Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity

“After examining several diagnosed ADHD children, we find an upper cervical
subluxation that can lead to neurotransmitter involvement.”
Larry Webster, D.C. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association Newsletter.
January 1996.

When Kevin was 3 he was diagnosed as having ADHD. After trying diet changes,
allergy testing and behavior modification techniques, we reluctantly agreed to put
Kevin on Ritalin. The medication did its job as far as slowing him down a bit, but he
suffered many side effects. In 2 years he grew only 2 inches and did not gain any
weight at all. He cried easily, had trouble sleeping, no appetite, and would “zone
out” quite often.

Finally at age 6 we made the decision to stop giving him Ritalin. He grew 6 inches
in less than 1 year and gained nearly 15 pounds. His sleeping and eating patterns
were still erratic, and the schoolwork was horrible…his writing was illegible and
math made no sense to him.

We brought him to Dr. D’Angiolillo for chiropractic care, twice a week for 6 weeks.
This past week when I went to his parent-teacher conference, the first thing the
teacher asked me was had we put Kevin back on Ritalin. I said no, and she showed
me samples of Kevin’s work and showed me the sudden improvement…for the first
time his writing is in the lines, it is easy to read and much more age appropriate.
Although he still tends to move around more than the average child does, he is able
to concentrate, answer questions correctly and is reading better than most of his
class!

A Mother’s Testimonial. I CPA Newsletter. July/August 1998
(Dr. Angiolillo is in private practice in North Brunswick.

A six year old boy with nightly nocturnal enuresis, attention deficit disorder and toe walking (walked with his heels 4 inches above the ground). Medical specialist recommended both Achilles tendons cut and both ankles broken to achieve normal posture and gait.

Chiropractic findings included: C1, Occiput, sacrum and pelvis. After 4 weeks of care both heels dropped 2 inches and bedwetting decreased to 2-3 times/week.

ADHD – A multiple case study. Wendel P, International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. March/April 1998.

This is a 12-month study began on October 4, 1997 of twenty-one children: 17 male and female, ages from six to sixteen years. Eight of the children in the study are on Ritalin. As of March 18, 1998, thirteen of the initial twenty-one children are still participating in the study. Five of the remaining children are on Ritalin.
Case Reviews:
    1. Female, age 10. The child had poor grades due to lack of focus on homework and parental supervision was needed to complete homework. After three months of care, shereceived “Most Improved Student” award for bringing grades from an F and a D to an A and B respectively.
    2. Male, age 13. History included traumatic birth (cord wrapped around neck) and did not crawl as a young child. After four weeks of care (including learning to cross crawl) he improved his grades from four F’s to a B, D and notable improvement in the remaining 2 classes.
    3. Male, age 12. Run over by a car while riding a skateboard at age 5. He exhibited severe discipline problems at school with school suspension several times. Failing all classes. There has been little behavior improvement but grades have improved to a B, 3Cs and two Ds.
    4. Male, age 15. Tested positive for allergies and had severe hand tremors. After one week of care hand tremors diminished. After 5 months grades improved to 3 As, 2Bs and 1C

This is an eight year old female with a history of epilepsy, heart murmur, hypoglycemia, nocturnal enuresis and attention deficit disorder.

The child had been to five pediatricians, three neurologists, six psychiatrists and ten hospitalizations.

Child had been on Depakote, Depakene, Tofranil and Tegretol.
She had been a difficult birth, a cesarean had to be performed under general anesthesia. Themother was told the baby was allergic to breast milk and formulas and was stayed on prescription feeding.

The doctors told the mother the girl would never ride a bike nor do things like normal children do. The child was wetting the bed every night and experiencing 10-12 seizures/day, with frequent mood swings, stomach pains, diarrhea and special education classes for learning disabilities. Chiropractic adjustments were given C1 andC2 for approximately three times per week.

Two weeks after beginning care the bed-wetting began to resolve and was completelyresolved after six months. She was also going to leave special education classes to enter regular fifth grade classes.

After one year of chiropractic, the seizures were much milder and diminished to 8-10 per week. Patient was also released from psychiatric care as “self managing.” Her resistance to disease increased and she can now ride a bike, roller skate and ice skate like a normal child .After medical examinations, she is expected to be off all medication within a month.

First report on ADD study. Webster L. International Chiropractic Pediatric Association Newsletter. Jan. 1994. Two cases from the ADD study are mentioned.

Case #1: Ten-year-old girl on 60 mg. Ritalin/day, severe scoliosis of 48 degrees Cobb angle. First seen 11/15/93. After ten adjustments mother reported a happier child, immune system doing much better and endurance much higher. Re-exam revealed scoliosis reduced to 12 degrees. By 1/10/94 off medication.

Case #2: 12-year-old boy diagnosed as ADD, asthma and seizures. First entered clinic 12/9/93 and after 8 adjustments, parent has withdrawn all medication with the cooperation of their doctor. Positive personality change has been note

A six year old boy with nightly nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting), attention deficit disorder and toe walking. He walked with his heels 4 inches above the ground. The medical specialist recommended that both Achilles’ tendons be cut and both ankles be broken to achieve normal posture and gait. Chiropractic findings included subluxation of atlas, occiput, sacrum and pelvis…after 4 weeks of care both heels dropped 2 inches and the bedwetting frequency decreased to 2-3 times per week. His doctor could not believe how chiropractic care made such a change.

The effect of chiropractic treatment on students with learning and behavioral impairments resulting from neurological dysfunction (part 1). Brzozowske WT, Walton EV. J. Aust Chiro Assoc 1980;11(7):13-18.

