Parents are constantly searching for safe and effective ways to help their children thrive, especially when traditional approaches fall short. The good news is that pediatric chiropractic care has emerged as a powerful and holistic option for supporting children's overall health and well-being. As more parents explore natural solutions for developmental, behavioral, and sensory challenges, chiropractic care is gaining recognition for its role in nervous system regulation.
This is an essential factor in conditions like autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder (SPD). In this episode, I'm joined by pediatric chiropractic expert Dr. Tony Ebel, and we'll dive deeper into how pediatric chiropractic care and autism and ADHD and SPD are connected. We’ll explore how chiropractic care can be a powerful tool not just for kids with ADHD, autism, and sensory processing challenges, but also for their families.
Understanding Birth Trauma
Birth trauma is often overlooked, even though it happens right in front of us during one of the most transformative moments for a family. Dr. Tony Ebel explains that while we commonly focus on infections, toxins, and nervous system dysregulation as contributors to conditions like ADHD, autism, and sensory processing challenges, birth trauma is a key piece of the puzzle that many miss. Most people think of birth trauma as extreme cases like babies needing resuscitation or having the umbilical cord wrapped around their neck.
However, trauma can also result from common medical interventions such as Pitocin or other birthing practices that stress the nervous system. The challenge is that no one talks about it, so it often goes unnoticed. The good news is that once we recognize birth trauma, we can take steps to address it. Dr. Tony not only shares the truth about how birth trauma affects kids but also provides empowering and actionable strategies to help families heal. Information alone is not enough, so this conversation focuses on real solutions that parents can implement.
The medical system has normalized interventions that can have long-term consequences, yet they are rarely questioned. Forceps, vacuum extraction, and C-sections are treated as routine procedures, despite the potential for physical injuries to a newborn, particularly to the head and neck. Even in a typical C-section, doctors physically pull the baby by the most vulnerable part of their body. Financial incentives play a significant role in the prevalence of these interventions, as hospitals and doctors benefit from longer stays and increased procedures.
At the same time, chronic illness and the overuse of medications have become widely accepted, with birth trauma following a similar pattern of normalization. Beyond financial motivations, legal concerns also contribute to the lack of transparency around birth trauma. If the full impact of these interventions were openly acknowledged, it would challenge the entire medical system and expose significant liability risks. Even mild interventions can have lasting neurological and developmental effects, yet these risks are often downplayed. Many babies experience birth trauma such as low Apgar scores, broken clavicles, or bruising but parents are rarely informed about potential long-term issues.
Pediatricians often weren’t present at birth, and with C-sections performed behind a curtain, the forceful handling of newborns remains hidden from view. Many parents only learn about the effects of birth trauma later in life, leading to frustration and disbelief that no doctor ever warned them. While some medical interventions are necessary, whether due to complications or emergencies, parents deserve full transparency about their potential impact. Birth trauma is one of the most overlooked contributors to developmental and neurological challenges, particularly injuries to the brainstem.
Traditional medical training does not always account for these connections, which is why listening to parents is crucial. Genetics alone does not fully explain conditions like ADHD, autism, anxiety, and sensory issues. Oftentimes, the root cause lies deeper. By recognizing birth trauma and its effects, parents can better advocate for their children and seek the support they need for healing and recovery.
Impact of Birth Trauma on Child Development
Birth trauma is a critical yet often overlooked factor in a child’s neurological and developmental health. In clinical practice, it frequently emerges as a primary trigger for developmental challenges, surpassing genetic and environmental influences. Interventions like C-sections, forceps, and vacuum extraction can place immense stress on a newborn’s head, neck, and spine, disrupting nervous system function.
This dysregulation affects motor development, sensory processing, digestion, and immune function, often setting off a cascade of challenges that manifest in conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and autism. The nervous system’s early development follows a precise sequence, beginning with essential functions like latching, swallowing, and head control.
When birth trauma interferes with this process, children may experience delays in rolling over, crawling, and walking, leading to further neurological imbalances. Many children become stuck in a heightened state of stress, where their fight-or-flight response remains overactive, contributing to gut issues, immune dysfunction, and emotional dysregulation. While parents often seek solutions through diet, supplements, and therapy, these approaches may only provide partial relief if nervous system dysfunction remains unaddressed.
