ADHD is more frequently than not viewed as a disorder that needs to be fixed. But what if this isn’t the case? Many experts and those that struggle with ADHD would argue that it can be a superpower! Curious how you can turn you or your child’s ADHD into a superpower? Keep reading to learn more.
What is ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms such as hyperactivity, impulsivity and difficulty paying attention. Kids (or adults) struggling with ADHD may struggle with sitting still, paying attention for extended periods of time, relaxing and sleeping. A child struggling with ADHD will have the most trouble in traditional, structured settings, like school or with social interactions and friendships. When not in the classroom, they may have difficulty following routines, extracurricular activities, regulating emotions and may experience frequent burst of impulsivity. There are three different types of ADHD, each with their own presentation and unique names to help describe the outward presentation to parents:
Hyperactive Presentation (“Raging Bull”)
- This type of ADHD is seen with kids who are constantly in motion, always talking, struggle to calm down + pay attention, are wildly impulsive and tend to get in trouble frequently, leading to massive meltdowns. These kids also exhibit physical signs with high levels of neuromuscular tension, especially in their neck and shoulders, with stiff or rigid motor patterns. They also tend to be very jumpy, making their restless energy visible.
Inattentive Presentation (“Drunken Bull”)
- This presentation is the exact opposite of the hyperactive presentation. These children do not struggle with hyperactivity or impulsivity, but instead are constantly worn out, exhausted and emotional. They have a hard time maintaining focus, often forgetting their assignments or daily tasks. Typically, they present with poor posture and motor control, meaning they are clumsier and lack coordination.
Combined Presentation (“Raging Drunken Bull”)
- The last presentation is also the most common type of ADHD we see in the office. This combined presentation shows up later in life, after living in one of the other two presentations for a few years. A child who has been wound up and stressed for many years can only keep this energy up for so long- eventually they run “out of gas” and become exhausted and emotional, leading to those “drunken bull” like symptoms. On the other side, a “drunken bull” child becomes frustrated by their struggles in school, sports and social life, which results in them becoming mad, angry, anxious and wound up.
When a new practice member is struggling with ADHD, we always dive much deeper than the traditional medical doctor, going deep into their day to day struggles as well as finding the root cause. Because of this, we have noticed that there are commonly seen signs and symptoms associated with ADHD that might have never been correlated before. These include:
- Hard time falling asleep and staying asleep or waking up not feeling rested
- Digestion challenges with frequent bouts of constipation or diarrhea
- Immune challenges and weakened respiratory health
While rarely associated with ADHD, these symptoms also further show us that the nervous system is in a state of distress and is out of balance.
Diagnosing ADHD
ADHD is constantly shrugged off because of a chemical imbalance or genetic bad luck. Although this is what traditional doctors say, there are no physiological tests or measurements made during the diagnostic process. ADHD is diagnosed by observing the child and hearing from people who take care of them, including parents, other family members, teachers and caretakers, and then comparing it to what’s listed in the DSM-V. This is where parents become even more frustrated. Besides the genetic and chemical imbalance theories, traditional doctors struggle to explain why their children struggle with ADHD symptoms in school and with behavior but can have full focus when playing video games or other activities. We know that parents today really want answers that go beyond just putting a bunch of symptoms together and labeling their child with ADHD. They want to know the real ROOT CAUSE and have drug-free care options to help their child thrive and function at their best. That’s where we come in!
Drug- Free Solutions for ADHD
Neurologically focused chiropractic care has become a health hack for so many people seeking help for their child’s ADHD struggles. While we know that there is no “cure” for ADHD and aren’t treating the condition in and of itself, by removing nervous system interference, we are able to help your child regulate better. This in turn helps to alleviate the symptoms often associated with ADHD. Our work as pediatric chiropractors focuses on addressing the “subluxation” (stress) and dysautonomia challenges by getting the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) unstuck and activating the parasympathetic (rest and digest) side with each adjustment. While each adjustment can stimulate and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, it takes time and repetition to make long-lasting changes within the brain and autonomic nervous system. But how do we know if the nervous system is stressed? Through our in-depth initial health consultation, table side checks/ analysis and our nervous system scans. At LFC, we utilize the CLA INSiGHT scans to give us an in depth look at how you or your child’s nervous system is functioning. This state-of-the-art technology not only shows us how stressed out the nervous system is, but also where the stress is located within it. The best part is we continue to re-scan every 12 visits to make sure the nervous system is changing and adapting to the environment better as they progress with care! Typically, the first change parents see is big improvements in sleep, as the brain and body can finally relax enough to catch up on this much needed aspect of healing. Parents also notice changes in digestion and immune function very quickly. As care progresses, parents and teachers start to notice that their child can focus better, pay attention, stay calmer, less impulsive and complete assignments with ease!
If this is something that interests you, please do not hesitate to send us a message or call us at (854) 354-8989. We can’t wait to help you turn your child’s ADHD into a superpower!