Did you know some learning disabilities may be caused by food or environmental allergies, dietary deficiencies and
auditory processing problems? Lifestyle and dietary changes, the use of nutritional supplements and auditory processing
therapy can often markedly improve the symptoms that accompany learning disorders.
Alternative approaches treating learning difficultgies include
nutritional counseling and auditory processing therapy to help those with
learning disabilities because recent studies emphasize the synergistic relationship between the twp modalities.
Before discussing how nutritional and auditory processing therapy helps learning disabilities, let's talk about
some statistics about learning disabilities.
Statistics show about 5 percent of school age children are diagnosed each year with a learning disability, and the
number of new cases rises each year. Learning disabilities do not go away as a person matures, and you do not grow out
of your learning disability when you become an adult. You're also likely to face new challenges in fulfilling your
role as a family member, employee, spouse or citizen.
Medical science is unsure what causes learning disabilities, and many of the medications prescribed to treat them have
unsatisfying results or serious side effects. Frazzled parents wonder where else to turn for help.
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to interpret what he sees or hears, or to link
information from different parts of the brain. These difficulties show up in many different ways:
- difficulties with speech or language
- lack of coordination
- problems with self-control
- inattentiveness
All of these problems can hinder learning to read, write, and do math. In addition, they can affect communication skills,
sensory integration and self-esteem.
What are the types of learning disabilities?
Generally speaking, there are three types of learning disabilities:
- Developmental speech and language disorders
- Academic skills disorders
- Other (a broad category used to include coordination disorders and learning handicaps not covered by the other
two categories).
What causes learning disabilities?
The exact cause of learning disabilities is unknown. Recent studies and clinical trials (conducted at Purdue University
in the United States and Surrey and Oxford in the United Kingdom) indicate that some learning disorders such as ADHD,
dyslexia and dyspraxia (Clumsy Child Syndrome) may have a nutritional basis.
Other studies indicate that some learning disabilities might be caused by allergies to certain foods, food additives
and dyes, and environmental allergies, as well as auditory processing and sensory integration problems.
How Nutritional Counseling Can Help Learning Disabilities
In learning disabilities caused by nutritional deficiencies, research has shown Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids may
be missing from the diet. Symptoms of ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia have markedly improved when diets were modified
to include cold water fish (tuna, salmon and mackerel) and organ meats and/or fatty acid supplements such as cod
liver or flax seed oils.
In cases of allergy, diets were modified to exclude foods containing salicylates (apples, blackberries, boysenberries,
cherries, currants, gooseberries, grapes, nectarines, oranges, peaches, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries and
strawberries) or foods that are commonly known to cause allergies in children (milk, yeast, eggs, corn and corn
products, soybeans, soy sauce, lentils, potatoes, and peanuts). Also eliminated, where warranted, were perfumes, dyes,
glues, pesticides and paint.
What are some physical symptoms that indicate an allergic condition?
If you have some of the following symptoms for which your doctor has found no cause, you may be reacting to one
or more food or environmental allergens:
- Pale, sallow complexion
- Puffiness, dark circles under eyes
- Recurrent stomachaches, constipation or soiling
- Headaches, including migraines
- Leg and muscle aches
- Bed wetting
- Chronic stuffy, itchy runny nose
- Recurrent ear infections
- Fatigue
- Mental sluggishness, spaciness, inability to concentrate
How Auditory Processing Therapy Can Help Learning Disabilities
Auditory Processing Therapy to help with attention disorders, sensory integration issues and learning challenges.
Auditory Processing
Therapy programs, such as The Listening Program,
have proven effective in treating learning disabilities, attention disorders and autistic spectrum disorders.
For more information about The Listening Program, call us at 408-315-0645 or visit
www.allthingswell.com.
Clients should expect the following results to be observed during the course of treatment:
By Dr. Randi Fredricks, Ph.D.
