Chiropractic Aids Autistic Children
The evidence continues to grow that Chiropractic may offer hope and help for children who have been diagnosed with Autism and resultant learning disabilities. Recent reports of children helped by cervical (upper neck area) and full spine adjustments is most encouraging.
Two groups of children receiving Chiropractic care for Autism were the subjects of a study reported in the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR). The aim of the investigation was to see how children responded to two different types of Chiropractic care.
Fourteen children diagnosed with autism were carefully studied while undergoing treatment. Seven of the children received one form of Chiropractic adjustment focusing on the entire spine while the other seven received a form of Chiropractic adjustment focusing on the upper cervical area.
Researchers at the Child Evaluation Center at the University of Louisville Medical School evaluated each diagnosed child. The measurement tool utilized was the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) that had been earlier created at the Autism Research Institute of San Diego, CA. The tool is designed to be completed by parents, teachers or caretakers. It measures a child’s speech, language and communication skills, sociability, sensory and cognitive awareness; and health, physical and behavior levels.
Each child was measured with the ATEC at the start of the study. Chiropractic adjustments to each group occurred twice each week for three months. A new ATEC evaluation was done once per month to monitor progress.
The results showed improved ATEC scores for six of the seven children in the cervical adjustment group and five of the seven in the full spine adjustment group. The upper cervical group showed the most score improvements overall. In this group, two of the children improved so much that they were no longer assessed as autistic. Overall, the study noted that the most common clinical aspects of improvement were in communication, verbal skills, eye contact, mood, and physical sport skills.
It should also be noted that a second review study of autistic children helped by Chiropractic was also recently completed. The paper published by Clinical Chiropractic recounts clinical case studies of Chiropractic successes, especially the benefits of cervical region adjustment.
While neither the study nor the review point to actual causes for the tremendous increase in children with autistic problems, both hold out hope to parents that help for their child could be available through Chiropractic.