Dear Alaska Wellness,
I just got done reading the article on nontraditional treatment for
Spectrum disorders and am very curious as to what studies were
actually done to support this type of treatment and what is Dr.
Dachowski's experience in working with children and adults on the
spectrum.
To me, the article sounds more like a case for chiropractic care,
which we understand not to be a medicine. I find it irresponsible
that you don't list any support for this. Also, how wise is it to
perform chiropractic care on a child's spine which is not fully
developed (still growing)?
As a person who is on the spectrum and looking to understand and
find different ways to deal with this disorder, I like to know what
I am doing and what backs it up. I don't think it wise for anyone to
just take the word of a doctor, just because they happen to be a
doctor.
Thanks for listening. I hope to get a response. Don't mean for this
to sound flippant or rude. Just curious.
Thank you,
C. Moore
RESPONSE:
Dear C. Moore,
Thank you for your response. I will address your concerns as they
appear in your letter.
There is more than enough, and continuing, research on chiropractic
care and ASD. Due to space restraints in the Alaska Wellness article
I did not include them. Within this letter I will reference several
areas you can begin your search for studies, starting here:
http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/Autism-Behavioral-and-Learning-Disorders/.
In regards to your query of my qualifications: After six years of
working as a Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist with particular
interest in Special Needs (particularly Cerebral Palsy), I decided
to further my education. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Palmer
College of Chiropractic, then earned my DICCP (Diplomate in Clinical
Chiropractic Pediatrics) after studying for three years through the
International Chiropractors Association Pediatric Council (http://www.icapediatrics.com/referencearticles.php#Autism,
http://www.icapediatrics.com/reference-journals.php#Autism).
I am currently one of around three
hundred chiropractors world-wide and the only one in Alaska to
attain this level of education.
The knowledge I gained therein was particularly via studying
directly under Dr. Laura Hanson who is a DC, DICCP as well as a
Neuro-Developmental Therapist, Dr. Claudia Anrig, Dr. Joan Fallon,
Dr. Peter Fysh, Dr. Lora Tanis and Dr. Sharon Vallone and many
others. I have interned and worked with special needs children
including those on the extreme end of the Spectrum at the non-profit
health clinic Kentuckiana Children's Center. (A quick internet
search for any of these names will quickly yield you information
about these doctors, their texts and other published works.)
In private practice, my experience in working with children and
adults on the spectrum is focused on adjusting vertebral
subluxations which cause postural imbalances, which disrupt the flow
of communication from the nervous system to the organs, muscles and
tissues of the body. In cases such as ASD, the particular
mechanoreceptor stimulations and change in sympathetic and
parasympathetic tone from a chiropractic adjustment is profound.
Adding into the adjustment comes clinical nutritional balancing to
heal the gut and allow nutrients to be absorbed and waste products
to be excreted efficiently, thereby reducing or eliminating entirely
hypersensitivities, allergies and their associated symptoms.
I, and other DICCPs, check children as young as 5 minutes old for
vertebral subluxations and correct them gently when we find them.
Adjusting infants is as old as chiropractic, is researched, is safe,
is natural, and most importantly is effective at preventing and
treating many disorders. Because of the special needs for care that
children have, trusting your child's spine to a Board-Certified
DICCP ensures that your doctor has specific, specialty training.
This is very similar to bringing your child to a pediatrician as
compared to a general practitioner. Advanced education means a
higher standard of care.
As to your concern, the point is adjusting children as they are
growing and not yet fully developed with the intention of reducing
or eliminating problems early. This is smart preventative care..."As
the twig is bent, so grows the tree." Remember, if left unresolved,
pediatric problems turn into geriatric consequences.
Respectfully,
Dr. Jessica J. Dachowski
