This is an interview Dr. Muriel Poli recently gave:
Usually
children are given Psycho-stimulant medications and or Behavioral Therapy or
Speech Therapy. At least 50% of
children, after 2 years of a combination of medication and psychotherapy, still
test positive for ADHD with no improvement, according to the MTA study,
performed by the US National Institute of Mental Health. Clearly better results
need to be achieved.
Over the last decade, a growing number
of scientific studies have shown that ADHD and Learning Disabilities have a biological
basis in the brain.
The
current breakthroughs in neuroscience have identified “weaker” brain areas to
be involved. The treatment alternative I offer to parents, is to first evaluate
and determine where these weaker areas are, and then to rehabilitate and strengthen the
brain areas, which are responsible for producing many of the symptoms in the
first place.
2. What do you think constitutes a child with a
learning difficulty? What should parents
do if they are concerned their child may have one?
Typically learning disabilities
symptoms are a combination of any of the following: dyslexia, problems reading,
writing, speaking, concentrating, comprehension, memory, with math…
I recommend the child be evaluated
by a pycho-education specialist center such as “Education plus” founded by Denise
Marmelstein, and testing the child’s IQ may be useful to determine the child’s
strengths. The Neuro-evaluation testing I perform looks at special senses and
brain areas the child uses to learn such as: ocular muscles, hearing, testing
the Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia, the Spinal Cord and muscle strength
throughout the body, which will help me to determine the brain areas that need
“strengthening”.
The neurological tests I select and
the method I utilize to test are unique in Spain.
3. You are qualified in the ‘natural
management’ of ADHD and learning difficulties, how long has this approach been
around and what exactly does ‘natural management’ mean?
Natural management means no drugs or
surgery are used.
The brain rehabilitation methods I
employ have been around for about 10 years and are the “brain child” of Dr. Frederick Carrick,DC
a Chiropractic neurologist, who is accomplishing a small revolution in the
field of neurology. His results are so
astounding that some high profile neurologists, even though they are skeptical
of his methodologies, are forced to recognize his results. The latest case in
point is that of Sydney Crosby, considered to be the best hockey player of his
generation (Pittsburgh Penguins team), and who had suffered from a concussion
in 2011. He was plagued with symptoms of mental fogginess, light-headedness and
nausea so paralyzing he couldn’t drive or watch TV. For 8 months he was treated
with the “rest and wait” approach and with some physical therapy.
He was then treated by Dr. Fred Carrick
for a few weeks. After which, his treating neurologist Kevin Gordon,MD acknowledged, regarding Crosby’s progress :
“You’re dealing with a remarkable case report that says this holistic approach
with multiple interventions has made somebody with a severe concussion improve
on a time course which would seem remarkable compared to how they were
recovering before.” Sydney Crosby is currently playing again. In
the mid-1990s, Dr. Frederick Carrick,DC gained attention for bringing comatose
patients out of their vegetative states using manual stimulation.
4. What is your background?
I have received my post graduate
training in functional neurology through leading Chiropractors who have been
personally trained by Dr. Frederick Carrick, such as Dr Walter Schmitt,DC the
foremost Applied Kinesiologist in the world, Dr. Peter Jaillet,DC founder of
Eyelights inc. Dr. Yannick
Pauli,DC, president of the Swiss Chiropractic
Pediatric Association, trained me in the ADHD and LD treatment protocol
established by Dr. Robert Melillo,DC author of
“ Disconnected Kids” . I have
extensive training in the use of Orthomolecular therapy for the natural
management of Allergies, Toxicity, Inflammation, Neuro-endocrine balancing and
Neurotransmitter balancing. I have 26 years of clinical experience as a family
Chiropractor. You can refer to my website for a more detailed list of my
postgraduate education.
5. How do you assess whether a child
suffers from ADHD or learning difficulties?
They have similar neurological
characteristics and the distinctions of the brain areas affected are very
blurry, which means that from a treatment and results point of view, looking
for the differences is not very useful, meaning that you treat what you find
needs rehabilitation.
6. How do you go about
helping children overcome the condition?
It is really a detective’s
work, during my initial examination and the course of care, I attempt to leave
no stones unturned. I apply specific individualized rhythmic exercises and
sensory-motor stimulations to trigger the neuroplasticity of the brain, in
target specific areas, known to be affected in these conditions. Furthermore,
normalizing the spine and postural muscles is key to jumpstarting the “weaker”
brain areas. You also need to feed the brain and prevent inflammation, which
implies looking at the nutritional building blocks, allergies, blood sugar
levels, digestion, absorption and much more...
7. What is the ‘Happy Focused Kids’ program?
It
consists of ten key treatment tools: Gentle Chiropractic (NSA method, to
synchronizes brain waves & releases spinal blockages), Region specific
rhythmic brain strengthening & synchronizing exercises,
Cranial nerve rehabilitation,
Orthomolecular therapy (special supplement formulations), Brain Support Diet,
Allergy Resolution, Detoxification (heavy metals & food additives), Home
Exercises (to accelerate learning integration), Somato-respiratory Integration
(to promote greater specificity in body connection) and Healthy Lifestyle
recommendations.
The power of the 10 Keys lies in the specificity of the brain areas
strengthened to ensure that the child attains the progress that he/she
deserves.
8. Is this approach widely accepted among the
medical community?
The medical community by in large is
not aware that this brain based therapy exists. They also do not know what
causes ADHD or Learning Disabilities other than to state that 45-60% is caused
by defective genes, which implies no cure for the time being, and controlling
symptoms primarily through medication. This is probably why ADHD and LD are
only diagnosed on the basis of symptoms, because they currently do not know
where to look, other than the genetic
route, which is right now, a therapeutic dead-end.
9. How does Spain rate compared to other countries
in its approach towards ADHD and learning difficulties?
In Spain they seem to be more
diligent and thorough when it comes to the comprehensive neuro-behavioral
questionnaire testing of ADHD, than in most instances in the United-States.
In the US assessment might be
limited to an 18 question questionnaire, and if there are 6 to 12 yes answered,
that is enough to put a child on powerful psychotropic medications for years,
(70% of the time Ritalin is prescribed).
10. How common is ADHD among adults?
About 5% of the adult population is affected, although that
number is due to dramatically rise in the future, given the growing number of
children, (2/3 of which are boys), who are currently being diagnosed with ADHD.
11. Do you think that ADHD and learning
difficulties can be fully overcome?
Yes and no, and I am speaking from personal experience
having been ADHD and Dyslexic myself. It really depends on the questions you
ask. If the question is, “do you still meet the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria of
ADHD or LD”, then I would say yes. If you ask instead, “are there still some
lingering symptoms or challenges that arise when you are tired or under
emotional stress”, then I would answer no. But on a daily basis the children,
teenagers or adults that have received appropriate care can function to the
fullest of their potential.
12 . If a parent is interested in the Happy
Focused Kids program, how can they contact you?
By calling my office at 34-93 414 22
49 or by email at info@vitaliaquiro.com.
I also regularly give presentations on the new neuroscientific discoveries
related to ADHD and LD, and the treatment solutions I offer. You can also visit
my website and read more about my approach. I will soon be posting a video on
my “Happy Focused Kids” treatment
program on my Youtube channel: Vitalia Quiropractica.