ADD/ADHD, Sub Clinical Minor Birth Trauma and CranioBalance Therapy
Stuart (Shmuel) Berger, PT
In my experience, I have found that 60-80% of all children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD presented with "sub clinical minor birth trauma". This condition is the result of necessary medical intervention during the time of delivery often when the there is fetal distress and the newborn needs to be born quickly.
The most commonly used methods of facilitating delivery are forceps, vacuum, and c-section, as well as manual techniques used by the doctor or midwife. While these techniques may indeed save lives, often the mother complains that the newborn is restless, colicky, cries frequently, and has difficulty nursing and falling asleep.
Although pediatricians may not find a specific cause for these complaints, I have found 2 dysfunctions of the Cranial System that adversely affect the newborn's health and if not treated often leads to other medical problems (such as ADD/ADHD, allergies, asthma, frequent ear infections) later on in the child.
Often during the above mentioned procedures, the newborn's head is forced backward (similar to whiplash in a motor vehicle accident) and several nerves at the base of the skull are compressed. These nerves are responsible for muscle tone in the neck, and normal function of the digestive and respiratory system. Although it is preferable to treat the newborn as soon as possible, a simple, gentle technique to relieve compression at the base of the neck can be preformed on a child later on in life. If the technique is preformed successfully, results are immediate and permanent and usually only 1-4 treatments are necessary.
The second dysfunction caused by vacuum, c-section, or forceps is decreased pliability of the cranial membranes. Due to increased pressure on the skull during these procedures, the cranial membranes are torn, eventually forming adhesions and affecting proper fluid flow to areas of the brain responsible for behavior and emotions. If this is the primary cause, there are specific techniques to release cranial membranous tension and allow for normal brain function. Treatments for this dysfunction tend to be slightly longer (6-12 treatments) and change is usually more gradual.
In addition to "sub clinical minor birth trauma", other possible predisposing causes for ADD/ADHD that may be treated with Cranial Therapy are premature births, severe vaccine reactions, environmental (strong electromagnetic currents, air pollution), and severe stress in the child's social environment.