Childhood Developmental Disorders

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I've treated many children on the autism spectrum (ASD)and children with ADHD who have struggled with their speech. Many parents have told me that the speech therapy did not work well. Many times, a child with ASD or ADHD also has a right palatal weakness. If the part of the brain that controls tongue movement on the right isn't working, the child will not be able to move the tongue in proper ways. Since it's summertime, parents have more time for therapy with their children. I suggested last week that a mother of a 7 year old boy (who is doing marvelously with neurology treatment) bring him to his speech therapy directly after his treatment here. The speech therapist reported that "it was the best therapy session ever! He was like a different child. They even finished all the treatment for the first time with time left over!" When the brainstem works well, the tongue works well too. Then speech therapy will have even better results. Go, brain, go!

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Did you know that I check for persistent primitive reflexes? A primitive reflex is a reflex that is normal in an infant, but not normal after about one year of age. It is estimated that 30% of American children have one still present that should have been gone long ago. If they are present after their normal developmental stage, they could be the underlying cause of learning disorders and also things like wetting the bed, poor handwriting, lack of focus, sloppy posture, poor reading, fidgeting, and many other symptoms. When the brain develops in childhood, it does so in certain specific stages. The inhibition of these reflexes are a good sign that the higher brain areas are developing normally, each one during its specific stage. The inhibition of these reflexes are the cornerstone of good postural development AND then good cortical development. Do you know any children struggling with these things? Let's get them checked!

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I am happy to announce that I recently received my certification specialty in Childhood Developmental Disorders.  This umbrella includes many childhood challenges including, ADHD, autism, OCD, sensory deprivation disorder, violence, anxiety and dyslexia.  If you know anyone who can be helped with these challenges, please refer them to my office.  I will be able to determine if the child has a deficiency in a specific brain area. If so, my area of passion is to create neuroplastic changes in these problem areas.  I also give homework so that the child and parent have more control as well an ability to support and stabilize the treatment in the office.  I believe I am the only person in the state of Washington that has this certification.  Thank you!

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5 weeks ago I examined a 9 year old boy on the autism spectrum. He is amazing. He is similar to the Rain Man. He can calculate numbers and birthdates quickly. However, when he walked in my office for the initial 2 hour evaluation and treatment, he walked right up to me, shoved his middle finger in my face and said, "F**K YOU!" I thought, "Finally, an extrovert! I know what to do with this." I told his mom that there was nothing he could do to make me embarrassed or shame her or him. He proceeded to shout, "F**K YOU!" I said, "Say, "Thank you. I love you."" This continued throughout the visit. He said, "I'm going to take you into my van, cut you into a million pieces, and murder you!" I kept saying, "Say thank you. I love you." We actually got through the exam and treatment. On the next visit, his mom said he had an amazing day after the treatment. After cursing at me and his mom during treatment, at the end of the fourth visit, he calmly sat down on the trampoline in the office, and said, "Mom, I'm really sorry for all those terrible things I said." After the 6th visit, his mom texted to tell me that her son was sitting at the dinner table with the family having a conversation (that never happens) and the he was telling her he wanted to buy her a gift! He also was asking his grandma questions about her life. (You need a right cortex to think about others and plan the future). At the seventh visit, the boy had an actual response in his right medial pupil for the first time. When he came in on the next visit, he bounded in and jumped onto the trampoline. As he was jumping, he said, "Aren't you glad I don't say F You anymore?" I said yes. Then he said, "Aren't you glad I don't have a T-shirt on that says F You?" I couldn't stop laughing. He now repeats after me when I tell him to repeat positive affirmations like, "I am a genius applying my wisdom" and "I have perfect brain balance." You know what............he is a genius. He was just trapped by his brain.