Re-Balancing Your Child’s Brain: The Role of Chiropractic Neurology for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

By Dr. Joshua Huffman, D.C.

The rate of autism spectrum disorders is growing at an epidemic rate.  10 years ago autism was diagnosed in 1 out of 10,000 children.  In 2006 the National Survey of Children’s Health released by the US Department of Health and Human Services reported that the odds of a child receiving an autistic spectrum disorder diagnosis have increased to 1 out of every 91 children.  If we are talking about boys, the risk climbs to an astonishing 1 out of every 38!  Furthermore, a study released by the researchers at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute reported that only 120% of the 700% increase could be attributed to improved diagnosis (1).  Autistic Spectrum Disorders including autism, aspergers, ADHD, ADD, and dyslexia are a true epidemic threatening our children’s futures.  It is imperative that we begin making changes to improve our children’s abilities to thrive in society.

For the last 25 years much of the research that has been performed has been looking for “the gene” that causes autism.  No such gene has been found.  There are epigenetic factors (genetic predispositions) that may make it more likely for your child to develop one of these disorders.  It is good news that this is not a “genetic” disorder because this means that there is the opportunity to change your child’s condition.  In order to successfully help these children we must have an understanding of what is at the heart of this disorder.

Practitioners of chiropractic neurology have long understood that many neurologic disorders stem from an imbalance between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.    When there is an imbalance in brain function this creates what is referred to as a “functional disconnection syndrome.”  This is an inability of the two hemispheres of the brain to communicate with each other.  Recent research is now suggesting that this is the very mechanism behind autism spectrum disorders as well.  One such study from the Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging reports “the functional connectivity, i.e. the degree of synchronization or correlation of the time series of the activation, between the various participating cortical areas was consistently lower for the autistic than the control participants (2).”  This was a comparative study using functional MRI imaging to compare activation patterns in the brain while performing certain tasks.  It confirms that there is an imbalance in activation between the different hemispheres of the brain in autistic spectrum disorders.

In autistic spectrum disorders it appears that this imbalance in brain activity stems from an underdeveloped or immature right brain.  The right brain develops first and is largely stimulated by movement patterns.  Many children who develop ASD have abnormal motor patterns while developing.  These abnormal movement patterns during the brains formative years lead to decreased activation in the right hemisphere of the brain.  For this reason developmental milestones are very important in the early detection of autistic spectrum disorders. Any variation from the normal developmental time, whether early or late should serve as a red flag of neurologic imbalance.  As areas of the right brain fail to develop they create a vicious cycle that will promote further neurological imbalance.  To understand this, we must investigate the primary functions of the right hemisphere.

The right hemisphere of the brain is largely involved in gross motor control (postural muscles), suppressing immune function, spatial awareness, non-verbal communication, and comprehension.  When you have an under-activation of the right brain you may see poor posture, poor muscle coordination, hypersensitive immune responses (allergies and asthma), an inability to interpret facial expressions, and difficulty with understanding stories.  There are many other functions of the right hemisphere, but the easiest way to understand the right brain is to think of it as the “brake pedal” of the body, and to think of the left brain as the “gas pedal”.  If you are in a room and hear a noise, or see something move out of the corner of your eye it is your right brain that allows you to stop yourself from looking at it.  If you have a thought in your head, it is your right brain that allows you to stop thinking about it when you want to.  When something upsets you and you become emotional, it is your right brain that allows you to put the brake pedal on and not act out in an inappropriate manner.  When your body is exposed to an antigen (an invader in your body), it is your right brain that limits and turns off your immune system activation at the appropriate time.

When the right brain is weak, the inability to suppress immune system activation is one of the key factors in promoting the vicious cycle I referred to earlier.  Another key feature in many children with autism spectrum disorders is that they develop multiple food and chemical sensitivities because their immune systems are hyperactive.  It may be tempting to think that an overactive immune system is a good thing, but this is far from the truth. When the immune system is repetitively activated as in the case of food allergies, it may lead to inflammation in the gut, the body, and in the brain.  In many cases we find that the immune system goes rogue, and will actually start attacking the child’s own tissues.  This is referred to as an autoimmune condition.  Once this has occurred it can lead to further brain degeneration in your child, creating even more of a functional disconnection.  I recommend that all children with autism spectrum disorders go through rigorous testing of their immune system to identify the substances that their body is reacting to.

