and add a voice-over that explains what we're observing and how such level of development may be affecting your child. We then send your video with our voice-over back to you, along with a pdf of common Screening Results FAQs.