Chiropractic Care for Children with Sensory Issues

Chiropractor Dan Gordon of Gordon Chiropractic, P.C. in West Bloomfield, Michigan has written an article exclusively for NSEL on the benefits of chiropractic care for children with sensory issues:

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from the brain’s inability to integrate everyday sensory information received from the five senses: touch, vision, sound, smell, and taste.

The above listed five senses are the most commonly understood; however, there are two other less known senses: vestibular and proprioceptive systems.  The vestibular system is located in the base of the brain, upper cervical spine and inner ear.  The job of the vestibular system is to regulate all incoming sensory information making it very important.  The proprioceptive system is located within the spine and joints of the body and helps with learning, motor skills, behavior, and social development.

It is estimated that 1 in 20 children suffer from SPD although this number is in question because so many of these kids are first misdiagnosed with ADD, ADHD and/or another disorder.  Many times SPD co-exists with other neurodevelopmental disorders.  These children are usually labeled as difficult, inattentive, and/or aggressive.

Chiropractic care is an essential treatment for these children. Properly functioning vestibular and proprioceptive sensory systems are key components in developing and maintaining a healthy sensory processing system. Because these two sensory systems are largely located in the spine, it is extremely important to remove any spinal misalignments with a chiropractic adjustment that may be causing nerve interference.

I am well versed in proper nutrition. It is important to avoid certain foods and add certain foods into the diet for treatment of SPD. Refined sugar, food preservatives, and food colorings should be avoided. Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish (wild caught) such as salmon, tuna, and trout, and dark green leafy vegetables and flaxseed oil are considered good “brain food.” Children are sometimes recommended to follow a dairy and gluten free diet.

Exercising your child’s brain is highly recommended. Today children spend more time in car seats, walkers, and other places that restrict movement and impair neurodevelopment. As children get older they are spending more time in front of a computer, playing video games, or texting, and not enough time running, jumping, skipping, climbing, swinging and crawling. Activities that involve using both sides of the body are necessary for proper development.

Other things to consider are drinking water, doing Cross-Crawl Exercises, Brain Button Exercises, Hook Ups, classical music and using colored pens are some examples.