All Things Sensory by Harkla

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily

https://jneuroscience.com/jnen/articles/v9n1/jnen-103-tess-grigg.pdf

#369 - Unlocking Classroom Success with Reflex Integration with Dr. Tessa Grigg Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

In episode of All Things Sensory, we sit down with the incredible Dr. Tessa Grigg - PhD, Dip Tch (Primary) Dip Tch (ECE). She has a wide range of experience within the Early Childhood Education field. She has taught in a Primary School, supervised a preschool with specialist work in the sensory-motor area, worked as a Child and Family Therapist, taught adult students in teaching and child development, and owned and operated a GymbaROO centre for nine years. Tessa is the "Tessa" in Tessarose Productions, a business that has produced music for children for over 30 years. Currently, Tessa is a certified Rhythmic Movement Training Practitioner and runs a Kinesiology clinic for children and adults. Following the completion of a PhD focused on children's primitive reflexes, Tessa now works part-time as a lecturer at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and is the Research and Education Manager for GymbaROO-KindyROO in Australia.

We chat about:

How Tessa’s career path led her to primitive reflex research
The surprising effects of natural disasters (like earthquakes) and the pandemic on reflex development in children
Her fascinating classroom-based research showing how simple, rhythmic movement interventions can dramatically impact learning, emotional regulation, and behavior
Why crawling and skipping might just be two of the most important activities your child can do daily
How to bring reflex integration into schools and homes without overwhelm

Whether you’re a parent, therapist, or educator, this episode is filled with practical tips, lightbulb moments, and hopeful reminders that everything can change when we meet kids where they are.

LINKS

Tessa's Research Articles

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29529872/

Visit Tessa’s website

https://www.gymbaroo.com.au/

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily

Free live webinar on July 16th

https://www.instagram.com/harkla_family/

#368 - Ocular Motor Skills: The Secret to Better Focus & Fewer Headaches Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

Headaches that won’t go away? Trouble reading or switching between screens? Feeling drained after a day at your desk? These might not be random quirks—they could be signs of ocular motor deficits.

In this episode, we’re diving into how visual-ocular challenges—convergence, saccades, and pursuits—can impact adults in everyday life. You’ll hear a personal story, a powerful example of how unresolved visual motor skills led to chronic headaches, and how vision therapy changed everything.

We’ll also unpack the key signs of ocular motor dysfunction in adults, how they’re often linked to headaches, fatigue, and even ADHD symptoms, and why primitive reflexes might still be at play long after childhood. You’ll learn simple screening tools to try at home and get expert insight into what interventions actually help.

LINKS

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

https://harkla.co/pages/infant-sensory-development-webinar-registration-2025

Primitive Reflex Digital Course

https://harkla.co/products/primitive-reflexes-course

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily

https://www.hearingfirst.org/

https://www.instagram.com/harkla_family/

#367 - Auditory Processing vs. Attention Issues: How to Tell the Difference with Debbie Baerlocher Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with pediatric audiologist Debbie Baerlocher to unpack the real truth about Auditory Processing Disorder (APD)—what it is, what it’s not, and why it’s often misunderstood. Learn how APD is diagnosed, when to seek help, and why many children show similar symptoms without actually having APD.

Debbie has her Doctorate in Audiology and has been working at Elks Hearing and Balance, aka St. Luke's Hearing and Balance, in Boise, Idaho since she moved to the Treasure Valley just about 25 years ago.

By the end of this episode you’ll learn:

- What a true APD diagnosis involves

- Why symptom lists can be misleading

- When hearing loss, ADHD, or anxiety might be the real cause

- What parents can do right now to help

Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or therapist, this episode offers clarity, empathy, and expert advice you won’t want to miss.

