A Link Between Autism and the Cerebellum

The cerebellum is the region of the brain that is known for controlling motor skills. However, recent research has revealed that it is responsible for much more. If a child has had damage to this area of the brain, it can explain a lot when it comes to a diagnosis of autism.

Before certain signals reach the neocortex (the largest part of the brain), they are filtered through the cerebellum. The cerebellum, which is located at the lower backside of the brain, processes external and internal information.

Any information received influences how the child perceives the world around him or her. If the cerebellum is damaged, the child’s ability to take in information and then process it properly is hindered. The way they grow and mature is then not developed correctly. This not only affects the cerebellum but other parts of the brain do not develop well either. This is called developmental diaschisis. Naturally, a child with autism will have trouble organizing and carrying out their thoughts. It stops them from being able to express themselves in social settings.

Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care and Autism

The proper function of the central nervous system is vital to a child with autism. The central nervous system is made up of the brain, the brainstem, the spinal cord, and the cerebellum. Signals from the body are sent to this area to control vital organs of the body. This is a complex communication system that needs to be unhindered to work properly.

If a child has a misalignment in the top two vertebrae of the neck, which can happen at childbirth, during a fall, or from a head injury, the child’s communication system is not working at full capacity. This changes the way that a child interprets the world around them and how they process and use information. This misalignment can be as small as ¼ of a millimeter. Upper cervical chiropractors are trained to detect and correct this misalignment by a very gentle, non-invasive method. Once corrected, proper communication will be restored, and the effects of cerebellar dysfunction may be reversed.

To find a Doctor in your area go to www.NUCCA.org or if you are in the Dublin, California area to schedule your NUCCA evaluation, click the button below:

Dr. Andrea Pritchett of Vital Life Wellness Center in Dublin, California is an Dublin Chiropractor and Upper Cervical Expert trained by the National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association (NUCCA). Her upper cervical clinic also serves Pleasanton, Livermore, San Ramon and Danville. She is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including children’s conditions such as ear infections, colic and scoliosis and problems that adults face including migraines and other headaches, fibromyalgia, sciatica, neck and back pain, and more. More information can be found on our website at https://www.vlifewellness.com/