Modern Epidemic

Many of us are affected by this modern day epidemic within our schools. You may have a friend with a child affected, someone in your child’s class or you yourself have a child directly involved.

Often there is not just one child in the class there may be 3 or 4, even more. This not only affects the child involved, but all children in the class. And it is all too familiar in schools Australia wide. It has become an epidemic.

What is this modern day phenomena?

The massive explosion of learning difficulties, ADD/ADHD, Aspergers, Autism.

Three questions come to mind straight away;

1. Why are there so many now but not when I was young?

2. What can be done to stop it from happening?

3. What can be done to help these children?

Question one is controversial and I believe there are not enough grounds to support any theory I have heard to date.

Is it our foods, the preservatives, the early and over use of medication, our busy and hectic lifestyles over stimulating our brains, vaccinations, electromagnetic fields or airwaves from cordless or mobile phones, remote controls, internet, TV. The possibilities go on and on. Maybe it is a combination of some or all of the above. The fact is we don’t yet know.

Question two is restricted by not having an answer to question 1. Restricting the above-mentioned possibilities does seem to be of benefit.

Question three is the one that matters for these children, their families and schools.

Let us take a look.
• All share some similar symptoms in what is happening within the child.

• All have great variety within each, ie not all learning difficulties are the same. Not all autism is the same, Not all ADHD children are the same.

This is one reason why the present method of treatment with Ritalin and Dexamphetamine are not the answer. The side effects of these medications are another issue.

Who can help and why?
To ‘treat’ the problem each child MUST be looked at as an individual at a neurological, functional level. This means, how each child functions as an individual even though there are similar characteristics.

The most efficient help available
In the 1960’s it was discovered that by isolating muscles a practitioner can identify the neurological, functional mechanism that is causing a problem to occur. Originally this was used to assist chiropractors to correct postural deviations.

Today Kinesiology is an advanced scientific modality. Researchers have ‘mapped’ many neurological pathways. This allows the Kinesiologist to identify and correct ‘short circuits’ within the neurological pathways that affect each individual problem or activity.

Although there is still much to be learnt, Kinesiologists have researched and developed methods to identify and correct neurological dysfunctions at an individual level. This means if YOU have a problem the Kinesiologist can identify and correct how the problem affects YOU as an individual. Your personal neurology then provides neurological responses providing the quickest and most efficient way to correct the problem at hand.

These ‘tests’ and corrections are quick, easy and non invasive. Because they are so quick the responses are received instantly meaning consultations are minimised.

A Kinesiologist’s philosophy is to provide better health and a better quality of life in the quickest most effective time possible.

Low muscle tone
Many of these children, but not all, have low muscle tone showing poor co-ordination, bad posture and or difficulty holding a pencil etc. They are often sent to a physiotherapist or occupational therapist and given exercises to be done daily. These will usually help but take a huge effort affecting the whole family due to the amount of time required. The children also need to be willing to cooperate.

The advanced techniques of a professional Kinesiology practitioner can in most instances activate the neurological pathways between the brain and the muscles to instantly ‘strengthen’ and co-ordinate muscles. This occurs within minutes during the consultation. In most cases exercises are therefore not required. It sounds too good to be true but you simply walk in, receive your treatment and feel the difference there and then. And it lasts.

Brain activity
Brain messages in these children, for a variety of reasons, either do not arrive at the correct destination or they are stored or interpreted incorrectly.

For many, one side of the brain may not work as efficiently as it should. The neurological ‘wiring’ may be there but, like a dimmer switch on a light, it can be turned up or down depending on what activity is required at the time.

We don’t require as much brain activity watching cartoons as when we read, spell or do maths. A stressful event can cause the brain to think the dimmer switch is turned up when it is actually turned down. Sometimes it can become stuck in this state.

In Attention Deficit (ADD) children it can be turned up so they cannot focus on any one thing. They cannot filter out unrelated stimuli like traffic or others talking in class etc.

Under stress it is very common for the ‘dimmer switch’ to turn right down causing inability to think or concentrate and often anxiety. Autistic and Asperges children become locked in one area of the brain and continually focus in this area for hours or days at a time.

Food involvement
For many children foods or other substances cause neurological disharmony. This can be sorted out by either avoiding the foods or ‘teaching’ the body the foods are OK. Traditionally, parents are told to reduce all foods to basic rice and vegetables and SLOWLY reintroduce them. This takes a long time and is very stressful for all involved.

A Kinesiologist can quickly test foods to see if they affect the child or not. This way only the offending foods need to be eliminated. This makes it much easier on the whole family.

Emotional level
Neurological feedback allows the Kinesiologist to quickly release emotional triggers that may affect them in the present or from the past.

Self-confidence and self-esteem are also affected due to a lack of success. Kinesiology treatments are fast so the child sees improvement in a short time. This helps them realise they are not ‘dumb’ and that the problem can be fixed. They see improvements then participate like everyone else. This changes their whole outlook on life and themselves bringing self-belief. This self-belief and the new found success allows them to fulfil who they truly are.

At the end of the day it comes down to this. Medication does not teach children how to deal with their problem or how to blend into society and once the medication ceases the problem returns.

For most children there is a neurological problem that when addressed makes permanent positive changes. Kinesiology allows us to quickly and efficiently assess and correct the problem with non-invasive natural techniques at a fair and reasonable cost.

Through the help of Kinesiology children with learning difficulties, ADHD, mild autism, Aspergers, their family and school are all winners. The child can think clearly, process information and enjoy school life by fitting in like every other child in the class.

Danny Liddell Dip K, Dip Bus, Dip T&AS
Bracken Ridge Natural Therapies
E: brisbane@kinesiologyschools.com.au
P: (07) 3261 5436