A group of 12 ADHD students reviing stimuland medication were compared to a group of 12 ADHD students receiving chiropractic care. The group receiving chiropractic care both hyperactivity and attentiveness improved along with gross and fine motor coordination. In the medicated group, hyperactivity and attentiveness improved initially (not gross and fine motor coordination) and the medication effecitveness decreased requiring higher dosages.

Over half the medical group had personality changes, loss of appetite and insomnia relating to their treatment. The study concluded that chiropractic care was 20-40% more efective than medication.

Case Studies. Male - age 7 years. Webster, L. Chiropractic Showcase Magazine, Vol. 2,Issue 5, Summer 1994.

The child was placed under care on February 14, 1994 with the following clinical picture:

Hyperactivity, stuttering, slow learner, retarded growth, left leg approximately 1” shorter than right with a limp while walking. Medical plans were to break the left leg, insert metal rods in an attempt to stimulate growth and equalize leg lengths. Our examination consisted of Metrecom evaluation, full spine X-rays, and chiropractic examination of the spine. Areas of subluxation were as follows: Sacrum anterior, inferior on left, 5th lumbar body left, atlas, anterior superior left.

Patient was placed on an intensive correction program of 3 times weekly for a period of two months. During the first seven visits the legs were never balanced, however, each time a reduction of the short leg occurred. On the 8th, visit the legs balanced for the first time. Also noticed by 8th visit:

1. The stuttering had stopped.
2. The grades in school had risen from non-satisfactory to satisfactory.
3. The hyperactivity had abated.
4. The limp was no longer constant.

Case study: the effect of utilizing spinal manipulation and craniosacral therapy as the treatment approach for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.
Phillips CJ. Proceedings on the National Conference on Chiropractic and Pediatrics (ICA), 1991:57-74.

A 10- year-old boy with a three year history of hyperactivity, also suffering from ear infections, headache and allergic symptoms. Chiropractic analysis revealed multiple cervical, thoracic and pelvic dysfunctions. The boy also had multiple cranial faults. By the 11th chiropractic adjustment hyperactivity symptoms had abated (his other health problems had cleared up from earlier spinal adjustments). After 5 1/2 months relatively symptom free he had two falls and hyperactivity, headache and allergy symptoms returned. A single session of spinal and cranial adjusting revolved this exacerbation. A strong link between spinal “dysfunctions” and hyperactivity is suggested.

Seven-year-old male was referred by his mother because of radical behavioral changes (uncharacteristic memory loss, inability to concentrate and general agitation) following a motor vehicle accident (other symptoms included loss of appetite, headache, difficulty in chewing, ear pain, hearing loss, difficulty in breathing through the nose, neck pain, and bilateral leg pain). An M.D. diagnosed “attention deficit disorder” and Ritalin was diagnosed with partial improvement. After four months, the mother sought chiropractic care.

Spinal analysis revealed anterolisthesis of C2 on C3, reversal of cervical lordosis from C1-C4. Correction was accomplished using the Thompson technique with the terminal point table, three times a week for 16 weeks and twice per week for one week....12 week follow up revealed restoration of cervical curve, with residual C2 anterolisthesis.

At 17 weeks Ritalin was stopped by M.D., the patient’s medically diagnosed attention deficit syndrome seems to have been solved as were the other symptoms. The mother discontinued chiropractic care after settlement and the patient’s behavior symptoms gradually returned and is back on Ritalin.

EEG and CEEG studies before and after upper cervical or SOT category 11 adjustment in children after head trauma, in epilepsy, and in “hyperactivity.” Hospers LA, Proc of the National Conference on Chiropractic and Pediatrics (ICA) 1992;84-139.
Five cases were presented. Conventional EEG studies demonstrate responses of two children with petite mal (absent seizure) with potential for generating into grand mal. Upper cervical adjustment reduced negative brainwave activity and reduced the frequency of seizures over a four month period. In two cases of “hyperactivity” and attention deficit disorder, upper cervical adjustment reduced non-coherence between right and left hemispheres in one child and in another, CEEG demonstrated restoration of normal incidence of the alpha frequency spectrum. Increased attention span and improvement of social behavior were reported in both cases. A child rendered hemiplegic after an auto accident displayed abnormal brainwave readings. After adjustment, the CEEG demonstrated more normalized brainwave readings. Child was able to utilize his left arm and leg contralaterally to the injured side of the brain without assistance after upper cervical adjustments.

This was a blinded study in which a placebo was administered initially and chiropractic care provided thereafter. Five of the seven hyperactive children showed improvement under chiropractic care in comparison to placebo care.

The authors write: “The results of this study are not conclusive, however they do suggest that chiropractic manipulation has the potential to become an important nondrug intervention for children with hyperactivity.”

References from Koren Publications’ brochure: Learning Disorders and Chiropractic:

Palmer, D.D., The Art, Science and Philosophy of Chiropractic. Portland Printing House, 1910. Reprinted1966, Davenport IA; Palmer College of Chiropractic.Walton, E.V.

Chiropractic Effectiveness with Emotional, Learning and Behavioral Impairments. International Review of Chiropractic, 29: 2-5, 21-22, September 1975.

Giesen J. M., Center D. B., Leach R. A. An Evaluation of Chiropractic Manipulation as a Treatment of Hyperactivity in Children. JMPT, October 1989; 12:353-363.

Feldenkrais, M., Body and Mature Behavior. Independence, MO: International University Press, 1949.

Lowen, A., Physical Dynamics of Character Structure. Grune and Stratton, 1958

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