Creative Tutors of Wake County, North Carolina

Interactive Metronome Therapy

All forms of therapy (OT, PT, ST, Vision Therapy, Music Therapy, Horseback Riding Therapy and IM) work on the premise that repetition of specific motor movements builds new neuron pathways in the brain thereby improving specific functions.  With IM therapy, a child can do more repetitive motor movement than is possible with traditional therapies allowing us to see great changes in short periods of time. The obvious physical response is that the child has improved balance, coordination and motor planning.  There is also improved attention and focus.  I have found it interesting that even those children who did not come to me with any problems in the area of attention and focus still had improvements in these areas.  As our sensory systems also use these same motor pathways, the child will see improvement in their learning ability.   As every child see their own improvements, their self-esteem is positively impacted as well.  Many children with learning disabilities feel like they have tried and tried to no avail and end up feeling like they are "stupid" and just "can't do anything."  IM is a positive experience and the kids gain even more just through the increase in their own confidence levels.

Follow up:

I think my special background as a home school mom, register nurse and mom of children with a variety of special needs, gives me a unique perspective and allows me to bring a lot more to the IM sessions than other IM providers.  I am able to bring in activities aimed to improve the specific needs of each child ranging from focus on gross and/or fine motor skills to reading, writing and math activities as well as increasing attention, focus and self-esteem (and much more.)  I have been able to improve visual processing in several children by strengthening eye muscle control. IM has been shown to help with auditory processing.  I have switched auditory dominance in one of my clients, who was right handed, but used his left ear to take in auditory information.  IM has been shown to work with children as young as 18 months old through adults who have suffered a stroke or have been diagnosed with Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.  It has been shown to help with a wide variety of diagnoses such as CAPD, dyslexia, spectrum disorders, ADHD, FAS and much more.  I am certified as a Pediatric IM provider.  As children are my main area of interest, I have not worked with adults, at this point.

I am always available to speak to groups interested in learning more about IM.  Anyone willing to host a talk for a group of 5 or more people will receive a free evaluation for one of their children.

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Meet Kim Ashby | Owner

Kim Ashby earned a BS in Nursing from The Catholic University of America and, when she worked outside the home, was a Certified Emergency Nurse with a special interest in trauma nursing. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and three sons. The Ashbys have home schooled their children since 1999. They graduated their oldest son in May 2007. He is attending UNC Wilmington. Kim continues to home school her younger boys. Her oldest son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in the public school system in the second grade. Her second son has cerebral palsy which has resulted in multiple/global developmental delays. Her youngest son has undiagnosed, mild auditory processing issues.

Kim has co-instructed graduate level courses at UNC Chapel Hill for ST/OT students and Early Intervention students. She is the founder and President of the Board of Directors of GIFTSNC, Inc., a home schooling special needs support group. Kim has presented workshops at a variety of state home school conferences as well as local support group parent meetings and is often a guest speaker at homeschool conferences and is found on many guest speaker lists including Balancing the Sword. She is a Steering Committee member and former Treasurer for Dayspring Home Educators in Cary, NC. She served on the Board of Directors for the Family Support Network of Wake County. She holds a North Carolina Wildlife Permit for Small Mammal Rehabilitation and enjoys working with orphaned and injured wildlife.

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education." Mark Twain