NeuroSensory Integration

As children grow and develop, the brain thrives on - and in fact, requires - diverse sensory input from all senses: sight, smell, touch, sound, and taste. In addition to these commonly recognized senses, there are two other senses which are also of vital importance: vestibular sense and proprioception. The vestibular system is the "chief regulator" of all incoming sensory information and is considered the most important sensory system. The proprioceptive system receives input about joint movement all over the body. Collectively, all sensory input and the brain’s ability to integrate this input, is referred to as the neurosensory integration system.

It is vitally important that the entire neurosensory integration system is functioning properly to facilitate optimum learning, motor skills, behavior, and social & emotional development.

Neurosensory development starts in utero, and grows through environmental experience as the child grows. There are a myriad of factors which influence a child’s ability to flourish, many of which parents and educators can provide at home and school by providing opportunities for children to explore their world with their hands, bodies, and minds.

Chiropractic specifically targets the relationship between the spine and neurosensory system in order to promote healthy function.

Properly functioning vestibular and proprioceptive sensory systems are the two key components in developing and maintaining a healthy sensory processing system. Because these two sensory systems have a large part of their function housed in the spine, periodic chiropractic evaluation is essential to ensure optimal neurosensory integrative development, as well as to check for early signs of any challenges in the NSI system. These evaluations should be performed by a pediatric chiropractor specializing in neurosensory development, beginning at birth and continuing throughout childhood.

Children with autism spectrum disorder, ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, and asperger's display significant NSI challenges, and can benefit greatly from specialized chiropractic care.

Chiropractic adjustments alleviate interference to individual sensory nerve function as well as the brain’s ability to integrate sensory input, improving sensory processing on multiple levels.

We work specifically with neurosensory integration challenges, providing adaptive chiropractic adjustments and specialized brain exercises, as well as coordinate with the family and other care providers to address nutritional and other considerations.

Primitive Reflexes

Primitive reflexes are patterned responsive movements to support development and survival in utero and the first few months of life. Each reflex is associated with one or more sensory processing systems. These reflexes normally go away within the first few months of life.

When one or more primitive reflexes persist beyond their normal extinction period, their presence interferes with proper neurologic development, with repercussions in social, academic, and motor learning.

Causes of retained primitive reflexes may include birth by cesarean section, toxicity, insufficient tummy time, exposure to anesthesia, multiple falls particularly involving head injury, chronic ear infections, and early walking with little or imbalanced crawling.

Can you recognize the signs of retained primitive reflexes in your child?

Over-react / constant “fight or flight”
Adrenal fatigue
Allergies and/or asthma
Frequent illness / depressed immunity
Poor impulse control
Withdrawn or timid
Easily distracted / poor concentration
Aggressive
Anxious
Poor articulation
Tactile sensitivity (such as extra ticklish)
Messy eater
Poor handwriting
Difficulty eye tracking
Difficult hand eye coordination / dexterity
Lower math achievement
Unable to sit still “ants in the pants”
Possible scoliosis / poor posture
Chronic digestive issues
Fussy with clothing
Bedwetting beyond age 5

Pregnancy & Birth History

Mother had a viral infection in the first trimester of pregnancy
Any medical problems during pregnancy such as threatened miscarriage, high blood pressure, or excessive morning sickness
Mother under severe emotional stress between the 23rd and 28th week of pregnancy
Any complications during pregnancy or delivery; prolonged labor, fetal distress
At any time during the pregnancy or delivery was the child said to be in a breech position?
Use of forceps or suction delivery
Caesarian section
More than 2 weeks premature or late
Multiple ultrasounds performed during pregnancy

Family & Health History

Any history of learning difficulties in the family or either parent’s family?
Has the child been diagnosed with a learning disability?
Has the child been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Did/does the child suffer from chronic ear infections?
Does the child suffer from motion sickness?
Did the child suffer from a head injury?

