If it takes a village to raise a child,
it takes a world to raise a child with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Children and adults "on the spectrum" range in severity of their
symptoms; therefore, they are placed, or given a named diagnosis,
based on symptom severity. Traditionally, Attention Deficit Disorder
(ADD) is on the less intense end of the scale, with Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) next, Asperger's somewhere in
the middle, and Autism at the extreme end of the spectrum. There are
several other named diagnoses and symptoms in between. This article
is not to demonstrate their differences or to give an exhaustive
list of symptoms, but to give a brief synopsis of common challenges
as well as effective and helpful ideas to those who have loved
ones with ASD in their lives.
1. Empower With Positive Language: People with ASD are
extremely sensitive and benefit from patience, understanding,
respect and love. Parents, teachers, neighbors, friends, family and
health care providers who are on the same page and seek continued
education and understanding can greatly enhance the learning,
coping, neurobehavioral and developmental success of a person with
ASD. Enabling someone with ASD by making excuses for them based on
their diagnosis misses the point of helping that person become a
healthy, stable and mentally-empowered person capable of handling
whatever life throws at them.
2. Slowly Integrate New Sensations: The well-known Tactile
Defensiveness (issues with being touched or held, notable irritation
with tags, seams, socks, shoes) of those with ASD can be decreased
by stimulating the sensory portions of the nervous system. Slowly
integrate different sensations and textures to decrease resistance.
This can include soft-bristle brushing of the skin, introducing new
food textures and temperatures (which also help with Oral
Defensiveness), or trying different fabrics of clothes. Use a
combination of chiropractic adjustments, whole body vibration
therapy, massage therapy and occupational therapy to stimulate the
deep pressure sensors in joints and muscles.
3. Understand Self-Stimulation: People with ASD use tactics
such as rocking, hand flailing, daydreaming, masturbation,
mutilation, spinning, biting, and picking at skin, eyelashes or
eyebrows to stimulate their nervous system. Their nervous systems
are commonly stuck in "overdrive", or Sympathetic Dominance. The
sympathetic nervous system which controls "fight, flight and fright"
is found in the spinal column between T1 and L2. Vertebral
Subluxations, or misalignments of the spine, and consequent
dysfunction of the body in those areas can be detected and corrected
through specific chiropractic care.
The parasympathetic nervous system, which controls "rest, nest and
digest" may not be sufficiently stimulated in those with ASD, or may
be stuck in the "off" position. Again, specific chiropractic care
can detect and correct imbalances in the areas of the cranium,
cervical spine, lower lumbar and sacral spine; in turn, this can
rebalance and stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. In
conjunction with weighted blankets or vests, hippotherapy (horseback
riding), Craniosacral therapy, swaddling, and deep muscle
compression can help to calm the sympathetic nervous system as well.
These relax the nervous system, decreasing overwhelming sensory
input from the environment and the physical body, thereby allowing
re-direction and improved focus. Giving an age-appropriate physical
outlet for release of energy or emotions (such as journaling) can
also be of great benefit.
4. Give Patience and Opportunities for Developing Physical
Skills: Clumsy, uncoordinated, slow to react, quick to react,
doesn't play well with others, not paying attention... all these are
some common descriptions used to "write off" the difficulty that
many with ASD experience when confronted with complex body movements
or upper and lower extremity-coordinated activities such as jumping
jacks. Bruises and "not liking sports" can be evidence of the
embarrassing reminder of the challenge they face. Many ASD-affected
people have changes in their corpus callosum (where the right
hemisphere of the brain communicates with the left hemisphere) as
well as the brainstem itself, which is in direct control of
coordination of both sides of the body and upper body to lower body
connectivity and appropriate/timely responses.
Chiropractic adjustments can stimulate coordination and integration
between both hemispheres, as well as between the upper and lower
body. Adjustments do this by stimulating the proprioceptors which
tell the brain where the body is in space. Certain physical and
occupational therapies that can help may include cross-crawling,
jumping jacks, rock-climbing, yoga and other cross-hemisphere
exercises. In infancy, nursing on both breasts (whereby the child
must turn his or her neck to one side and then the other) or, if
bottle-fed, switching arms to feed the infant can also stimulate
this cross-connectivity. All of these enhance body coordination and
improve sports and play performance. They have also been linked to
higher test scores due to an improved ability to stay on task. Give
opportunities to improve fine motor tasks as well as gross motor
tasks. Make games age-appropriate and fun, and encourage musical
instrument playing and/or singing, which integrate different parts
of the brain.
5. Decrease Toxic Load: Implementing the Defeat Autism Now
(DAN) protocol, the Feingold Diet, Heavy Metal Detoxification and
other clinical nutritional protocols can be of extreme benefit.
Eliminating artificial additives, dyes, flavors and sweeteners,
gluten, wheat, casein, dairy, corn, soy, peanut and other allergenic
foods while at the same time nourishing with alkaline, organic, raw,
whole foods can make significant changes. Because most with ASD also
suffer from concurrent gastrointestinal distress and allergic or
hypersensitive responses (most often due to leaky gut syndrome), the
gut must be healed using specific timed protocols of enzymes,
probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients in order for the
individual to digest and assimilate proper nutrients and eliminate
waste products. Because of the concentration and motivation required
of this effort, finding a natural practitioner skilled in these
protocols to help guide your family through this process is highly
recommended for long-term success and results. Other ways to
eliminate biologic stress include eliminating chemical sources of
cleaners, detergents and personal care products.
6. Bring It All Together: Seek the advice of practitioners
that you trust. Build a relationship with them and encourage them to
communicate as a team in regards to your loved one. Learn, create
and alternate fun activities that you can do at home to be daily
parts of brain-body connection. Improve your whole family's health
with nutrition, exercise, natural wellness care and daily laughter!
Dr. Jessica J. (Allen)
Dachowski, DC, DICCP, is Alaska's only Board-Certified Diplomate
in Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics and Pregnancy. She works with
her husband, Dr. Ryan Dachowski, at Kremer Chiropractic Clinic in
Anchorage
