Understanding ADHD

Although it's important to understand that ADHD today is classified as one diagnosis with multiple subtypes, it is really much easier to look at it as just two main types:

The first traditionally known as ADD, exhibits when a child does not have so much hyperactivity or behavior problems, but instead has trouble paying attention, staying on task, and keeping organized.

The second type is "classic" ADHD, where the "H" is emphasized. In these cases, the child has an excessive amount of hyperactivity, anger and abnormal behavior. No matter the two types, most kids have some characteristics of both types but have a "dominant" type.

Next, it is far more important to understand the cause of the disorder, than to simply label (diagnose) it.

Medicine is in the business of diagnosis and treating symptoms through medication and alteration.

Chiropractic is in the business of discovering the root cause of the disorder and removing it.

One approach is unnatural and temporary at best, the latter is natural and seeks to restore function and create lasting changes. It has been my experience that most parents/individuals choose natural when given the option.

Here are the basics:

ADHD is rooted in the brain/nervous system. Medicine treats it by attempting to manipulate "chemicals" called neurotransmitters. ADHD is a neurological problem, not a genetic or chemical problem.

If the brain is taking in too much stressful stimuli, it reacts with what's called a "stress response". When that "fight/flight" stress response is activated, it forces the body to create more stress chemicals, such as cortisol and epinephrine. It's exactly the same if you stomp on the gas pedal of your car – your car's engine (brain) gets more gasoline.

ADHD is an INPUT problem. The symptoms of hyperactivity and poor focus are just the brain's natural reaction to bad input. If you calm and organize the input to the brain and nervous system then you calm and organize it's output.

Chiropractic works on the basic premise that it stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (brake pedal). The adjustment takes our brain from "gas pedal" to "brake pedal" the more we stimulate it (more frequent adjustments).

The parasympathetic nervous systems job is to promote healing, growth, reproduction, relaxation, development, focus, learning, digestion, hormone balance, sleep, rest, etc.

The key to helping families is not medicating them into a self induced coma... the key is to help restore the input and function to the brain and central nervous system.

By improving the input (cause) then we can change the output (effect).
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If you, your child, or someone you know suffers from ADD/ADHD or even spectrum disorders please don't hesitate to call or email us. We'd love to help.

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​Author / DC

Doctor Chad is the owner of The Wellness Pointe and developer of the "honor box" fee system which is a hybrid fee system developed to ensure that every man, woman and child can receive weekly chiropractic wellness care for their entire lives. He currently has offices in Elkhorn, WI and Johnson Creek, WI and serves over 1500+ members in Walworth and Jefferson County. ​