What’s causing the rise in autism, ADHD and other childhood disorders?

Tue, 09/25/2007 - 2:56pm
By: The Citizen

By Dr. Robert Melillo
Chiropractic neurologist

We are witnessing the epidemic rise in the diagnosis of ADHD, Autism, Asperger’s and other learning disorders. The first question parents ask is “Why?” Why have we seen and continue to see such a large increase in childhood disabilities over the past two decades?

Most parents are told that these are genetic disorders hardwired in the brain that cause chemical imbalances in the brain that can not be corrected. Others attribute the increase to vaccinations and medications designed to actually treat the symptoms.

These reasons alone can not explain the meteoric rise in neurobehavioral disorders. No one can say with certainty the reason why more and more children and their families are suffering with these disorders. What we can conclude is that current approaches used over the past two decades are not working.

The more pressing question now, is “What?” What can be done to make long term corrections rather than just treating the symptoms of these disorders?

The new model that seeks correction rather than symptom relief begins with research showing that Autism, ADHD and other neurological disorders involve the same areas of the brain and may be caused by Functional Disconnection Syndrome.

This is a scientific term that means that the two halves of the brain are not balanced and thus are not communicating with each other normally. Each half of the brain contributes differently to our understanding of and our reactions to the world we live in. Therefore, when brain activity in unbalanced, information is processed improperly, resulting in academic, behavioral and social problems. For a child or adult to fully understand the world and react to it appropriately, we must use our whole brain.

The key to correcting Functional Disconnection Syndrome is a hemispheric based program to balance the two halves of the brain. Brain Balance is the only program currently available in the country that corrects Functional Disconnection Syndrome with a Hemispheric Integration program that stimulates the weak hemisphere of the brain and then integrates it with the strong hemisphere, so the child can utilize the whole brain.

Dr. Robert J. Melillo, an internationally known chiropractic neurologist, has been in private practice for 17 years. For most of that time, he has been a postgraduate professor of neurology and rehabilitation. Dr. Melillo has devoted the later half of his career to the study of learning disabilities and behavioral disorders in both children and adults.

login to post comments