LINKS

https://www.readingrockets.org/

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily

https://restorationdentistryid.com/

https://www.instagram.com/harkla_family/

#366 - What Your Dentist Won’t Tell You: A Functional Approach to Oral Health with Dr. Craig Clayton Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Craig D. Clayton is a functional and biomimetic dentist based in Meridian, Idaho, and an influential online educator with a following of over 380K on Instagram. Passionate about uncovering the root causes of oral health issues, Dr. Clayton focuses on holistic cavity prevention, airway health, and innovative, biologically sound approaches to restoring teeth. As the host of the Dentistry Disrupted podcast, he is on a mission to shift the dental industry toward a more patient-centered, root-cause-focused approach. Through educating and empowering patients, he hopes to bridge the gap between oral health and overall well-being.

Follow Dr. Clayton on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/restoration.dentistry

More information

Free resources

https://stan.store/restorationdentistry

Listen to Dr. Clayton’s Podcast - Dentistry Disrupted

https://open.spotify.com/show/37YIyN9xGxzvT5MkuH9GOD?si=JNrtjoisToSEU80e1asRQw

Elementa Toothpaste

https://elementasilver.com/

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily

https://harkla.co/pages/register-for-the-primitive-reflex-webinar-2025

https://www.instagram.com/harkla_family/

#365 - What Pregnancy & Birth Can Tell Us About Retained Reflexes Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

Shop our Summer Sensory SALE! https://harkla.co/pages/summer-sensory-sale-2025

Free Primitive Reflex Webinar

Free Sensory Diet Webinar

https://harkla.co/pages/sensory-diet-webinar-registration-2024

We’re diving deep into the why behind retained primitive reflexes. These early movement patterns are essential in infancy—but when they don’t integrate properly, they can lead to challenges with regulation, development, and everyday functioning.

We cover some of the most common causes of retained reflexes, including:

Neurological immaturity
Birth trauma or complications during delivery
Lack of early movement (think: limited tummy time or crawling)
Environmental stressors during pregnancy
Prematurity and other perinatal factors
Genetic predispositions

We also highlight insights from Sally Goddard Blythe’s work on neuromotor immaturity and how these retained reflexes can show up in both kids and adults.

We also respond to a thoughtful question from a literacy coach about a 5-year-old with ADHD. We explore possible sensory and neurological factors at play—and share ideas for supporting regulation and integration through movement.

This is a must-listen for parents, therapists, and educators who want to better understand the foundational role of reflexes in child development.

LINKS

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily

Neuromotor Immaturity in Children and Adults by Sally Goddard Blyth

https://www.instagram.com/harkla_family/

https://a.co/d/dlX4KGI

Freebies - Free Sensory Checklist

https://harkla.co/pages/freebies?_pos=1&_sid=af3b45f36&_ss=r

#364 - 10 Sensory Activities to Support Regulation During the Summer Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Shop our Summer Sensory SALE! https://harkla.co/pages/summer-sensory-sale-2025

Free Primitive Reflex Webinar https://harkla.co/pages/register-for-the-primitive-reflex-webinar-2025

Summer can bring a lot of fun — and a lot of sensory dysregulation. In this episode, we’re sharing 10 activity ideas to help your child stay regulated during the warmer months. From water play and outdoor obstacle courses to sensory-friendly picnics and consistent routines, these ideas are designed to support sensory processing, connection, and fun for the whole family.

We also answer a thoughtful listener question about tongue proprioception and how to support oral awareness in a child navigating speech sound production, balance challenges, toe-walking, and a history of a frenectomy.

LINKS

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily

https://www.instagram.com/harkla_family/

Water Balloons - Bunch O Balloons

https://a.co/d/0jkzuSH

Oral Motor Super Duper Deck

https://a.co/d/40Jclqd

#363 - Sensory Smart Summer: Interoception Tips and Tools That Work Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Summer is here—and with the heat, play, and sunshine comes a unique challenge for kids (and adults!) who struggle with interoception. In this episode, we explore what interoception is and why it’s so important to pay attention during the summer months. We discuss how challenges like dehydration, overheating, and sun sensitivity can affect children with sensory needs and how parents and caregivers can better support them through practical strategies, products, and daily routines.

We also share actionable tips for boosting interoceptive awareness, from mindfulness exercises to hydration reminders, and highlight summer-friendly tools like cooling vests, splash pads, and visual schedules.

