Chiropractic and Learning Disorders

Over the past two decades or so there have been many reports about Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) in children and young adults. When it was first being discussed, it was almost made to sound as though entire classrooms or even schools had the condition so that it seemed to many parents that it was just an excuse for unruly children or for ‘kids being kids’. This misconception mostly comes from a high rate of improper diagnosis especially early on, but it really is a significant condition and great strides are being made in accurate testing for them.

As far as chiropractic and ADD/ADHD is concerned, an October 2009 study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics showed a case series performed on children between 6 and 13 who were diagnosed with ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, and/or dyspraxia. 157 children were studied and all were given 8 standardized psychometric tests from certified speech therapists. The treatment itself was primarily the Applied Kinesiology chiropractic technique and complimentary chiropractic healthcare approaches. The psychometric tests used were designed to examine 20 different areas of cognitive function including sporting activities and interactions with parents as well as with peers. At the end of care, there was a significant improvement in the 8 standardized tests. The patients, or parents of younger patients, also reported improvement in schoolwork and general ability to concentrate.

For now, chiropractic research isn’t as well funded as it should be, but more and more studies are coming out about chiropractic care on childhood conditions along with general chiropractic studies. During formative and developmental years, a healthy spine is especially important, after all.

--Joshua J. J. Jorde D.C.

The abstract of the above study can be viewed here