Chiroblog

A recent study looked at how eating habits differ between children with autism and those who are typically developing, as well as how much parents know about nutrition. Researchers found that children with autism tend to eat fewer snacks but have more emotional eating behaviors, like overeating when upset. They are also more likely to have strong reactions—such as tantrums—when they can’t get their favorite foods. Compared to other children, kids with autism eat core food groups less often and consume more packaged foods and sugary drinks.  Dealing with kids with Autism like we have for many years, I agree with this part of the article.  However, it doesn’t really go into the fact that many of the favorite foods of kids with Autism are due to texture vs purely ‘like or dislike.’  The same muscles that are used to chew and swallow food are used to some degree to speak, which explains why children with more severe levels of Autism may not eat a balanced diet as well as have difficulty in speech. 

The study also showed that parents of children with autism generally have less nutrition knowledge than parents of typically developing children. This I find not completely accurate. As stated above, I find the reason that children with Autism tend to eat more processed & packaged foods is not because of a lack of parental education (many of the parents I work with who have kids with Autism are very highly educated)…rather there are certain foods kids with Autism are drawn to (mac and cheese, pizza, chicken nuggets, French fries, for example) due to texture, taste (sweet/salty) and look (all are yellowish).

Reference: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3050656525002081

A 2023 study focuses on finding ways to identify neurodevelopmental challenges, such as autism, much earlier than current methods allow. Today, autism is usually diagnosed between ages 2-4, when social and communication delays become noticeable. However, the building blocks for these skills—like sensory processing—are present at birth. The researchers discovered that a routine newborn hearing test, called the Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR), contains hidden clues about how the brain processes sound. By doing advanced analysis on these ABR signals, they found clear differences between babies who later received an autism diagnosis and those who developed typically. This means that, in some children, certain developmental concerns can be detected soon after birth.

Early detection is critical because the sooner interventions begin, the better the long-term outcomes for a child’s growth and learning. The new approach doesn’t require extra procedures—just smarter analysis of data already collected during standard newborn hearing screenings. By turning these tests into a universal screening tool, doctors could identify potential developmental delays months or even years earlier than current practices. This breakthrough offers hope for personalized care plans that support healthy brain development from the very start of life. 

This is so many newborns, toddlers and preschoolers that we see can have complete trajectory changes by simply identifying weaknesses at birth or during their early years and then strengthening them, so that as each child ages, their brain-nerve system-body connections are working at optimal level.  If an ABR test can reveal clues about how the brain processes information in a young child, so can testing primitive reflexes, looking at early eye movements, and other simple tests that a certified pediatric chiropractor can perform. 

Reference: 

https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/2/2/pgac315/7035935

Some babies show signs that might indicate their body needs a little help moving or functioning more comfortably. For example, if your baby always turns the head to the same side or has trouble looking towards one side; if they prefer to breastfeed only on one breast or become irritated when breastfed; if they cry frequently without a clear cause (sometimes called “colic”); or seems to sleep restlessly or arches a lot, an evaluation by a specialized professional, such as a pediatric chiropractor, may be helpful.

Some studies have observed that many babies with feeding difficulties have minor tension in their neck, jaw, or back. Gently working on these areas has shown improvements in sucking and feeding comfort. There are also reports of babies with torticollis (a stiff or tilted neck) whose mobility improved after receiving gentle care such as muscle release, stretching, and chiropractic spinal adjustments.

If you notice these signs in your baby, it may be a good idea to seek an evaluation from a pediatric chiropractor. The goal is to understand how your baby's body is moving and functioning, and if anything is affecting their comfort or development, it may be corrected through gentle adjustments.

En Espanol:

Signos de que tu bebé podría beneficiarse del cuidado quiropráctico

Algunos bebés muestran señales que podrían indicar que su cuerpo necesita un poco de ayuda para moverse o funcionar con más comodidad. Por ejemplo, si tu bebé siempre gira la cabeza hacia un mismo lado o le cuesta mirar al otro; si prefiere tomar el pecho solo de un lado o se irrita al ser amamantado; si llora con frecuencia sin una causa clara (lo que a veces se llama “cólico”); o si parece dormir de manera inquieta o se arquea mucho, puede ser útil una evaluación por un profesional especializado, como un quiropráctico pediátrico.

Algunos estudios han observado que muchos bebés con dificultades para alimentarse presentan pequeñas tensiones o limitaciones en el cuello, la mandíbula o la espalda. Al trabajar de manera gentil esas áreas, se ha demostrado mejoría en la succión y la comodidad del bebé al alimentarse. También hay reportes de bebés con tortícolis (cuello torcido o rígido) que mejoraron su movilidad tras recibir cuidados suaves como la liberación muscular, estiramientos y ajustes espinales.

En resumen, si notas estas señales en tu bebé, puede ser una buena idea buscar una evaluación de un quiropráctico pediátrico. El objetivo es entender cómo se está moviendo y funcionando el cuerpo del bebé y si hay algo que esté afectando su comodidad o desarrollo corregirlo lo antes posible mediante ajustes gentiles.

Referencias/References

1. Wiberg, J. M., Nordsteen, J., & Nilsson, N. (2009). Contribution of chiropractic therapy to resolving suboptimal breastfeeding: a case series of 114 infants. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.
2. Mork, A. R., et al. (2017). Conservative care of pediatric acquired torticollis: a report of two cases. Journal of Chiropractic Medicine.
3. Ernst, E. (2009). Chiropractic spinal manipulation for infant colic: a systematic review of randomized clinical trials. International Journal of Clinical Practice.
4. Miller, J. E., et al. (2021). The effect of chiropractic care on infantile colic: results from a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies.