Long gone are the days of assuming that chiropractic care is just to ease the pain of a bad back. No longer do we associate a chiropractic adjustment with being a quick fix for a temporary ailment. Because, the truth is, good chiropractic care, like the care we provide at Doctor Gena Chiropractic in Plantation, is so much more than that.

Being a leading family chiropractor means having the ability to work with everyone in your family, from the baby growing in your womb on up to the greatest great grandparent. In short? We have a wide range of modalities to work with most issues your loved one(s) is facing.

As you know, the highly trained chiropractors at Doctor Gena Chiropractic love working with children. In fact, some of our patients have been visiting us since they were first born, and continue to make regular chiropractic care a priority throughout their entire childhood.

Sure, our methods of chiropractic care can help our little patients with intestinal issues and digestive issues, behavior issues, chronic ear infections and general wellness, but did you know that chiropractic care can also help children with Autism spectrum disorders?

It’s true.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are classified as pervasive developmental disorders that permanently affect essential mental functions. Symptoms include quality-related disorders in areas of social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, the variability of behaviors and specific learning disabilities. Some of the other conditions that fall under the ASD umbrella are classified as neurodevelopmental disorders, including autistic disorder (autism), Asperger syndrome, and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD).

Common effects that children experience with ASD include:

Sensory Problems
It is not uncommon for children with Autism to underreact or overreact to sensory stimuli. They may ignore attempts at communication while be emotionally triggered by even the slightest of sounds and/or touch.

Emotional Difficulties
Children on the Autism spectrum often have difficulty regulating or expressing emotions appropriate to the situation they are in. If upset, the child may react aggressively or with uncontrollable crying. To the contrary, children with ASD may not recognize dangers like heights or vehicles when crossing the street.

Uneven Cognitive Abilities
ASD occurs at all intelligence levels. However, even kids with normal to high intelligence often have unevenly developed cognitive skills. Not surprisingly, verbal skills tend to be weaker than nonverbal skills. In addition, children with Autism spectrum disorder typically do well on tasks involving immediate memory or visual skills, while tasks involving symbolic or abstract thinking are more difficult.

So how does chiropractic care help children with Autism spectrum disorders*? Here’s how:

First and foremost, as you’ve heard us say before, chiropractic care is a gateway which allows for proper communication between the brain and body. By correcting subluxations that are commonly found in the upper neck region of children with ASD, we will help restore balance to the nervous system. This method will begin to activate the parasympathetic response in favor of sympathetic dominance.

Reducing this dominance is what can ultimately help reduce behavior related symptoms while increasing digestive and immune function at the same time.

A total chiropractic win-win.

Over the long term, pediatric chiropractic care can help your child’s nervous system stay in a more balanced state. *It’s important to note that chiropractic care is not a cure or treatment for Autism spectrum disorders, but rather a means to ensure proper nervous system functionality which is critical to your child’s well-being.

For more information on visiting Doctor Gena Chiropractic, located just minutes west of Fort Lauderdale, contact us today!

Remember, your health is in your hands, but our hands are here to help!