This document discusses how chiropractic care and addressing neurological issues may help with learning difficulties. It provides an overview of chiropractic and cranial techniques, retained primitive reflexes, essential fatty acids like EPA and DHA, and other nutrients like zinc. The document recommends a multi-disciplinary approach including chiropractic, cranial work, exercises to integrate primitive reflexes, nutrition, and referrals to other therapists. The chiropractor assesses the spine, cranium, reflexes and nutrition to address structural and neurological factors that could impact learning.

1. Chiro and Learning
Difficulties
How Neuro-Musculo-Skeletal care may
help brain function.
Merlene Dilger B.Sc.M.Chir G.Dip.Cl.Nutr
Chiropractor
Nutritionist
Betterhealthpractices.com.au
info@betterhealthpractices.com.au
4340 5154

2. My Story.
“One day, it will just
click.”
“If we don’t change
our direction we’re
likely to end up where
we’re headed.”
Old Chinese proverb (Liz Dunoon)

3. The Learning Pyramid
A child with learning difficulties Academic
Remedial
may need a combination of
Teaching
approaches rather than just one.
This pyramid is a guide to other
therapies that parents may Vision
consider.
Pre-Academic
Therapist
Learning Speech
‘readiness’ Therapist
Integration Functional
Motor Auditory Visual
Structural
Neurological
Primitive Physical
Genetics Metabolism reflexes body & senses

4. A team approach
Behavioural Optometrist
Biomedically – trained GPs
Learning Difficulties Specialist Tutors
Osteopaths / Chiropractors (cranial work)
Herbalist / Naturopath / Nutritionist

5. What is Chiropractic?
Muscles
Nerves
Chiro
Joints
Movement

6. Definition
“Chiropractic is based on the now
scientifically proven hypothesis that proper
structure of the spine is required for proper
function of the nervous system as it relates
to the control and regulation of global
physiology and health.”

7. Cranial Chiropractic
(craniosacral technique)
The human skull (cranium) houses and protects the very delicate
tissue of the brain. It consists of 22 different bones that are
separated from each other by joints or seams. These are called
sutures.
Sutures are sites of flexibility between the more rigid skull bones.
In healthy individuals the bones of the skull make subtle, almost
imperceptible movements.
The proper movement of cranial bones is critical to proper brain
function. Their primary function is to allow bone expansion and
brain growth.

8. Parts of the brain
1. Brain Stem
Heart rate, respiration, primitive reflexes
2. Mid brain
Emotions, stress response, language
3. Frontal cortex
Interprets senses, reasoning, decisions

9. What 4 things are essential for brain
function?
1. •Fuel (glucose)
2. •Oxygen
3. •Nutrition – EFA’s etc
4. •Stimulation (sensory input)

10. 90% of stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated through
movement of the spine, via input from mechanoreceptors (nerve
endings) in joints, ligaments, tendons, and muscles, especially the
upper neck area (cervical spine) as we move through gravity.
Other sensory input includes sight, hearing, olfactory (smell),
taste, temperature, pressure, and proprioception (positional
sense).
Everything we learn enters through our sensory pathways. How
well we attend to and retain this sensory input determines our
learning. Simultaneous access to multiple sensory pathways
increases our potential to learn.

11. Learning Retention
We retain:
10% of what is read
20% of what is heard
30% of what is seen
50% of what is seen and heard
70% of what is said as you talk
90% of what is said as you do a thing
Everything we learn enters through our sensory pathways.
Multi-sensory approach helps dyslexics store and retrieve info.

12. Retained Primitive Reflexes
Primitive reflexes are those reflexes that a baby is born with that
are designed to insure immediate response to their new
environment. They are automatic, stereotyped movements,
directed from the brain stem. The brain stem is our ‘primitive’
brain. It controls our physiology, monitors the world through our
senses, and activates the body to physically respond.
These reflexes become obsolete as a baby starts to respond to a
gravity-based environment and gain more purposeful movement.
In fact, if they are kept they become a barrier to easy natural
movement development.
Keeping primitive reflexes beyond their usefulness can affect
both academic learning and social interaction.

13. Retained Primitive Reflexes
The ongoing presence of primitive reflexes at school age indicates
that the lower part of the brain (brain stem) has not reached full
maturity. It may result in immature patterns of behaviour or may
cause immature systems to remain prevalent, despite the
acquisition of later skills.
This poor organisation of brain nerve fibres can affect one or all
of the following areas of functioning:
Gross and fine muscle co-ordination
Sensory perception
Cognition
Avenues of expression

14. Retained Primitive Reflexes
It is as if later skills remain tethered to an earlier stage of
development and instead of becoming automatic, can only be
mastered through continuous conscious effort.
Inhibition of a reflex frequently correlates with the acquisition of
a new skill. Preschool play activity plays an important role in the
maturation of these primitive reflexes, but for some children this
natural pre-academic phase of learning and development is not
completed.
The lower part of the brain then will not automatically pick up
and send good information to the higher thinking, judging,
talking, understanding and remembering parts of the brain.