Learning & Developmental History

Lack of, or little, creeping or crawling on all fours with this child
Early walking
Any troubles with feeding or latching on in the first 3 months
Difficulty distinguishing right from left
Difficulty deciding which hand they would use as their dominant hand
Difficulty sitting still and/or paying attention
Difficulty lacing shoes or doing buttons
Reading difficulties
Reverse letters when writing
Difficulty writing or very messy writing
Difficulty catching a ball or poor hand-eye coordination
Seems awkward in PE, gymnastics, dance, etc
Difficulty learning to ride a bicycle, swim, or swing
Speech or articulation difficulties

Sensory Processing

If your child exhibits three or more signs of altered sensory processing, call our office to schedule a sensory specific evaluation at 603.842.4769.

Signs of Sensory Under-Responsivity

Auditory

Had little or no vocalizing or babbling as an infant
Often speaks in a loud voice and/or excessively
Likes excessively loud music, games, or TV
Does not respond to or had difficulty with verbal cues or to name being called
Has difficulty understanding or remembering what was said
Needs instructions repeated often, or will say, "What?" frequently
Talks self through a task, often out loud
Appears oblivious to certain sounds
Often disoriented/confused about where a sound is coming from

Olfactory

Fails to notice or ignores noxious odors
Excessively smells new objects, toys, people
Has difficulty discriminating unpleasant odors
May drink or eat things that are harmful/poisonous because they do not notice the noxious smell
Unable to identify smells from scratch 'n sniff stickers

Tactile

May crave touch, needs to touch everything and everyone
May be self-abusive; pinching, biting, cutting, or head banging
Has a high pain tolerance
Likes to put objects in their mouth
Seeks out surfaces and textures that provide strong tactile feedback
Often is not aware of being touched/bumped unless done with extreme force or intensity
Often injures self; burns, cuts, bruises, etc because harmful act does not register
May not be aware that hands or face are dirty or feel his/her nose running
Frequently and unknowingly hurts other children or pets while playing
Repeatedly touches surfaces or objects that are soothing (ie, blanket)
Seeks out messy play

Taste

May eat inedible objects such as dirt, chalk, crayons (Pica)
Prefers foods with intense flavor such as excessively spicy, sweet, sour, or salty
Frequently chews on hair, shirt, or fingers
Constantly puts objects in mouth; even past the toddler years
Likes brushing teeth/vibrating toothbrushes and even trips to the dentist

Visual

Complains about "seeing double"
Writes at a slant (up or down hill) on a page
Difficulty copying
Fatigues easily with reading, writing, drawing, video games, etc
Often loses their place while reading or doing math problems
Difficulty finding differences in pictures, words, symbols, or objects
Has a hard time seeing the "big picture"; focuses on the details or patterns within the picture
Difficulty with following and tracking objects with eyes
Difficulty judging spatial relationships in the environment; may bump into objects/people or misstep on curbs and stairs
Has difficulty telling the difference between similar printed letters or figures such as p/q, b/d, + and x, or square and rectangle
Makes reversals in words or letters when copying, or reads words backwards; ie "was" for "saw" and "no" for "on" after first grade

Vestibular

Appears to be in constant motion, can't seem to sit still
Loves to swing or spin; can do for long periods
Craves fast movement; always running, jumping, hopping etc instead of walking
Loves fast moving and spinning rides at amusement parks
When sitting must rock, shakes legs, or move head
Likes jumping on furniture, trampolines, spinning in a swivel chair, or getting into upside down positions
Tends to be a "thrill-seeker"; may be dangerous at times

Proprioception

Seeks out jumping, bumping, and crashing activities; loves "roughhousing" and tackling/wrestling
Kicks feet on floor or chair while sitting at desk/table
Prefers tight clothing; likes heavy blankets
Likes to be squeezed/hugged tightly
Clenches or grinds teeth
Likes to push, pinch, bump or hit others
Likes to chew on things such as lip, straws, pencils, shirt collar/sleeve, etc
Loves jumping off high structures/furniture
Frequently falls on floor intentionally

If your child exhibits three or more signs of altered sensory processing, call our office to schedule a sensory specific evaluation at 603.842.4769.

Signs of Sensory Over-Responsivity