An Autism Treatment You Haven't Tried

Autism is plaguing the children of our society today and interfering with school work, social relationships, family relationships, health, and even our children's self confidence. Traditional medical doctors may hold off on making a diagnosis of autism or even a mild autism spectrum disorder until a certain age has been reached even if your child is showing the signs of delayed development or processing disorders! This can be tragic because during development your child's brain can make 250,000 new nerve cells every minute which means that EACH MINUTE of delayed treatment can cost nerve cells and connections that can help to improve the children's symptoms and their entire development.

Autism and autism spectrum disorder are a group of complex brain development disorders are characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. Children suffering with these disorders may have an intellectual disability, motor coordination difficulty, attention difficulties, and even physical health issues such as sleeping disorders or gastrointestinal disturbances. Many of these children may excel in visual skills, music, math or art despite exhibiting signs of autism disorders. Autism appears to have roots in early brain development however the most obvious signs and symptoms of autism emerge between the ages of 2-3 years old.

Typical medical treatment for autism can involve behavioral treatments, medications, dietary restrictions, or both. It is not unusual to find autistic children today that are on multiple medication for several physical health issues as well as autism medication. A single medication can have serious side effects for our children, but in combination can cause other serious life threatening combinations and parental concerns for a "normal childhood". I have also seen highly restrictive diets in young children which is a huge concern for myself as a parent as well as a doctor who sees these children in my office because these diets can literally starve our children's bodies of essential nutrients during the time of highest need.

In my experience, I have found that with a combination of brain development assessment, home brain development exercises, nutritional guidance, and chiropractic care can yield great results for autistic children. If I am able to perform a consultation about your child's specific needs and developmental delays we can uncover multiple factors such as brain crossover communication issues, delayed synapse formation in specific brain regions, dietary and hormonal factors, and even birth trauma that may precede and contribute to their autistic symptoms. Brain development is a delicate process that begins to form based on sensory input from our environment, optimum nerve function, and proper nutrition to allow our brain and nerves to flourish. If any one of these factors is disturbed, we can begin to see symptoms of autism and developmental delays at ANY AGE. Finding the TRUE CAUSE of autism rather than just masking symptoms is way to truly manage and gain footholds in improving your child's overall health.

A recent study published in the Annals of Vertebral Subluxation Research found that chiropractic care can help to reverse autism symptoms and other issues related to the autism spectrum. In this study a 3 year old girl with abnormal behavior and multiple autism diagnoses underwent chiropractic care for one month and experienced a complete resolution of headaches, acid reflux, vomiting, and sleep issues and significant improvements with calm and happier behavior, improved attitude, increased eye contact, increased focus and attention, and speech initiation. Her mother also reports that her daughter was also able to get off all of her medications and see improvements in occupational and speech therapy, academics, and communication. Here's the link to learn more.

If your child is suffering from autism, autism spectrum disorder, or other developmental delays I would advise you to visit a chiropractic office for a full examination and consultation to determine if there could be a neurologic factor contributing to their disorder. If you are close to an AlignLife office, a full integrated and comprehensive natural health center, I would strongly suggest you bring your child in for a free consultation to discuss how we might be able to help your child with their development and their overall health. Click on "Find a Clinic" to find a clinic near you.

5 Games You Should Play with Your Toddler

Last week I posted an article on boosting baby's brain development at an early age and discussed the importance of interaction. But these "hands on" activities aren't just for babies! There are many games or activities you can do with your toddler or child to help increase brain connections called synapses which can help with development and knowledge of how things relate together. In addition these games can help improve motor skills which are needed for hand-eye coordination and balance as they grow.

I've listed 4 games below that you should definitely put in the line up this summer for your toddler.

1) Tea Party for Stuffed Animals
Outdoor tea parties aren't just for children! Grab a blanket and serve up a spread for your little ones and      their stuffed animals. It can help spur the imagination, increase fine motor skills required for cutting small        snacks and gripping small cups, and its a great way to learn social etiquette. I personally always thing of Gru and the girls from Despicable Me "clinking" whenever I think of a tea party :)

2) Go for a Nature Hike
Grab the kiddos and a bag to collect scavenger hunt items such as twigs, leaves, and rocks. Make sure to point out hidden things such as mushrooms growing from beneath moist leaves or moss growing on a tree and encourage them to feel the different textures of nature with their fingers to improve their tactile sensation.

3) Chalk It Up
A bucket of sidewalk chalk is a small investment for the amount of time your children can use it to play. I'd recommend building a couple of hopscotch trails for them to hop along and drawing some animals for them to guess what they are. Show them how to trace their hands or feet and they'll be set in finding new things to trace. This can encourage motor and language development as they identify animals or numbers while hopping around on one foot.

