| In the past decade, prescriptions for | | | | Chiropractic neurologists are trained to |
| Ritalin, a stimulant medication commonly | | | | identify the underfunctioning part of |
| used for attention deficit hyperactivity | | | | the brain and find treatments to correct |
| disorder (ADHD), increased five-fold, | | | | the problem, to help that hemisphere |
| with 90 percent of all prescriptions | | | | grow. "On every patient, we perform a |
| worldwide consumed in the United States. | | | | brain function exam," says Dr. Frederick |
| As many parents grow leery of the | | | | Carrick, president of the ACA Council on |
| traditional medical approach to ADHD, | | | | Neurology. "We test visual and auditory |
| doctors of chiropractic are offering | | | | reflexes through, for example, flashing |
| promising results with non-drug | | | | light in the eye, or asking patients to |
| treatments that focus on postural | | | | listen to music in one or the other |
| muscles, nutrition and lifestyle changes | | | | ear." |
| that affect brain activity. | | | | When the problem is identified, patients |
| Some children may simply have difficulty | | | | are placed on a treatment program-and |
| learning certain subjects, but the | | | | most of the therapies can be done at |
| current system-in a sense-prompts school | | | | home. "Patients are asked to smell |
| officials to encourage their parents to | | | | certain things several times a day ... |
| have the children diagnosed with ADHD, | | | | or wear special glasses," says Dr. Mark |
| says Dr. Scott Bautch, past president of | | | | S. Smith, a chiropractic neurologist. |
| the American Chiropractic Association | | | | "We also focus on their individual |
| (ACA) Council on Occupational Health. | | | | problems. Some children, for example, |
| "The higher the number of disabled kids | | | | have difficulty with planning, |
| in the school, the more funding the | | | | organization, and coordination-so they |
| school can apply for," says Dr. Bautch. | | | | benefit from timing therapies. They |
| Some teachers might also have difficulty | | | | learn to clap or tap to the metronome, |
| with students who have a different style | | | | perform spinning and balancing |
| of learning, according to Dr. Bautch. If | | | | exercises." |
| the child is a visual learner-and the | | | | Although currently no studies comparing |
| teacher is not-perhaps the child is not | | | | chiropractic neurological and medical |
| being taught in a way he or she can | | | | treatment for ADHD are available, |
| learn. Before diagnosing the child with | | | | chiropractic neurologists are compiling |
| ADHD, Dr. Bautch recommends doctors talk | | | | the data. "We test children before they |
| to the child and the parents: "Is the | | | | start the treatment and then every three |
| child too active? Bored? Has dyslexia or | | | | months," says Dr. Melillo. "Within the |
| a different learning pattern? It can be | | | | first three months, the children get a |
| a behavior problem, problems at home, or | | | | two-grade-level increase on |
| frustrations with the teacher's style," | | | | average-which is pretty dramatic. With |
| explains Dr. Bautch. "If we went to a | | | | children on medications, the improvement |
| conference where the speakers taught in | | | | in academic performance is short term |
| a way we can't learn, we would be | | | | and lasts only as long as they take the |
| frustrated and would misbehave-we'd get | | | | medication. Our programs change the |
| up and leave or chat to the person | | | | brain function and the improvement |
| sitting next to us." | | | | doesn't go away." |
| The traditional medical model, however, | | | | While chiropractic neurologists have |
| seems to follow the cookie-cutter | | | | found success in treating ADHD and |
| principle. The diagnosis of ADHD is | | | | learning disabilities by providing the |
| based on a questionnaire. But this is | | | | necessary brain stimulation, they also |
| not enough, says Dr. Robert Melillo, a | | | | recommend nutrition and lifestyle |
| chiropractic neurologist. "True ADHD | | | | changes that may help correct or prevent |
| patients have other signs - tics, | | | | biochemical imbalances that cause ADHD. |
| tremors, balance or postural problems, | | | | Parents are encouraged to: |
| or unusual sensitivity to touch, | | | | 1. Remove as many food dyes, sugar, |
| movement, sights, or sounds." | | | | preservatives, and additives from the |
| Unfortunately, although medications can | | | | diet as possible. |
| keep ADHD under control, they don't cure | | | | 2. Focus on natural, mostly organic |
| it. Eighty percent of patients have ADHD | | | | foods with as few pesticides or |
| features in adolescence, and up to 65 | | | | herbicides as possible. |
| percent maintain them in adulthood. | | | | 3. Determine if there is an |
| Doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic | | | | allergy-usually starting with dairy and |
| neurologists offer a non-drug and | | | | gluten and try elimination diets. |
| non-invasive treatment alternative for | | | | 4. Stop using pesticide sprays in the |
| ADHD patients that targets the | | | | house. |
| underlying problems, not just symptoms. | | | | 5. Avoid taking medications, nicotine, |
| "Motor activity-especially development | | | | alcohol, and other drugs in pregnancy |
| of the postural muscles-is the baseline | | | | that may Farm the fetus. |
| function of brain activity. Anything | | | | 6. Find ways to relax during pregnancy. |
| affecting postural muscles will | | | | Stress on the job may affect the unborn |
| influence brain development. | | | | baby's health, as well. |
| Musculoskeletal imbalance will create | | | | 7. Breastfeed. The first months and |
| imbalance of brain activity, and one | | | | years of a child's life are critical to |
| part of the brain will develop faster | | | | physical and psychological development. |
| than the other, and that's what's | | | | Breastfeeding mothers' diets are |
| happening in ADHD patients," says Dr. | | | | important as well. |
| Melillo. | | | | |