LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR DISABILITY TREATMENT
(HEMISPHERIC INTEGRATION THERAPY)
The following is a description of techniques I use with children and adults who have learning and behavior issues. I use a combination of in-office treatments, exercises, and adjustments, coupled with home exercises, supplements, and lifestyle recommendations. The program is focused on strengthening brain connections so people can reach their full potential.
NUTRITION
Before any program will be successful, one must have appropriate building blocks so that neurons can build strong cellular components and synaptic connections. You should take fish oil supplements which contain EPA and DHA. I recommend liquid fish oil which is cheaper dose per dose as compared to gelcaps, and fish oil can be filtered to remove mercury, PCB’s, and heavy metals. You should avoid eating foods which contain damaging fats, specifically hydrogenated fats, trans fats, and saturated fat. You should decrease or eliminate exitotoxins, which are food additives similar to MSG. They include glutamate, hydrolyzed soy and vegetable protein, and in many cases “natural flavors.” In essence, a significant reduction or elimination of all packaged food and soft drinks is critical. Packaged and processed foods have high levels of bad fats, sugar and processed unhealthy carbohydrates, and excitotoxins. You should significantly increase your intake of vegetables and fruit, especially raw, to increase antioxidant and micronutrient intake. The focus of all meals should be on how much fruits and vegetables you can take in, of varying colors. Saturated fat found in meat, poultry, shellfish, and dairy products needs to be significantly reduced or eliminated. I recommend complete avoidance of dairy products especially in children as so many people are sensitive to them. Whole grains can also be consumed and are important in a healthy diet, which include rice (except for short grain white rice), yams, sweet potatoes, beans, and stone ground wheat bread, if you do not have a wheat/gluten allergy (celiac disease). All oils should be eliminated from the diet except 100% cold pressed first pressed extra virgin olive oil, and organic butter if you are not allergic. Other oils and spreads should be eliminated, including margarine, shortening, and vegetable oils. You should also take omega-3 co-factor antioxidants which improve utilization and protection of brain fats. The supplements should include B-complex, C, magnesium, Alpha-Lipoic acid, Co-Enzyme Q-10, and Glutathione. Nutri-west.com has a supplement which has all of these in one tablet, and I have it available in my office.
PHYSICAL REHABILITATION
Physical activity, simply put, requires brain cells to “lift weights” so they become stronger and healthier. Physical activity, especially balance and coordination exercises, stimulate tissue receptors that stimulate cerebellum and brain neurons. This stimulation (activation) results in more numerous and improved synaptic connections between brain cells (neurons) involved with all brain and body processes, including learning, behavior, and motor activity. Research and experience has shown that most children and adults with ADD, AD/HD, LD, OCD, PDD, ODD, Asperger’s syndrome, Autism, Tourette’s syndrome, Dyslexia, and Dyspraxia and other behavioral and learning disabilities have more dysfunction in the left cerebellum and right cortex, and boys are affected more than girls. Therefore, with most people, rehabilitation (depending on the results of the history and examination) will focus on physical coordination activities of the left side of the body to stimulate mechanoreceptors to activate neurons in the left cerebellum and the right cortex. These activities include rocker/wobble board exercises, catching and throwing with the left hand, large exercise ball work for core stabilization and cerebellum stimulation, balance beam, arm pedaling, and various other balance and coordination activities in the office and at home.
CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Chiropractic care delivers a unique stimulation to the human nervous system that no other treatment modalities can provide. When people have spinal intersegmental joint dysfunction (subluxations), exercise alone cannot correct the problem. The intersegmental spinal movers (the small muscles that move individual joints) are not under conscious motor control, meaning you cannot actively exercise them. These muscles are under cerebellar control (via the vestibular nuclei). Therefore, high-velocity low-amplitude chiropractic spinal adjustments (by hand, instrument, or table), the hallmark of chiropractic care, stimulate joint mechanoreceptors and muscle spindles in spinal tissues which have the highest concentration of receptors. With reduced subluxations and improved biomechanics, one relates better to gravity, with continuous activation of tissues and receptors, assisting in long-term health of the brain. Patients with learning and behavioral problems typically receive chiropractic spinal adjustments on the left side of the system to strengthen neurons in the left cerebellum and right neocortex (depending on examination results), with appropriate eye exercises. Light, vibration, and auditory stimulation, and active and passive ROM exercises may also be used.
INTERACTIVE METRONOME
Interactive metronome is a computer software program where you hear a cow bell-type auditory sound through headphones at 54 beats per minute. You try to activate a hand and/or foot sensor at the same time that you are receiving the auditory stimulation (a motor response to the auditory sound). The goal is to strike the hand and/or foot sensor at the exact same time as hearing the auditory sound. This treatment builds coordination and rhythm pathways in the cerebellum and cortex, and “weaker” sides will receive focused treatment (usually more metronome will be performed with the left hand and foot to stimulate the left cerebellum and right brain). More information on the interactive metronome can be acquired on the website, interactivemetronome.com.
Again, the goal of this treatment plan is to improve the number and quality of the Trillions of synapses in the brain, and improve the health of the 100 Billion neurons (and all of the intercellular structures). Many have seen improvements in behavior, social skills, academic performance, and help you or your child reach full potential. This program is utilized for disorders including ADD, AD/HD, OCD, ODD, PDD, GAD, NLD, DCD, DDS, LD, Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, Tourette’s syndrome, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, and Depression. This treatment plan, especially if used long-term, may also help prevent adult brain dysfunction such as Alzheimer’s disease, Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and Age-Related Cognitive Decline.
References:
Fish Oil Companies: These companies detail purification and concentration of contaminants.
carlsonlabs.com (most cost effective liquid, and this is what I have available in my office)
nordicnaturals.com (chewable strawberry children’s capsule)
nutriwest.com (Drs. Dan Murphy and Harold McCoy’s formula, and co-factor anti-oxidant supplements)
Literature:
Melillo, Robert and Leisman, Gerry (2004). Neurobehavioral Disorders of Childhood. NY, NY: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. ISBN 0-306-47814-5
Stordy, B. Jacqueline and Nicholl, Malcom (2000). The LCP Solution-The Remarkable Nutritional Treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia & Dyspraxia. NY: The Ballantine Publishing Group/Random House, Inc.
ISBN 0-345-43872-8
If you want to read more published research, try PubMed.gov.
Fuller Chiropractic 576 Main St., Woburn, MA 01801 781-933-3332 www.drscottfuller.com
Dr. Scott Fuller, DC, CCST, DACNB Updated November 2007 (originally written April 2004)
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