Eli’s Story

Student Name: Eli
Age: 6
​Diagnosis: SCN2a gene mutation

Eli entered Jacob’s Ladder with extreme levels of sensory over-processing and uncoordinated and involuntary movements. He had no language ability and could not stand or walk.

We identified and measured where communication flow was lacking in Eli’s brain (hypo coherence) or where communication flow was locked and/or was overly used (hyper coherence) using comprehensive evaluations including a QEEG brain map.

This assessment served as the basis for his individualized model of care, which focused on the top 10 regions of Eli’s brain that were underutilized, and the top 10 that were over-utilized to normalize neural connections. The goals set for Eli:

Goal #1	Goal #2	Goal #3
Communicate needs, wants, and feelings appropriately	Comply with caregivers and routines and understand expectations	Self-regulates behaviors

Within eight months, Eli’s individualized plan of therapeutic interventions and brain stimulation helped him dramatically increase motor control and sensory regulation abilities. He began to communicate well with a letterboard device, bear his own weight, and take initial steps independently. Eli worked hard in partnership with his teacher in intentionally creating spaces that supported his learning goals. Daily behavior measurements helped his family track progress and celebrate many breakthroughs along his journey.

Then	8 Months Later
1. Extreme levels of sensory over-processing 2. Extreme levels on uncoordinated and involuntary movements 3. No functional language – either receptive or expressive communication patterns 4. No ability to stand, weight-bear, or walk	1. Nervous system calmed with dramatic increase in sensory regulation abilities 2. Motor control increase with substantial decrease in involuntary muscle activity 3. Able to functionally communicate with letterboard device 4. Weight-bearing and taking initial steps independently