Natural Treatment for ADHD - Cerebellar Therapies

Natural Treatment for ADHD - Cerebellar Therapies

A child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder experiences more than just uncontrollable behavior and inattention. Many children with ADHD also suffer from a constellation of other health problems such as anxiety, motor coordination problems, allergies and learning disabilities. Unfortunately, these underlying health problems are never treated because most children take ADHD medication to manage the disorder. Although stimulants can temporarily correct the neurotransmitter imbalance that causes symptoms, this approach only corrects one piece of the ADHD puzzle. For many children, taking medication only leads to more puzzling questions and puzzles than answers and results.

There are many medical treatment options for ADHD that do not involve the use of stimulants. Such a treatment was developed by psychiatrist Harold Levinson MD to address the symptoms of ADHD and the underlying disorders. The treatment is called cerebellar therapies and is based on the fact that 95% of children and adults with ADHD have inner ear/cerebellar-vestibular (CV) dysfunction. After working with over 35,000 patients, Dr. Levinson said life course issues are often responsible for disorders such as dyslexia, mood disorders and ADHD.

In fact, Dr. Levinson that the CV theory is the only one that can explain all behavioral symptoms of ADHD and its comorbidities.

How exactly can inner ear/CV dysfunction explain the diagnostic criteria and other symptoms of ADHD? Dr. Levinson lists the mechanisms of the inner ear/CV to show us how they are related to our physical and mental well-being.

• Think of the inner ear as a computer system with a three-dimensional compass. Our inner ear guides our eyes, feet, hands, and movements as we move in the physical world. The inner ear also helps us navigate by informing us of spatial relationships such as up and down, left and right. Poor balance and coordination due to inner ear dysfunction can explain dizziness, fear of falling, or fear of riding elevators and escalators.

• The inner ear acts as a filter that blocks irrelevant sensorimotor backgrounds and stimuli. Based on this information, it optimizes our motor responses. Inner ear problems may explain why children with ADHD are easily distracted and unable to concentrate.

• The inner ear is closely linked to the centers of the nervous system that modulate mood and motor energy, which can explain mood swings and hyperactivity.

By studying how problems in specific cardiovascular components trigger the symptoms of ADHD, it is possible to use cerebellar therapies to achieve a 75-80% success rate in finally overcoming the symptoms.

The first step in treatment is a thorough medical examination that checks for inner ear/CV problems. After examining the test results along with the child's symptoms and problems, the doctor will create a treatment plan to correct any dysfunction. Although Dr. While Levinson has used some medications to treat his patients, these inner ear/CV dysfunctions can also be treated with non-medical procedures such as neurofeedback.

If you would like to find out how treating inner ear/CV dysfunction can help your child, contact a chiropractor trained in functional neurology. For a list of certified chiropractors, see http://www.acnb.org.