15. MORO REFLEX
• Earliest form of fight / flight response.
• Integrated 2 – 4 months of age.
Failure to integrate:
• Over-reactiveness to stimulation (sight, sounds, touch).
• Easily distracted / difficulty relaxing
• Allergies / lowered immunity
• Vestibular problems – motion sickness, poor balance/co-ord
• Poor pupillary reaction to light – photosensitivity
• Poor Stamina

16. PALMAR REFLEX
• Continuation of an earlier stage of evolution
• Direct link between reflex and sucking (mouth movements)
• Inhibited 2-3 months
Failure to integrate:
• poor manual dexterity
• Tight pencil grip
• Accessory mouth movements when writing / drawing
• Speech difficulties

17. ASYMMETRICAL TONIC NECK REFLEX
• Movement of the head to one side causes extension of arm
and leg on that side and flexion on the opposite side.
• Inhibited: 6 months
Failure to integrate:
• Invisible barrier to crossing the vertical midline
• Homolateral crawling, walking, marching
• Poor ‘ocular pursuit’ – tracking
• Poor handwriting/writing posture – rotate page
• Mixed laterality

18. SPINAL GALANT
• Stimulation of back to one side causes hip flexion to that side.
• Integrated at 3-9months
Failure to Integrate:
• Ticklish / restless / “ants in pants”
• Extended bedwetting
• Poor concentration
• Poor short term memory
• Hip rotation when walking / scoliosis

19. TONIC LABYRINTHINE REFLEX
• Early primitive method of response to gravity.
• Head movement beyond midplane causes flexion/extension
throughout the entire body.
• Integrated at 4 months – 3 years
Failure to Integrate:
• Difficulty holding holding head and body up against gravity.
• Can’t sit still in a chair.
• Hypotonic/hypertonic muscles
• Balance problems, clumsy, motion sickness
• Walks on toes
• Poor sequencing skills / organisational skills

20. The Plastic Brain
The primary source of activation of the brain is through the
motor system. High frequency, low intensity activity of the motor
system has powerful effects on the global activation, arousal and
attention of all centres of the brain.
If the primitive reflexes haven’t integrated properly and/or the
sequential movement patterns haven’t progressed as they are
supposed to it is possible to do it at a later stage.
Stylized sequential movements give the brain a second chance.
Neurologically we are creating super highways from neural
pathways.

21. What can we do?
Effective primitive reflex integration
Nourish the
brain with
Specific good nutrition
movement
Detect exercises
retained
Ensure proper primitive
functioning of reflexes
the spine and
cranial bones

22. MOVE TO LEARN
Barbara Pheloung
We need to move to learn.
Movement enables neurological development, but it has to be
the right kind of movement and done in the appropriate order.
Each skill builds on the one just gained, to form a solid
foundation.
Developed an easily followed, correctly ordered movement
programme that has proven to be an effective means of
increasing neurological maturity and integration.

23. BRAIN GYM
• Bases its exercises on the premise that the lower sections of
our brains (brain stem) must be settled before learning can
take place.
• The brain gym movements consciously activate the whole
mind/body system, stimulating nervous system activity in all
parts of the brain and lessening the fight/flight reaction.
• Describes brain function in 3 dimensions:
① Laterality – between 2 sides of the brain
② Focus – between the back and front of the brain
③ Centering – between the top and bottom of the brain

24. THE EXTRA LESSON
Programme based on the premise that learning difficulties are
often due to disruptions in the developmental stages of the first
7 years of life. This can result in :
Poor spatial orientation and body awareness
Sensory processing challenges
Retained early movement patterns
Co-ordination difficulties
Research supports the connection between learning difficulties
and early childhood development and shows that regular
movement and physical activity can help develop neural
pathways in the brain.
Works on the underlying barriers to learning.

25. ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
EFA’s are nutrients that are considered ‘essential’ because they are
required for optimal health but cannot be produced by the body, and
must, therefore, be obtained from the diet or supplementation.
The most beneficial omega-3’s are EPA and DHA. Fish is the best food
source but due to concerns about toxins a purified fish oil supplement is
the safest source.
Omega-3’s from plants (like flax oil) contain ALA which must be
converted to DHA and EPA. Our body is not efficient at this conversion.
EPA and DHA work together, however each fatty acid has unique
benefits.
Insufficient consumption may mean inadequate formation of the myelin
sheath surrounding nerve and brain cells.

