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September is literacy month in Florida and I thought I would briefly discuss the connection between functional neurology with regard to reading difficulties. This article will deal more with getting the information into the brain rather than what areas of the brain process different types of information. In order to read properly, there must be coordinated eye movement at a near distance. This means that the right eye must be talking to the left eye with regard to movement. The pupils must also be active, responsive and working together. In addition, there are different areas of the brain that initiate and stop eye movement. This relates to moving from one word to another as well as moving down to the next sentence. For proper reading to take place all these activities must function in synchrony. For example, if one eye does not move in conjunction with the other, the reader will experience double vision or one eye will shut down in order not to confuse the brain. This is all important from a reading standpoint, but realize that the functional neurologist is using this information as a way to assess brain function. It is by addressing deficient or desynchronized brain function that we make the difference to the reader. This means that, not only will the reader be given specific eye exercises in order to facilitate proper eye function and coordination but that other parts of the body may be brought into the treatment in order to smooth and coordinate brain function and thereby help with eye movements when reading. In my office, we have a simple 15 minute test which evaluates eye movements during reading which provides us with considerable information regarding brain function. This is a painless task which requires no preparation and is very much appropriate for children.
The ability to read is important in order for children to succeed in school as well as in life. In school a child who is frustrated with an inability to read may begin to have behavioral issues as his peers start to label him as “dumb.” In addition, if he cannot read and do the work then he may become bored and inattentive. This may lead to a miss diagnosis of ADHD and even perhaps a child being placed on medication that is unnecessary. As these children become older and progress through life their rates of juvenile delinquency may increase. One study revealed that 90% of the juvenile delinquents participating could not read. Thus, simple but many times undetected functional reading problems may come at great cost to you and your child but also a greater cost to society. Thus, before you place your child on ADHD medication please be sure to discuss the issue of near point coordinated eye movement with your doctor.
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A subject that is not often covered, that should be addressed and needs to have more attention brought to it is the subject of autism spectrum disorders and bullying. Bullying is a problem for all children but the incidence seems to be higher for those on the autism spectrum. This most definitely is a subject that requires greater awareness especially with regards to those not familiar with life on the autism spectrum. I found this article and the link is below that addresses some basic tips for those confronted with this issue.
http://www.kiowacountysignal.com/lifestyle/family/x1129168571/Family-Time-How-to-protect-children-with-autism-from-bullying
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Many times I often hear the phrase “80% of your immune system is in your gut.” What does that mean to us on a daily basis and how can we apply that practically. Can we reduce the use of antibiotics in our children over the long haul? Many in the healthcare field feel that antibiotics tend to be overprescribed especially in children. Many times antibiotics are prescribed for children when they in fact have a viral infection and not a bacterial infection. I have heard parents tell me that they took the child to the pediatrician because he had a cold and were upset that the child did not receive antibiotics. They seem to feel that if they did not receive a prescription for antibiotics that the office visit was wasted. In fact, it is currently believed that if we overprescribed antibiotics, the bugs we are trying to eliminate will adapt to our current armamentarium of an antibiotic therapy and therefore the antibiotics we have will not be effective when we truly need them. In addition, when antibiotics are prescribed they tend to wipe out not only the bad bugs but also the good bacteria, that are beneficial to our bodies. This can lead to dysbiosis or overgrowth of bad bacteria in our gastrointestinal tract as well as yeast infections. In addition, parents with children on the autism spectrum are very concerned with introducing any type of foreign substance into their children’s bodies in particular in the form of vaccines such as a flu shot. Below is a study from the American Academy of Pediatrics which documents the reduction of of antibiotics in children ages 3 to 5 years old by 80% with the use of two particular probiotics. Probiotics are live microorganisms which can give health benefits to the host. Probiotics are considered to be the beneficial bacteria or the good bugs found in our gastrointestinal tract. The most common probiotic is Lactobacillus which currently is being made famous by the yogurt brand Activia. The probiotics in the study also helped with symptoms such as runny nose and cough. The moral of the story is to find a qualified healthcare practitioner familiar with probiotics, prebiotic and other ways to influence your immune system in a positive fashion. These inexpensive yet effective methods may save you unnecessary downtime and reduce your need for antibiotics in the short run which in the long run will benefit your immune system.
PROBIOTICS REDUCE INCIDENCE AND DURATION OF RESPIRATORY TRACT
INFECTION SYMPTOMS IN 3- TO 5-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN
Submitted by Arthur Ouwehand
Arthur Ouwehand, Greg Leyer, Didier Carcano
Danisco Cultures, Kantvik, Finland
INTRODUCTION: Probiotics are live microorganisms that have a beneficial effect on the host.
OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate whether consumption of probiotics would be able to reduce symptoms of respiratory tract infections during the winter season.
METHODS: Children aged 3 to 5 years were recruited and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups to receive placebo (n _ 92), Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM (NCFM) (n _ 77),
or a combination of L acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacteriumlactis Bi-07 (NCFM_Bi-07) (n _ 79). Probiotics were consumed daily at a dose of 1010 colony-forming units for 6
months from November to April. The study was performed in Shanghai, China, and approved by the local authorities.