Traditional medications used to treat children with autism spectrum disorders help to stimulate the cortex and therefore may help improve symptoms. These medications, however, will not correct the imbalance in your child’s brain.  If your child stops taking the medication the symptoms return. The goal of a chiropractic neurologist is to identify the specific areas of cortical dysfunction and to exercise these areas to restore balance to the brain. The right brain in these children is weak, but their left brain is overactive.  The goal should not be to strengthen both sides, but rather to increase the right brain while calming the left brain.  Many children with autism may exhibit speech delays. Obviously, there is a desire of the parent of any speech-impaired child to help them speak.  But in many of these cases speech therapy (primarily left brain stimulation) alone may not be the answer. The speech centers of the brain are located in the left hemisphere of the brain and therefore ST stimulates the left hemisphere more significantly.  The reason children with right brain delays express an inability to speak is that the right brain is responsible for non-verbal communication.  Non-verbal communication is the foundation for the development of speech.  If the right brain is underdeveloped it may interrupt the development of normal speech patterns. Speech therapy can be helpful to these children, but it is also imperative to actively stimulate and rehab the right hemisphere of the brain as to lay the foundation for speech development. 

Chiropractic neurology allows for a skilled practitioner to accurately rehabilitate the areas of the right brain that are underdeveloped.  Traditionally, chiropractic neurologists may use sound therapy, smell therapy, light therapy, balance therapy, spin therapy, unilateral adjustment techniques, and vibration therapy in a specialized manner to “exercise” the weak regions of the child’s brain.  For example, a child with a right brain deficiency may benefit from “bad” or “foul” smells in the right nostril.  Smell from the right nostril fires off pathways that travel to the right temporal lobe.  “Foul” smells also stimulate a withdrawal response, which is a function of the right brain.  When specific brain-based therapies are applied they allow for the two hemispheres of the brain to become balanced again.  Once this has occurred new, efficient pathways of communication between the two hemispheres can begin to form.  Research has displayed that the use of the chiropractic adjustment can be used to improve cortical (brain) function.  One such study performed by Dr. Carrick demonstrated that patients with enlarged visual blind spots due to cortical deficits were returned to normal by the use of a cervical spinal adjustment (3).  This study demonstrates that a skilled chiropractic neurologist can help re-balance abnormal brain function.

When considering therapies that may be utilized for the treatment of your child it is imperative to take into consideration a few factors. First, what are the negative side effects associated with a particular treatment for my child?  Medications may offer relief of symptoms but the side effects may change your child forever.  Brain based therapy has relatively no negative side effects. Secondly, what therapy is going to offer my child the most specific rehabilitation for his or her needs?  Chiropractic neurologists specialize in evaluating your child to identify the specific areas of his or her brain that are impaired.  Lastly, what treatment option offers the most comprehensive approach to my child’s condition?  Many chiropractic neurologists also have advanced training in functional medicine.  Finding a doctor that can work to improve both your child’s neurologic imbalance and their immune system imbalance in a coordinated manner is of utmost importance.  This comprehensive approach is rarely seen in today’s healthcare system, but may be exactly what your child needs to get their life back.

For more information please visit my website at www.twincitiesautismdoc.com.

Dr. Joshua R Huffman, D.C., D.A.C.N.B., D.A.A.I.M., practices in Mounds View, MN. He is a board certified chiropractic neurologist and has post-doctoral studies in functional medicine.  He is the author of the book, “Growing Young”.  He may be contacted by email at drhuffman@moundsviewchiro.com

(1) University of California - Davis - Health System (2009, January 11). California's Autism Increase Not Due To Better Counting, Diagnosis. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 1, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2009/01/090108095429.htm

(2) Just MA, Cherkassky VL, Keller TA, Minshew NJ. Cortical Activation and

Synchronization During Sentence Comprehension in High Functioning Autism:Evidence of Underconnectivity. Carnegie Mellon University, Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging, Department of Psychology, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.

(3) Carrick FR. Changes in Brain Function after Manipulation of the Cervical Spine. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. Oct, 1997. 20(8): 529-545

©2011 Mounds View Chiropractic, P.A.