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Reaching Farther Program:

A Novel Approach to Childhood Neurological Disorders

Reaching Farther - A Novel Approach to Childhood Neurological Disorders: Chiropractic Neurology Center, Indianapolis, IN

Our Reaching Farther Program is modeled after a program used on the East Coast, and the works of Dr. Robert J. Mellilo and Chiropractic Neurologist Fredrick R. Carrick. We investigate the cause of these disorders, remove the causative factors and treat holistically and naturally.

While the problems are often multi-factorial, we have identified many commonalities in these disorders. Although your child may come to us with a specific diagnosis, we are not treating them for that particular syndrome -- we are actually treating the underlying neurologic cause of the syndrome.

In our program we use specific visual, auditory, vestibular, and motor feedback to stimulate the underactive portions of the cortex while monitoring the autonomic function of the child to measure the change.

Of course, being chiropractors, our main approach to neurologic function is the motor system. The literature has specifically identified that the same degree of cognitive impairment will be mirrored in the degree of motor impairment. By affecting the motor via system coordinative changes to spinal attitudes, balance, posture and movement, we can subsequently affect the brain.

Read an Overview of Neurophysiology as related to the treatment of learning disorders

About the Reaching Farther Program

Our program, called Reaching Farther, reflects our goal to push your child to their full potential and “maximize neurologic function. Our approach is referred to as a hemispheric approach. This means that we will uni-laterally stimulate the nervous system, specifically the hypo-functioning areas only.

This means that we will address the contra lateral side of the body, the visual system on the opposite, the auditory system on the opposite side etc. to only stimulate on side of the brain. The area of under activity in your child is referred to as his or her hemisphericity. It will be helpful for you to understand what your child’s hemisphericty is, as it may change throughout care. This will help you to apply applications between office visits to ensure success.

The program is laid out as follows:

Visit One: Parent Interview — We first meet the parents to discuss the requirements of the program. To ensure success, we want to discuss up front the regimen and agree on the protocol before the kids will be accepted. You will be given a Behavioral History Checklist and a Food Diary at this time.

Visit Two: Examination & Diagnostic Testing — Your child will receive various types of initial examinations. Prior diagnostic tests may be requested from previous physicians at this time.

In addition, we may order testing ourselves. It is rare that we would have to x-ray your child, but MRI’s may be warranted. We also use laboratory testing from an outside source. (See sidebar for examinations and testing that may be conducted.)

Visit Three — A detailed explanation of the examination will be provided and education regarding your child’s hemisphericity. We will cover recommendations for in office therapies and home care. A nutritional consult will be set up with our parent liaison. We will give you a schedule of care and cover costs with you as well. We will start your child’s care on this visit. We will initiate treatment slowly and their response to care will be monitored.

Visit Four — After meeting with our care team, supplementation will be recommended. We will also be setting up your child’s rehabilitation schedule for interactive metronome and physical activities to be done in the office.

Visit Five — Official Start of care, will supply you with a checklist to fill out to get an initial assessment of your child’s function. Your child will be doing a complete circuit of chiropractic neurologic treatment, interactive metronome, and physical activities.

Physical Activities include:

1. Olfactory Stimulation
2. Breathing Exercises
3. Auditory Stimulation
4. Visual Stimulation
5. Balance Exercises
6. Spinal Strengthening Exercises
7. Vestibular Exercises
8. Aerobic Exercises
9. Gross movement exercises
10. Tactile/Vibratory stimulation
11. Cognitive Exercises

All physical activities will be specific for your child’s hemisphericity and unilateral in nature.

Interactive Metronome (IM): An audiological-based program that retrains motor timing and sequencing. IM has statistically has been shown to improve cognitive, motor planning, speech and attention. Our occupational therapist applies this application.

Chiropractic Neurological Care: Our approach is to affect spinal attitudes and joint position on the side contralateral to the deficiency to increase 1a afferent feedback to the ipsilateral cerebellum and contralateral cortex. Other techniques such as eye activity, spinning, cerebellar based stimulation’s will be applied.

Visits six and on — Typical protocols range in between 24 and 36 visits. Treatments will be modified to continue to ensure improvement. Additional adjunctive care will be added depending on the needs of your child. Specified tests, tutoring, care from other practitioner’s etc.

Rehabilitation is dependent on consistent repetition and timing of visits to ensure steady improvement. Results depend on compliance of home exercises, supplements, diet and our work. On-going care will be discussed at the end of the initial sequence of care, based on improvement and continuing needs. We are excited to meet and work with your child.

Details about our next Reaching Farther Lecture

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