Chiropractic and ADHD

Not many people realize that chiropractic can be very beneficial for kids. Whoa! Did she just put kids and chiropractic in the same sentence?! I absolutely did. Kids need chiropractic for many reasons, but the focus of this post is kids with ADHD and other learning and behavioral impairments.

Doctors of chiropractic are trained to identify neurological problems and find individual non-invasive treatment options. They can also assess your nutritional status and help you find the diet that will help you manage your condition. Below is a summary of a case study looking at chiropractic and ADHD:

A 2 year old is prescribed methylphenidate (Ritalin), Adderall, and Haldol for three years. This combination of drugs was unsuccessful in helping the child.

At the age of 5 he is taken to a chiropractor where it was noted that there were complications during his birth process. The results of this trauma and complications resulted in a 4-day stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. The child’s mother reported no other incidence of trauma since. Having completed a full physical and evaluation, the child began chiropractic care.

According to his mother, positive changes in her son’s general behavior become noticeable around the twelfth visit. By the 27th visit the patient had experienced considerable improvement.

The child went for a follow up visit to his original prescribing MD and his mother questioned the usage of the Ritalin. The medical doctor reviewed and examined the child and decided he could be taken off the medications that he had been taking for 3 years with no success.

I will not say that chiropractic can cure ADHD – it cannot. Rather, it is a very low risk alternative and/or complement to other forms of ADHD treatment. Many parents are turning to non-drug alternative treatments to help their children and chiropractic care along with some simple changes in diet may be just what your kid needs. The risks and side effects are negligible compared to prescription drugs, so I ask you, why not?  Why not try something different, yet completely safe, that could potentially be life changing for you and your child.

For more information about the case study above and about how chiropractic can help you or someone you love check out these websites:

ADHD – Alternative treatment utilizing a Chiropractor

The Effects of Chiropractic Treatment on Students with Learning and Behavioral Impairments due to Neurological Dysfunction