Brain exercises may help kids with ADHD, autism
BY JOHN CONDE
Children with autism spectrum disorders and ADHD may actually be able to exercise their brains in a way that can improve their focus, comprehension and social skills, new research shows.
The right hemisphere is thought to be delayed in growth in children on the autism spectrum. But there are some encouraging new research developments that show this can be improved.
A nerve cell in the brain can be exercised in the same way as a muscle cell. As a result of this stimulation, many new connections can be formed in the brain, increasing the processing time in these children.
Here are some basic exercises to stimulate the right brain:
- Follow the monkey. For this eye-tracking exercise, have your child keep his/her eyes locked onto
the tip of your finger (maybe draw a happy face or a dot on your fingertip) positioned about 12
inches in front of his nose. Have him follow your finger as you move it slowly down and to the right,
diagonally, making sure you keep your finger in the child's visual field. Then move it abruptly back to the nose level.
- Rock, Paper, Scissors. Have your child perform rock, paper, scissor exercises (manual sequencing)
with his left hand. The goal is to be as accurate and fast as possible. Ideally, do three sets of 10, twice a day.
- Stinky smells. Practice olfactory stimulation by pinching off the left nostril and having him smell
something stinky with only the right nostril.
Exercises like these, plus nutrition and dietary changes, can make a real difference. Repetition and discipline are vital to permanent neurological change.
John Conde, a board-certified chiropractic neurologist, is director of the Unlimited Potential Program, providing specialized care for autism spectrum disorders, Asperger's syndrome, ADHD, Tourette's syndrome, and dyslexia through brain-based exercises. His office is at 401 W. Atlantic Ave. Suite 014 in Delray Beach. You can reach him at 561-330-6096 or visit his website.
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