4) Have a Ball
It might take awhile for toddlers to get the hang of catching or throwing a ball but its important to teach them to aim early (unless of course you like the breeze from a broken window!). Catching is usually easier for them to grasp but you'll need to assist by throwing the ball directly into their outstretched arms until they understand that their feet must move towards where the ball will land. To practice throwing try having them toss wadded up paper, bean bags, or Wiffle balls into a trash can or laundry basket. To step it up a notch use streamers and a hula hoop to make a "ring of fire" for them to toss into. (The ring of fire also works as a great attraction at parties)

5) Parachute Games
Hold a sheet or blanket by the corners to toss items such as socks or Wiffle balls high into the air. According to Dr. Lisa Chiarello, a pediatric physical therapist and associate professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia, reports that "while your child's bouncing the object with his arms, he's learning the concept of up and down. And because you're both moving your feet a little too, he's practicing stepping sideways, in and out.".

Still concerned about your child's development or want some more personal advice for your family's situation? Call AlignLife at 689-6200 to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Andrea Schnowske.

3 Ways to Improve Attention Deficit Symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 5.2 million children are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder in the United States today. In fact, the number of children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder increased by 21.8% over the four year time span from 2003 to 2007. The growing number of diagnoses are disturbing because this condition can effect the social, academic, and even physical development of our children and may also be responsible for the decreased productivity and concentration that we've seen in the workplace due to adults that are suffering from ADD as well.

So what is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? It's a growing diagnosis that is based off a questionnaire or rating from parents and teachers and a short subjective evaluation from a doctor of child's intelligence, social, emotional, or attention function. A medical examination is not necessary and there are no definitive test to diagnose this condition. As you can tell this diagnosis is highly subjective and can be interpreted differently between practitioners and different environments.

After a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD is made, parents are frequently encouraged to begin a lifetime medicine regiment in order to keep symptoms under control. Most frequently children are placed on Ritalin which is a Schedule II Controlled Substance that is in the same class as morphine and cocaine. This class of medications are highly addictive and have the greatest potential for abuse. This medication is not specific to children with ADD or ADHD and similar calming effects can be seen in normal children not suffering from the condition. In addition, many parents are not properly informed about the serious side effects or long term damage that can be caused from this medication. For example, studies on Ritalin have found that it impairs blood flow to the brain that can impair thinking, learning, and cause memory loss in addition to causing brain shrinkage and permanent physical abnormalities that can affect children and adults for the rest of their life. In addition, some studies have revealed a worsening of hyperactivity and inattention in children undergoing pharmaceutical treatment with this medication. Long term treatment with this medication will usually alter brain levels of serotonin and can lead to depression later in life that may require further medication.

So how can you improve symptoms of ADD and ADHD naturally? Recent studies on children suffering from ADD and ADHD have found many instances of nutritional deficiencies in essential fatty acids and proteins that are the essential building blocks of our brain, nerves, hormones, and muscles. Without these building blocks our bodies do not have the capacity to upkeep the nervous system function that is required for proper brain function and communication with the rest of the body. As a result, many physical symptoms such as inattentiveness, emotional withdrawl, and even clumsiness can result. An evaluation of your child's nervous system function and a nutritional assessment to check for deficiencies in these building blocks or any vital vitamins and minerals can be a large part in improving the body and brain function in your child or yourself. In addition, many of these children have alteration of their primary senses such as smell and taste that can affect their diet and contribute to food allergies and nutritional deficiencies. I have found that comprehensive allergy testing for sensitivities or intolerance can be a valuable tool in identifying underlying factors that may further complicate gut absorption of these essential nutrients and contribute to these deficiencies.

So what do I recommend?

1. Have your child's nervous system evaluated by a specialist. Chiropractors are trained to assess nervous system function and can assess not only any undetected nerve damage that can contribute to altered brain function or communication but can also identify any sensory disabilities that I have mentioned above.

2. Have your child's diet assessed for deficiencies or possible allergens that can complicate nutrient absorption. Some dieticians may be trained to perform this kind of evaluation, but I always recommend looking to a clinic that specializes in assessing children with ADD. There are certain markers and  trends in children with ADD and ADHD that can only be properly evaluated by a specialist or someone well versed in treating children with ADD and ADHD.

3. Comprehensive allergy testing is a must for children who's nutritional assessment shows abnormalities. This testing can reveal sensitivity or intolerance to many food additives, preservatives, or even main food products that can cause gut inflammation and affect nutrient absorption. Skin scratch testing may not be enough in most cases as there may be reaction at a cellular level in the body so I recommend a comprehensive test in a laboratory to check for blood reaction to allergens.

4. If you'd like more information on natural ways to improve symptoms of ADD or ADHD , I'd highly recommend attending the  Drug-Free ADD and ADHD Solutions presentation and workshop at Naturally Yours in Peoria on Saturday September 22nd at 10am.