Chiropractic Care for Kids
Ensuring your child's optimum development

The idea of chiropractic care for babies is new for many people, but it has been going on for over 100 years.

Is chiropractic care safe for infants?

The first thing that most parents feel when they think of chiropractic for babies is fear: “Can that be dangerous for my baby?” parents ask. What many parents forget is the degree of force and trauma that is often used during the birth process. Some studies suggest anywhere from 30-90 pounds of pressure can be used in a normal birth, and vacuum extraction and forceps can add additional stress. In comparison to the light contact adjustments used by most chiropractors that care for newborns, chiropractic care clearly appears to be much gentler. The chiropractic adjustment that most people think of with twisting and popping is not the same with newborns and infants. In fact, the amount of pressure used is comparable to the amount of pressure you could press on your closed eyelid without any discomfort.

Will my pediatrician suggest that my baby get checked by a chiropractor?

This is a very important question, because we look to our pediatricians to be the experts of our baby's health. The reason many pediatricians do not suggest that babies get checked by a Chiropractor is simply because it is not part of their training in American medical schools.

Medicine's approach is based on the inductive research of specific conditions and the associative factors related to the condition. The data is then categorized to identify the high-risk groups and activities that are considered to be causative factors. The medical approach is a mechanistic and allopathic viewpoint focused on the elimination of symptoms. Medical doctors are extremely qualified to diagnose and treat disease and provide emergency first aid medical care. Their training is based on the use of medications and surgical procedures to treat and cure medical conditions.

Is Chiropractic Care a Viable Treatment Alternative
for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Abstract
The primary goal of this paper is to understand Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, its causes, treatments, and the possible role chiropractic care can play in the current treatment model. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the top diagnoses for children today. Further investigation into this disorder shows that very little is known about the cause of this condition. There are many treatments that are being used by parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder that attack the symptoms and leave the causal agent hard at work to produce more symptoms. The chiropractic research that has been conducted about this disorder demonstrates that while chiropractic care does lead to improvements, more analysis needs to be done.

Keywords
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Alternative treatments, chiropractic for childhood disorders, Hyperactivity, Chiropractic, Nerve System Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder.

Introduction:
Since the advent of pharmaceuticals advertising in the media, parents of hyperactive children have fallen prey to the idea that drugs are the only answer to this social dilemma called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Although the details of the physiological events that manifest Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are not clearly understood, this diagnosis has been used on an increasing basis over time. Even though they are not as well known as the medical treatment, several alternative treatments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have emerged as new methods. These methods include, but are not limited to, dietary modifications, Chiropractic care, psychotherapy, clinical behavior therapy, family therapy, social skills training, support groups, parenting skills training, neurobiofeedback, and biofeedback. These so-called treatments are sought after to help control the symptoms being expressed. There is no “silver bullet,” that eliminates the cause. In order to eliminate the cause, we would first have to know what it is. Some hypothesized causes include altered brain function, heredity, maternal smoking and/or drug use, exposure to toxins, fetal alcohol syndrome, fetal alcohol effect, heavy metal toxicity, yeasts, vaccinations, and vertebral subluxations. All of the causes and treatments have a common feature, and that is that they all have to do with the body's ability to properly function neurologically. Health care provided by chiropractors deals primarily with the nerve system and its proper function. The following discussion will address the question of whether chiropractic care in a viable and effective treatment alternative for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Discussion
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a group of chronic disorders that begin in childhood and sometimes last into adult life. In general, children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have a hard time paying attention and concentrating, sitting still and controlling impulsive behavior. These problems can affect nearly every aspect of life. Children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder often struggle with low self-esteem, troubled personal relationships, and poor performance in school or at work. At various times Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been called Attention Deficit Disorder, Hyperactivity and even minimal brain dysfunction. But today, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is the preferred term, because it more accurately describes all aspects of the condition.”

The following is a list of the common signs and symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Inattention :

• Often fails to pay close attention to details
• Often makes careless mistakes in school work or other activities
• Often has trouble sustaining attention during tasks or play
• Often doesn't seem to listen when spoken to directly
• Often doesn't follow through with instructions and fails to finish school work, chores or other tasks.
• Often has difficulty organizing tasks or activities
• Often avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as school work or homework
• Often loses things needed for tasks or activities, such as books, pencils, toys or tools.
• Is often easily distracted
• Is often forgetful

Hyperactivity-Impulsivity:

• Often fidgets with hands or feet, or squirms in seat
• Often leaves seat in the classroom or in other situations where remaining seated is expected
• Often runs or climbs excessively when it is not appropriate. Adolescents or adults may not literally run or climb, but may feel constantly restless.
• Is often “on the go” or acts as if “driven by a motor.”
• Often talks excessively
• Often blurts out the answers before questions have been completely asked