When I was preparing to open my first chiropractic practice in Fort Myers, I wanted to get the word out about chiropractic care, and naturally, I started looking for local groups to connect with. While doing my research, I found several autism support groups in the area. To be honest, at first, I wasn’t quite sure how upper cervical chiropractic could make a difference for kids with autism. But I decided to do some research on it, and found to my surprise, that there were a large number of testimonials from upper cervical chiropractors that have worked with autistic patients. The more I listened to testimonials from other chiropractors and their patients, the more the science started to click. I got really excited about this because I know how hard parents of autistic children work to provide the best care for their kids. So, I decided to give a talk at one of these support groups and share what I’d learned.
After my presentation, I had parents lining up to make appointments for their children. At first, I thought maybe I’d really delivered an amazing talk! But what I came to realize was that these parents were just so eager—desperate, even—to find something that could help their kids. They were holding onto hope, looking for any spark that could help their children thrive.
I started working with these families, bringing their kids in for thorough exams and X-rays. In many cases, I found misalignments in the upper neck, specifically in the top two bones of the spine, known as the C1 and C2 vertebrae. After adjusting these bones, the rest was up to the body’s natural healing abilities.
That’s when the magic happened. Slowly but surely, these kids started to improve. Parents would come back, excited and sometimes emotional, telling me how their children were performing better in school, behaving more calmly at home, experiencing fewer allergies, and even improving in their speech therapy. It was amazing to watch their progress unfold.
Now, let me be clear: I’m not claiming that upper cervical chiropractic is a cure for autism. But I will tell you this—I’ve seen some truly remarkable changes, and I believe it’s worth exploring.
So, how does this work? Autism is largely a processing disorder, where the brain struggles to communicate clearly. This can lead to developmental delays, behavioral issues, and other challenges. The brainstem, which sits at the lower part of the brain, extends slightly into the upper neck and plays a key role in processing these signals. When the C1 or C2 vertebrae are out of alignment, they can put pressure on the brainstem and disrupt its function.
What causes this misalignment? Sometimes it’s birth trauma or a particularly difficult delivery. In other cases, it could be from the tumbles toddlers take as they learn to walk.
When these misalignments are corrected, the brainstem can start working more efficiently again. And that’s where I’ve seen incredible changes—clearer communication between the brain and body, better function, and some wonderful improvements in the lives of kids with autism. The potential for healing within the body is amazing when we give it the chance to function as it was designed to. I’ll go deeper into it in my next article! I look forward to seeing your autistic child in my Fort Myers Chiropractic office!