PLUS—we answer a thoughtful listener question about managing sensory seeking behaviors at home after school, and offer guidance for making sensory play more structured and less overwhelming.

LINKS

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily

The Interoception Curriculum by Kelly Mahler

https://www.instagram.com/harkla_family/

https://www.kelly-mahler.com/product/the-interoception-curriculum-a-step-bystep-guide-to-developing-mindful-self-regulation/

Sensational Brain: The Interoceptive Sensory System

https://sensationalbrain.com/product/interoceptive-sensory-system/

Beyond Behaviors (Amazon)

https://a.co/d/ft3dFmF

Sensory Explorers

https://www.sensoryexplorers.com/

#362 - Supporting Sensory Development Before Birth May 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the All Things Sensory Podcast, we explore how a baby’s sensory and nervous systems begin developing long before birth — and how expectant parents can actively support this critical growth during pregnancy.

From taste and touch to vestibular and proprioceptive systems, you'll learn when each sensory system starts forming in the womb and what factors influence healthy development. We also highlight practical, evidence-based strategies for optimizing your baby’s neurological health through nutrition, movement, stress management, and mindful prenatal care.

Plus, we dive into fascinating research connecting prenatal experiences — like maternal stress, illnesses, medications, and even birth methods — to the likelihood of sensory processing difficulties later in childhood.

Whether you’re expecting or supporting someone who is, this episode empowers you with tools and insights to lay a strong sensory foundation for your baby’s future.

LINKS

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily

Research: Incidence of pre-, peri-, and post-natal birth and developmental problems of children with sensory processing disorder and children with autism spectrum disorder

https://www.instagram.com/harkla_family/

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/integrative-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/neuro.07.031.2009/full

Research: Association between cesarean section and sensory integration dysfunction in preschool children: a prospective cohort study

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34511164/

Research: The Occurrence of the Sensory Processing Disorder in Children Depending on the Type and Time of Delivery: A Pilot Study

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35682475/#:~:text=Descriptive%20results%20and%20percentage%20calculations%20were%20compared.,those%20delivered%20on%20time%20by%20vaginal%20birth.

Research: The Prenatal and Perinatal Risk Variables of the Sensory Processing Disorder

https://www.walshmedicalmedia.com/open-access/the-prenatal-and-perinatal-risk-variables-of-the-sensory-processing-disorder-2090-7214-1000286.pdf

#361 - Helping Babies Thrive: Infant Development with Angela Fritz, PT, DPT, PCS May 21, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with Angela Fritz, a board-certified pediatric physical therapist with a passion for infant development. Angela brings her expertise working in the NICU and shares valuable insights on supporting babies from the very beginning—especially those who’ve spent time in the NICU.

We dive into:

The role of physical therapy in the NICU
Tummy time and developmental milestone tips for infants (including NICU grads)
The importance of positioning for development
Primitive reflexes and how they influence early movement
Practical advice for parents and caregivers

Whether you're a therapist, parent, or caregiver, you'll come away with actionable tips and a deeper understanding of the early building blocks of development.

Angela Fritz, PT, DPT, PCS is a board-certified pediatric physical therapist who specializes in infant development. She received her doctorate degree in physical therapy (DPT) from the University of Washington (Go Dawgs!) and has worked with infants and children ever since! Angela just recently moved to Boise, ID and works in the NICU and NICU follow up at St Luke’s Children’s Hospital, but was trained in neonatal therapy at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Though her passion lies with infants, Angela has experience working with children 0-18 years of age. She is passionate about celebrating the unique spark in each and every baby, and believes that empowering parents to advocate for, engage with, and support their baby is the best way to foster lifelong success. Angela was also born with hearing loss and is passionate about disability awareness, inclusion, and justice and making healthcare more accessible for all!

LINKS

Visit Angela’s Website - https://www.bebe-pt.com/services

We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3

https://www.instagram.com/allthingssensorypodcast/

https://harkla.co/

https://www.youtube.com/c/HarklaFamily