RESULTS: The incidence of fever was reduced by 63% in the NCFM_Bi-07 group and by 48% in the NCFM group. Cough was reduced by 54% in the NCFM_Bi-07
group and by 42% in the NCFM group. Runny nose was reduced by 44% in the NCFM_Bi-07 group and by 9% in the NCFM group; the latter result was not significant.
Antibiotic use was reduced by 80% in the NCFM_Bi-07 group and by 68% in the NCFM group. Children in the placebo group had, on average, 6.5 days with symptoms,
those in the NCFM group had 4.5 days with symptoms, and those in the NCFM_Bi-07 group had 3.4 days with symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS: Daily consumption of NCFM and Bi-07 and of NCFM alone significantly reduced the incidence and duration of respiratory tract infection symptoms in children.
The combination of the 2 probiotics tended to perform better than the NCFM alone.
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It is well established that early intervention for children on the autism spectrum can be very beneficial. From a functional neurology standpoint, we know that the brain is more plastic or changeable at younger ages and less changeable at older ages. It is important to note that the old adage that a child would no longer progress after his sixth birthday is no longer accurate. The brain can change from birth to death. It is true however that younger brains are easier to work with than older brains. For this reason any factor that can help identify a child at risk sooner than later is a positive contribution to the autism community and one that should be publicized to the general public. In this case we have a bedside type marker that may aid in the identification of a child at early stages so that he or she may get the appropriate intervention sooner rather than later. The beauty of this factor is that it does not require any expensive testing or access. Thus whether you are the wealthiest of parents in a major metropolitan area or the poorest of parent in a rural or medically under served area this information will benefit you. As always, if you meet some of the known risk factors for having a child on the autism spectrum such as older age or family history it would be a good idea to scrutinize this factor more diligently. It seems that picky eating (choosy), difficulty moving to solids may be a factor in predicting those that may fall into the autism spectrum. The study released in the Journal of pediatrics is shown below. This is a beautiful tool for parents who are concerned that their children may be suspicious for falling on the autism spectrum. Most mothers are very in tune with their child’s feeding and eating habits. This is a study that should get a lot of attention as using this as a method is readily available and accessible to all. This of course is only one part of a clinical picture that needs to be put together and should not be considered a diagnosis on its own. But it may be a major clue to help parents get help for their children as soon as possible.
Pediatrics.2010 Aug;126(2):e337-42. Epub 2010 Jul 19.
Feeding symptoms, dietary patterns, and growth in young children with autism spectrum disorders.
Emond A, Emmett P, Steer C, Golding J.
Centre for Child and Adolescent Health, Barley House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feeding, diet and growth of young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
METHOD: Data on feeding and food frequency were collected by questionnaires completed at 6, 15, 24, 38 and 54 months by participants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. A food variety score was created, and the content of the diet was calculated at 38 m. The feeding and dietary patterns of 79 children with ASD were compared with 12 901 controls.
RESULTS: The median ages of ASD children were 28 months at referral and 45 months at diagnosis. ASD infants showed late introduction of solids after 6 months (p = .004) and were described as “slow feeders” at 6 months (p = .04). From 15-54 months ASD children were consistently reported to be “difficult to feed” (p < .001) and “very choosy” (p < .001). From 15 months, the ASD group had a less varied diet than controls, were more likely to have different meals from their mother from 24 months, and by 54 months 8% of ASD children were taking a special diet for “allergy.” ASD children consumed less vegetables, salad and fresh fruit, but also less sweets and fizzy drinks. At 38 months intakes of energy, total fat, carbohydrate and protein were similar, but the ASD group consumed less vitamins C (p = .02) and D (p = .003). There were no differences in weight, height or BMI at 18 months and 7 years, or in hemoglobin concentrations at 7 years.
CONCLUSIONS: ASD children showed feeding symptoms from infancy and had a less varied diet from 15 months, but energy intake and growth were not impaired.
PMID: 20643716 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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This is from Sandy Waters and The Autism Perspective ( TAP ) magazine.
Here is a great example of a “Religious Exemption” to give to your school district, and not get your child vaccinated!! Hope this helps!!
To Whom It May Concern;
My/Our child’s body is the temple of God.
My/Our family’s personal religious beliefs prohibit the injection of foreign
substances into our bodies. To inject into my/our child any substance which
would alter her/his state into which he/she was born would be to criticize
our Lord and question His divine omnipotence. My/Our faith will not allow us
to question our Lord and God nor to challenge His divine power.
My/Our objection is based on my/our lifelong, deeply-held religious beliefs.
The vaccination of my/our child violates laws put forth within us by a
higher force at the time of conception.
My/Our personal religious beliefs include my/our obedience to God’s law, the
Ten Commandments, and I/we believe that I/we am/are responsible before God
for the life and safety of my/our child, created by God.
Respectfully Submitted
