“The central struggle of parenthood is to let our hopes for our children outweigh our fears.” ~Ellen Goodman
Neurodevelopmental Disorders (ND’s) are essentially a disruption of the brain, which results in gaps, delays, or variations in the way a child’s brain and nervous system develops. Currently, one in six children in the United States is said to have a neurodevelopmental disorder. The most common are: Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD); this includes Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disorder (LD), Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) and Various Psychiatric Disorders.
Children with ND’s have difficulty processing incoming sensory input to the brain. This neurological disorganization can occur in three different ways:
the brain does not receive messages due to a disconnection in the nerve cells
sensory messages are received inconsistently; or
sensory messages are received consistently, but do not connect properly with other sensory messages.
When the brain processes sensory messages poorly; inefficient motor, academic, or emotional output is the result.
Prevention & Early Detection
Dr. Cathy works with typically developing children to ensure that should any deviation from norm occur, it is detected early. Early detection and intervention play a key role in allowing the nervous system to heal at its maximum functional level. When a child enters our program with atypical development and/or a ND, Dr. Cathy explores all areas and time lines in which the nervous system was disrupted. Thus, she works to remove the “road-blocks” that were put in place at that particular time and “restore” the nervous system back to health.
Contributing Factors of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Birth Trauma: cesarean sections, forceps, suction devices, prolonged or rapid labor, induction, anesthetics.
Environmental Exposures: pesticides, herbicides, neurotoxins in foods (dyes, preservatives, artificial sweeteners), and household cleaning products.
Epigenetics and genetics.
Vertebral Subluxations.
Neurodevelopmental therapy is essential for proper neurodevelopment, which ultimately leads to optimum academic, social, behavioral, and motor learning. As an adjunct to chiropractic care, our office works with children and adults with Neurodevelopment Disorders including prevention and proper development. These services can include: Neurosensory development assessment with primitive reflex testing, neurosensory Integration and neuromovement home therapy with referral to therapy specialists if necessary.