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Building Bridges 4 Kids with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Today more than 1 in 6 children are affected by a neurodevelopmental disorder and in many of these children the nervous system is impacted. A Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ND) occurs when there is lack of proper communication between the brain and the body’s Sensory System. Children who experience Neurodevelopmental Disorders are commonly diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), ADD/ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, or other learning difficulties.
A ND is a complex disorder of the brain that affects the way children perceive incoming sensory information. Normally, children and adults receive sensory input from all of our senses and it is the role of the brain to process and organize the information to make an appropriate response. The end result is that the child has difficulty processing and organizing incoming information from his/her environment. In all of these disorders, the nervous system is impacted.
Early detection and intervention is key.
Sadly, many health care professionals are not thoroughly trained to recognize sensory issues that a child may experience. Often times these children are misdiagnosed and proper treatment is delayed. Recognizing the early warning signs of a sensory imbalance is critical for young children to be successful because early detection and intervention is key. During early childhood, the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system are rapidly developing. If an abnormality occurs during this period of time, it can leave damaging effects on the child and the sensory system.
Possible causes of neurodevelopmental disorders
Possible causes of neurodevelopmental disorders include abnormal development of the nervous system or improper transmission of incoming information within the nervous system. These can be caused by birth trauma, environmental exposures, immune system dysfunction, vertebral subluxations, and epigenetics. Maintaining a healthy nervous system while it is maturing, is critical in developing a fully functioning mature nervous system.
A thorough chiropractic neurological examination is essential to determine whether or not a child’s nervous system is developing properly. By examining a child’s primitive reflexes, a visible sign of the level of functioning within the nervous system can be determined. In addition, a detailed developmental and medical history is needed. For example, a child that is delayed in rolling over, has difficulty sitting up, crawls asymmetrically, or is delayed in walking may have not met the appropriate neurological milestones for proper development.
Similar signs and symptoms of children with nervous system imbalance
Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders often exhibit similar signs and symptoms of children with nervous system imbalance. Often conditions and disorders will co-exist with ND such as: Epileptic seizures, Neurological problems, Anxiety and OCD, ADD/ADHD, Learning disabilities, Toe walking, Circling or spinning, Head banging, Neck extension, Arching of the back, and Abnormal postures.Primitive Reflexes are the building blocks to a newborn’s nervous system.
Some of the reflexes like the Moro, Palmar, Rooting, and ATNR emerge in utero to facilitate the birth process and are necessary for survival and proper development. Persistence of the primitive reflexes over one year can affect the way a child learns and interacts with their surroundings. Typically, primitive reflexes are short lived and therefore absent after the first year of life. Children with ND often have persistent primitive reflexes beyond one year of age. Persistence of the Primitive Reflexes beyond one year can indicate a “wiring” problem in the Central Nervous System.
The nervous system must connect like puzzle pieces
In a child with a Neurodevelopmental Disorder, the pieces do not fit together correctly or the child is slower than normal putting the puzzle together. A chiropractic adjustment plays a large role in the regulation of the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems. Chiropractic adjustments can help to restore proper function of the sympathetic nervous system which in turn will indirectly affect regulation of the sensory systems! Chiropractic care is an essential cornerstone of treatment in children with Sensory Processing Disorder and any other conditions that may co-exist. By removing the vertebral subluxations, Chiropractic care helps to “connect the dots” of the nervous system and allows for proper communication between the brain and the body.
Our unique three prong approach to work with children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Our Building Bridges Neurosensory Program is a unique three prong approach to work with children who have neurodevelopmental disorders. Dr. Davis combines specific chiropractic adjustments, nutritional and dietary modifications, and neurosensory integrative exercises to improve the function of the child’s developing nervous system. Specific sequential movements must be practiced daily over a period of nine to twelve months to inhibit primitive reflexes.
While a doctor of chiropractic does not “diagnosis, treat, or cure” any of these conditions, many childhood disorders may be the result of nervous system imbalance and have shown improvements through our Neurosensory Program. As a parent myself to a child with SPD, I understand a parents desire to find the steps to best help their child succeed. It is my hope to educate parents and our community about the benefits of chiropractic care and the necessity of working with these children as soon as possible to maximize their full life potential.
Dr. Davis Featured in the Local Newspaper!
NEWS: Extreme sensitivity plagues some children (July 19, 2011)
By AMANDA CHAN
It's unbearable to wear clothing with tags. It's impossible to use scissors, no matter how many times you try. All mushy or soft foods are unbearable - not because of the flavor, but the consistency.Depending on whom you ask, it's either common childhood behavior, a neurological disorder that requires intervention or something in between. Its name is sensory processing disorder, and it occurs, advocates say, when the brain cannot properly process incoming signals for an appropriate response.
Sensory research is still young; prominent California occupational therapist and psychologist A. Jean Ayres began studying sensory integration problems only in the 1960s. Many skeptics scoff at the notion of such a disorder and say the root of the problem has more to do with bad behavior or neurological immaturity.
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