On a larger scale, rising autism rates and increasing fertility challenges among women point to a deeper pattern of nervous system dysregulation passed across generations. This cycle of stress and developmental disruption is not about blame. Rather, it’s about awareness and action. Early interventions that support nervous system regulation, such as chiropractic care and sensory-motor therapies, can play a vital role in restoring balance.
Recognizing early signs like feeding difficulties, motor delays, and sensory challenges can help parents take proactive steps to support their child’s long-term neurological health.
Signs and Symptoms of Birth Trauma
A cascade of nervous system dysregulation starting at birth is common, but every child’s needs are unique. Parents can begin identifying early signs by reviewing their child’s birth and developmental history, as well as their own stress levels during pregnancy.
Unfortunately, modern medicine often downplays birth trauma unless it is extreme, overlooking the impact of stress from fertility struggles, medical interventions, and societal pressures. Pregnancy is increasingly treated as a medical condition rather than a natural process, adding unnecessary fear and anxiety. Birth trauma can have long-term effects on a child’s nervous system, influencing development in ways that often go unrecognized.
Parents frequently sense something is off but are reassured that colic, constipation, or chronic ear infections are just phases to outgrow. However, these issues often signal deeper nervous system dysregulation. Digestive struggles like reflux, difficulty feeding, and chronic constipation, as well as recurrent ear infections, can indicate nervous system and immune imbalances. Left unaddressed, these early signs may evolve into sensory sensitivities, motor delays, speech difficulties, and emotional dysregulation. Sleep disturbances, frequent meltdowns, and difficulty with transitions are often dismissed as normal childhood behaviors, but they can be signs of a deeper imbalance that may persist over time.
Since the nervous system plays a crucial role in digestion, immunity, and motor development, early intervention is key. Approaches that support nervous system regulation, such as chiropractic care, movement-based therapies, and other holistic interventions, can help restore balance before developmental challenges escalate. While it is never too late to address nervous system dysregulation, early support offers the best chance for long-term health and resilience.
Nervous system regulation and heart rate variability (HRV) will be recognized as essential tools for preventing chronic health issues, underscoring the need for a proactive approach to birth trauma and early childhood development. Gut issues, skin conditions, and chronic ear infections are often overlooked as early signs of neurological problems, even within holistic and functional medicine spaces. Many assume these issues are separate from brain health, treating gut problems with diet changes and supplements while addressing neurological conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and autism with brain-based interventions.
However, these early symptoms such as constipation, reflux, eczema, and recurring ear infections are actually warning signs of nervous system dysregulation. Research has long shown that children with autism commonly experience gastrointestinal issues, yet mainstream medicine has been slow to acknowledge the connection. Medications like MiraLAX, which are frequently recommended for constipation, are not even FDA-approved for children under 18. Many parents today are highly informed, adopting gluten-free, casein-free diets, eliminating artificial additives, and embracing natural lifestyles. Despite these efforts, some children still struggle with chronic illness, sensory challenges, and sleep disturbances.
A striking pattern has emerged among families seeking help: even those who make extensive dietary and environmental changes often see little improvement until they address nervous system dysfunction. A case in point is a family who moved to a farm, grew their own food, and worked with top holistic practitioners, yet their children remained sick and dysregulated. It was only after addressing nervous system imbalances through chiropractic care and other interventions that they saw real progress. This highlights the crucial role of nervous system regulation in achieving lasting health and resilience.
Chiropractic Care for Birth Trauma
Birth trauma, particularly damage to the upper cervical area and vagus nerve, is an overlooked but critical factor in children's health challenges. While nutrition and supplementation play a powerful role in healing, unresolved birth trauma and spinal misalignment (subluxation) can continue to impact the nervous system. This issue is often ignored, even among holistic-minded parents, partly because the medical field avoids discussing it due to liability concerns. Brain mapping (QEEG) can reveal nervous system dysfunction related to neck and back issues, which is why collaborative care including chiropractic adjustments is often necessary.
Many children with sensory, learning, and mental health struggles have underlying nervous system dysregulation that isn't being fully addressed. This is especially true for homeschool families, who often recognize that their children are too overwhelmed by the sensory and social demands of traditional schooling. There's a growing acceptance that children will have chronic health issues and just need to be “patched up” to function. However, the goal should be full nervous system optimization. While some children may lose clinical diagnoses, others with conditions like autism or ADHD may not—but they can still experience significant improvements in regulation, behavior, and well-being. The focus should be on helping each child reach their best possible state rather than settling for dysfunction.
