| The functional neurology and Hemispheric | | | | humans have well developed prefrontal cortex. |
| Integration Therapy model for Autism Spectrum | | | | The vestibular system is really fairly low on the |
| Disorders views sensory input as a major factor | | | | comparative anatomy scale, as I stated |
| affecting and influencing those with Autism. I | | | | previously, all animals need to balance in order to |
| often say that most people are aware of the | | | | survive. So, in my opinion in this child's case, his |
| fact that if you damage the brain you will see | | | | vestibular system was the starting point. In our |
| changes in the body. We are all familiar with | | | | office, we sometimes have parents tell us that |
| someone that has a stroke and changes in his | | | | they see changes after one visit. Perhaps after a |
| posture with regard to his arm and his legs when | | | | couple of weeks or a couple of months. This |
| walking. Someone who has had a stroke may also | | | | particular child has been very difficult to treat. His |
| have a drooping of the face. So, we see how the | | | | response has clearly been slower than expected. |
| brain can affect the body. Many times people are | | | | This child has been treating for approximately 6 |
| not aware that the body also affects the brain. | | | | months. He has shown some small vague type |
| That is, we need input and stimulation from the | | | | signs of improvement, but has not really made |
| environment in order to drive brain activity. Input | | | | the typical improvements that we are |
| comes by way of our senses. The five senses | | | | accustomed to seeing in the office. We have seen |
| are sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. What is | | | | his scripting going from out of context to in |
| often referred to as the sixth sense is balance. | | | | context. That is to say, that previously he might |
| However, balance and vestibular input is a major | | | | have been scripting a happy birthday scene from |
| driving factor to the brain. An animal in the jungle, | | | | a movie while we were doing therapy. More |
| that cannot balance itself, will not live long. Ask | | | | recently he has begun to script a scene where a |
| someone who has had vertigo if he would rather | | | | cartoon character is scared of the dark if we |
| be deaf or have vertigo. The answer will be that | | | | shut the lights off in the treatment room. That's |
| one can adapt to being deaf although this is | | | | not what I call huge progress. |
| limiting. However, if you are continuously out of | | | | His mom is amazing with her compassion and |
| balance and spinning, you cannot function in any | | | | dedication to her children. But what she does |
| way. Many patients with vertigo cannot get out | | | | most well and is helpful to me, is that she knows |
| of bed nor do something as simple as turn their | | | | when her child is just avoiding behavior and when |
| head. | | | | he cannot do something. She has a great sense |
| This relates to Autism Spectrum Disorders in that | | | | of how to motivate him to do the activities |
| many children with autism in fact do have | | | | necessary to make him improve. She also has |
| sensory integration issues with regard to their | | | | been very consistent with this treatment even |
| vestibular system. So, if we look at the fact that | | | | though the progress has been less than expected. |
| the senses feed the brain and we have sensory | | | | Consistency is a major factor with regard to |
| integration issues then as is often said in the | | | | making changes in the brain using the techniques |
| computer world “garbage in, garbage out.” | | | | of Hemispheric Integration Therapy. |
| I have many parents that when asked if the child | | | | Within the last few weeks after vestibular |
| has any vestibular issues respond “Oh no, he | | | | stimulation the child has been wanting to lay on |
| can spin and spin and spin and never get | | | | the floor. This is a very typical vestibular |
| dizzy.” They also tell me how they can go to | | | | response. That is, when you feel you are losing |
| amusement parks and never get dizzy. But is this | | | | your balance or the world is spinning, you tend to |
| a normal response? If I take a neuro typical child | | | | want to get closer to the earth. Those that have |
| or adult and spin him in a chair should he not get | | | | had vertigo will be able to relate to this |
| dizzy and perhaps nauseous? The answer of | | | | statement. But that was still vague in that we |
| course is yes. So, this is an actual weakness and | | | | weren’t sure if this was a new behavior or |
| not strength with regard to these children. If | | | | that if he was finally feeling the vestibular |
| vestibular input is a strong input to the brain and | | | | stimulation. More recently after his last three visits |
| these children are not getting any vestibular | | | | the child did not want any further vestibular |
| stimulation then it follows that their brains may | | | | stimulation and was nauseous even vomiting on |
| not be functioning optimally. | | | | one occasion. For me, this is a sign to celebrate. |
| Such is the case with a 10-year-old boy that I'm | | | | This signifies that we have finally reached a |
| currently treating. The most obvious issues that | | | | threshold with regard to his vestibular system and |
| the child has upon meeting him is that he scripts | | | | that our stimulation is finally getting through and |
| (repeats verbiage from movies and video games) | | | | registering in his brain. |
| as well as toe walks. This child has wonderful | | | | Again, vestibular stimulation, proprioception (joint |
| parents who are both hard-working and a great | | | | position sense) and balance are powerful |
| support system relating to their grandmother and | | | | stimulations to one's brain. And with this system |
| aunt. My approach to functional neurology with | | | | now providing more appropriate stimulation to his |
| regard to the nervous system is that the lower | | | | brain, we hope to see more positive changes in |
| areas are cleared up first. That is we look at the | | | | the future. So yes, I am celebrating the fact that |
| nervous system from the outside in, for example, | | | | I was able to make a 10-year-old boy vomit. So if |
| we ask the question, “Is it in the receptor, | | | | you have a child who is on the Autism Spectrum |
| peripheral nerve, spinal cord, brain stem, etc?” | | | | notice if he ever gets dizzy or if you can make |
| So if you look at comparative anatomy between | | | | him dizzy. If you cannot, this is not a normal |
| the species, we see that lower life forms have | | | | response and is an important sign. |
| brain stems and vestibular systems while only | | | | |