Whether or not your child needs Functional Neurology care depends on their childhood history, current presentation of issues, and how well they have responded to previous pediatric chiropractic care. It is often recommended that more severe cases start with functional neurology chiropractic care, while others often improve with just chiropractic adjustments specific to improving the nervous system and brain function.

The care consists of a specific way of adjusting the body, Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET) for emotional stresses on the brain, brain-building exercises in the clinic and at home, and diet or supplement changes if necessary. Re-exams are performed often to monitor progress and to move through each stage of development until the brain is fully developed and functioning at its best.

The answer to this question varies from patient to patient. Typically, the more severe the developmental delay, the more involved the care will be and the longer it will take to fully work through the program. However, because the brain is still developing until the age of 25, children often respond positively and change quickly.

The 6 Stages of Development are the major stages that children go through in the first few years of their lives. They progress in a certain order as one stage helps to build the other, but there is some overlap between them. The stages are as follows:

1.       Primitive Reflexes (automatic reflexes in babies)

2.       Core and Posture (abdominal and back/neck muscle strength)

3.       Vestibular (head and eye balance)

4.       Oculomotor (eye movement)

5.       Cerebellar (body coordination/balance and special senses)

6.       Extremity Muscle Strength and Coordination (arm and leg muscles strength and movement)