ADHD and Autism Diagnosis and Treatment
Over 6.1 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2016 and 2 out of 3 of those children have at least one other behavioral disorder. In addition, the rate of Autism increased by 119% from 2000 to 2010! It is now considered the fastest growing developmental disability in America. With such staggering statistics, it is no wonder that mental health disorders continue to be almost a daily topic in the national news. Families are demanding answers to questions like “Are vaccines safe?” and “Can a gluten-free and casein-free diet help my child heal?”. Even more, the traditional medical community has really only offered more and more prescriptions that only add side effects, causing even more symptoms. Natural medicine truly has so much to offer when we challenge our thinking beyond just symptom management. Did you know that one of the few consistent findings in every case of behavioral disorders is persistent toxicity? The bottom line is not that gluten or casein or vaccinations cause ADHD or Autism, but when a persistent state of toxicity is present, we are susceptible to any condition based on our genetics. We can move toward healing by lowering our toxic load whether that is improving digestive health, clearing heavy metals, or re-training pathways of processing in the brain. One of the ways we strive to do this in our office is called NeuroIntegration Therapy, or Neurofeedback. The brain is highly complex, made of billions of neurons that send and receive messages to and from all parts of your body. Each of these messages create electrical impulses producing brain waves. This is what is read on an EEG, much like a cardiologist reads electrical impulses of the heart on an EKG. With revolutionary, non-invasive technology, we can now study and map our brain waves, allowing us to identify brain activity that is outside “normal” ranges. Once problem areas are identified, we can then train the brain through auditory and visual stimulation to learn new healthy pathways and reinforce optimal activity. Brain training sessions last 30 minutes and involve listening to music or watching a movie while wearing photic light glasses. Thirty years of research supports that the results of neurofeedback are long-lasting!