Dr. Tony emphasizes the importance of optimizing every child's nervous system function, regardless of whether they have a diagnosis. Many discussions about children's health tend to be either focusing on natural healing or accepting neurodivergence as fixed. Instead, he advocates for a middle ground where children receive the support they need to reach their fullest potential. In many clinics focused on neurological and developmental support, children often make remarkable progress. It is common to see children who were once nonverbal become highly social and empathetic, with families sometimes forgetting the severity of their child's initial challenges due to their significant improvements. Healing is highly individualized—some children move from more severe developmental challenges to a more regulated state, while others simply need the right support to function optimally within their unique neurodivergence.
Birth trauma is an often-overlooked factor in children's developmental struggles, sometimes showing early signs such as difficulty nursing. Chiropractic care, typically associated with adults, can play a crucial role in supporting children's developmental trajectories. Organizations like “Documenting Hope” are committed to empowering all children, regardless of severity or diagnosis. Chiropractic care goes beyond treating back and neck pain—it plays a crucial role in nervous system regulation. Subluxation, a misalignment in the spine, affects both biomechanics and neurology. When the spine is misaligned, it disrupts movement, proprioception, and mechanoreception, which are essential for brain function and development.
This can contribute to motor delays, sensory processing challenges, and behavioral issues. The vagus nerve, which connects the brain to key organs like the heart, lungs, and digestive system, is vital for regulating the nervous system. Subluxations can lead to excessive sympathetic nervous system activation (fight-or-flight mode) while suppressing parasympathetic function (rest, digest, and regulate). This dysregulation is linked to behaviors like stimming, toe-walking, and constant movement in ADHD and autism. Specialized nervous system-focused chiropractic care uses gentle techniques to release tension, calm the nervous system, and stimulate the vagus nerve. Advanced diagnostic scans help pinpoint and quantify subluxations, allowing for targeted care. For parents suspecting birth trauma or nervous system dysregulation in their child, seeking a trained provider in nervous system-based chiropractic care can be a valuable step toward addressing underlying issues.
Empowering Parents and Professionals
Dr. Tony emphasizes the importance of building a network of trained professionals to ensure parents can access the right support for their children. He acknowledges that there are still gaps in access to qualified practitioners, which motivates him even more to work harder. He outlines a three-step process for parents to determine if their child may benefit from chiropractic support. The first two steps involve self-assessment, focusing on case history and observable symptoms such as colic, constipation, sensory sensitivities, and motor delays. If concerns arise, the third step is consulting with a trained chiropractor for a thorough evaluation. Many children who struggle with tension and overstimulation in early childhood later experience exhaustion and shutdown behaviors as they grow older. Identifying and addressing these patterns early can prevent long-term difficulties.
Chiropractic care is often misunderstood, with some parents worrying about whether their child will tolerate it. Chiropractic adjustments are gentle, and most children find them enjoyable. Unlike other medical interventions that may involve discomfort, chiropractic visits are designed to be calming and supportive. While a small number of children may initially resist, the vast majority respond positively, with some even looking forward to their sessions.
Chiropractic offices are designed to be more than just places for adjustments—they create a calming and supportive environment for children and families. Everything from the layout to the staff is chosen with intention, ensuring neurodivergent children feel safe and regulated. Many chiropractic practitioners have personal experience parenting neurodivergent children, which helps them deeply understand the needs of the families they serve.
This environment not only benefits children but also helps ease parental anxiety. Birth trauma and nervous system misalignments can mimic or contribute to conditions like ADHD, autism, and sensory processing challenges. Chiropractic care can address these underlying issues, often enhancing the effectiveness of other therapies such as neurofeedback and PEMF. Parents are encouraged to seek assessments, as even small steps can lead to transformative changes in their child’s well-being.
Many parents seek natural solutions before turning to medication, and chiropractic care offers an alternative path. The speaker shares how their personal journey led them to this work, emphasizing that parents often already know the truth in their gut—they just need validation and support. Addressing root causes rather than simply managing symptoms is key, especially for children who struggle with regulation and mental health. We want to emphasize, however, that chiropractic care is not a standalone cure but an essential piece of the puzzle in supporting neurodivergent children. Keep in mind that healing takes persistence. While some experience immediate breakthroughs, others need time to regulate their nervous system. The key is consistency and trust in the process.
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