26. Docosahexaenic Acid (DHA)
 Essential for healthy brain function
 Protects the aging mind
 Supports a healthy pregnancy
 Promotes good mood and emotional well-being
 Improves behaviour, focus, and ability to learn in children*
 Supports developing brain and eye
 Reduces the harmful effects of stress
*(References include Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Journal of the
Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
Dr. Alex Richardson – FAB (food and behaviour research)

27. Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
 Promotes a healthy heart and circulatory system
 Promotes healthy triglyceride levels
 Supports proper immune function
 Promotes good mood and general well-being
 Improves symptoms of arthritis, including joint flexibility
 Supports the body’s natural anti-inflammatory response
 Helps maintain balanced blood sugar levels

28. QUALITY ISSUES
Fish oils can contain impurities such as mercury and other heavy
metals.
Exposure to heat or light during manufacturing oxidises the fats.
Chemicals such as hexane are often used to to remove heavy metals.
Dioxins are not specified under Australian Standards testing. Dioxins are
a known neurotoxin.
Freshness is very important. Indicator is PV (peroxide value).
PV’s
Australian Standard: <10meq/kg
Metagenics fish oil: <5meq/kg
Nordic Naturals: <1meq/kg
Triglyceride (natural) form better than ‘ethyl ester’ (new to nature)

29. EFA DEFICIENCY
 Dry, scaly, flaky skin  Susceptibility to infection
 Cracking, peeling fingertips  Thick, cracked calluses (heel)
 Small bumps on upper arms  Quilted skin
 Soft, splitting fingernails  Decreased growth in kids
 Dry eyes, mouth, throat
 Excessive ear wax
 Excessive thirst
 Allergies
 Crave fatty foods
 Poor wound healing

30. Dietary Sources of EPA, DHA
 Oily fish (sardines, anchovies, not krill)
 Grass-fed meat
 Grass-fed, free-range chook eggs
What we subtract from our diet may be as important as what we
add.
Omega-6: Recommended 2:1 ratio with omega-3.
Western diet 15:1 ratio
Omega-6 found in grains
 Decrease grains and increase oily fish, eat organic, pasture-fed
meat and eggs

31. HOW MUCH?
MINDD Foundation recommendations (children):
Starting dose:
750 mg EPA
250mg DHA
Nordic Naturals recommendations (adult):
Avoid deficiency: 500mg EPA and DHA
Proactive support: 1g EPA and DHA
High intensity support: 2-4g EPA and DHA

32. ZINC
Zinc is important for the production of hundreds of enzymes
within the body.
 Formation of neurotransmitters (dopamine and
noradrenaline)
 Detoxification systems
 Immune function
 Protein and collagen synthesis
 Cell reproduction
 Wound healing
 Zinc : copper important

33. Signs of Zinc deficiency
 Disrupted sleep patterns  Frequent sore throats
 Poor concentration  Taste/smell impairment
 Memory impairment  Fussy/picky eater
 Mental apathy  White spots on nails
 Eczema, asthma, allergies  Transverse lines on nails
 Mouth ulcers  Poor nail growth
 Hair loss  Positive zinc taste test
 Growth retardation
 Acne, skin lesions
 Frequent colds

34. Dietary sources of Zinc
 Pumpkin seeds
 Sunflower seeds
 Seafood
 Brewer’s yeast
 Animal protein
 Mushrooms
 Wholegrains
High phytate diet (cereal grains) can block zinc absorption.
Our bodies only absorb about 30% of dietary zinc.

35. How much?
From Encyclopaedia of Nutritional Supplements-M. Murray
Adults:
General health support: 15-20mg
Specific needs: Men: 30-60mg
Women: 30-45mg
MINDD Foundation
Children:
Zinc (as picolinate): 20-60mg/day
(20mg plus 1mg per pound of body weight)
If picolinate not available, use amino acid chelate or sulphate.

36. WHAT I DO

37.  SPINAL ASSESSMENT
 CRANIAL ASSESSMENT
 ASSESSMENT OF PRIMITIVE REFLEXES
 NUTRITIONAL ASSESSMENT
 CHIROPRACTIC CARE
 CRANIAL WORK
 FAR-INFRARED LIGHT THERAPY
 EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR INTEGRATION OF REFLEXES
 REFERRAL TO APPROPRIATE ALLIED THERAPISTS

38. For More Information
Merlene Dilger betterhealthpractices.com.au
info@betterhealthpractices.com.au
4340 5154