Autism:
A Chiropractic Perspective

This section is compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to:    Frankp@chiro.org

FROM:   Clinical Chiropractic 2006 (Mar): 9 (1): 6-10 ~ FULL TEXT

Jane Jennings and Martina Barker

Newbury Chiropractic Centre,
6 Cheap Street,
Newbury, Berkshire RG14 5DD, UK

---

Chiropractors, as with other primary healthcare clinicians, are often faced with a child whom they suspect may have symptoms of autism, often previously undiagnosed. As such, it is important that there is familiarity with the symptoms, primary of which are difficulties in communicating or relating to other people. Although there is no known cause for autism, various potential aetiologies are under investigation. A number of abnormalities are found in multiple systems and functions in the autistic individual who presents a number of management challenges.

Some researchers have discovered a laterality of the atlas in children with autism and there are various suggestions as to why removing upper cervical dysfunction may have a positive effect on the symptoms of autism. This paper offers a systematic review of the condition with emphasis on the elements pertinent to the manual therapist.

---

Autism is a life-long developmental disability, which, in the United Kingdom, affects approximately 90 people in every 10,000. Put into clinical perspective, this means that the average general practitioner (GP) will have 18 people with autism on their list.¹

Individuals with autism are affected in different ways, but all seem to suffer from a triad of impairments: difficulty in interacting with others, impairments in social communication and difficulty thinking imaginatively. An absence of play is often one of the first obvious signs of autism.

The cause of autism is unknown; there are no universally accepted explanations. Current research favours a genetic component,^{2 and 3} although other factors are also implicated, including environmental triggers and imbalances in neurochemistry.⁴

There is no medication that can ‘cure’ autism. When medication is used, it is to treat a particular symptom of the syndrome.⁵ Specialist education often dramatically improves the quality of life for sufferers and their families.¹

Many chiropractors and other manipulative therapists report good symptomatic improvements following treatment.⁶ However, there is little literature available to support these claims.

Autism affects the way a person communicates and relates to people around them, particularly with respect to understanding other people's emotional expression. Learning difficulties may further compound the difficulties that they face.¹

The clinical picture of autism varies between individuals and it is for this reason that the concept of a spectrum of disorders was developed.⁷ The spectrum of autistic conditions is wide ranging. It varies from profound disability in some through to subtle problems of understanding in others of apparently average or above average intelligence. The autistic spectrum includes a number of other conditions that may or may not be separate syndromes, notably Asperger's syndrome. A diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome tends to include individuals at the higher functioning end of the autistic spectrum.

Wing,⁸ whose work is still relevant today, described individuals with autism as having a triad of impairments:

• Absence or impairment of two-way social interaction.
  

• Absence or impairment of comprehension and the use of language and non-verbal communication.
  

• Absence or impairment of true flexible imaginative activity, substituted by a narrow range of repetitive, stereotyped pursuits.

Current allopathic management approaches

As yet, there is no medication that can ‘cure’ autism, nor are there any medications approved for use in the direct treatment of autism. Medication is usually used to treat a particular symptom or group of related symptoms that are not specific to autism, such as hyperactivity, aggression and self-injurious behaviours.⁵


Manipulative care

Many chiropractors and other manipulative therapists purport to treat autism and related disorders and report good improvements. However, there are only a handful of published papers regarding the efficacy or mechanism by which manipulative care can help.

Most of the available literature is in the form of anecdotal case reports rather than larger, more meaningful studies. Barnes⁶ is typical with his claims that, under certain circumstances, children with autism may receive clinical benefit or palliative relief of concurrent problems via chiropractic intervention. Manipulation may, therefore, help with some of the associated symptoms, rather than cure or treat the underlying disease process. Despite these limited claims for success for some children, it may be the associated symptoms that are the most distressing, and preventing them from leading a more normal life.¹⁵

Aguilar et al.²⁵ carried out a series of chiropractic adjustments on 26 autistic children over a 9-month period. Twelve were found to have a left atlas laterality and 14 had a right atlas laterality. Outcomes from the study were varied but included normalization of deep tendon reflexes and dermatomal subjective sensation, increased cervical range of motion and reduction of other health problems. Many of the children were taken off Ritalin, bladder and bowel control improved, some children started to speak and eye contact and attention span also improved in some children. Hyperactivity and aggressive behaviour were reduced in other children and five children were able to attend mainstream classes at school for the first time. Behavioural data, recorded by the teachers and parents, showed significant improvements in most cases.

The authors of the study believed that the children were suffering from neurological interference contributing to their diagnosis of autism. This neurological interference was thought to have hindered the development of the child, interfering with their ability to reach their full potential. Aguilar et al.²⁵ believed that correcting a chiropractic subluxation improves local neurological function, allowing for more neurological integration, enabling an overall improvement in function.

Grostic²⁶ supported this view, stating that “abnormal movement of a cervical vertebra is capable of transmitting pathologic forces to the spinal cord and brainstem”. Grostic²⁶ proposed that a misalignment of the first cervical vertebra (atlas) could produce neurological insult directly via mechanical irritation of the spinal cord, and indirectly via vascular compromise of the cervical cord.

Whilst the Aguilar et al. study²⁵ may be one of the most comprehensive yet performed, it still has significant methodological weaknesses. There was no control group and the authors themselves concede that the subjective results could be due in part or in full to natural maturation. However, the observations of these children are encouraging and Aguilar et al.²⁵ suggested that follow up studies of the link between upper cervical adjusting, the nervous system and behaviours are warranted.

Barnes⁶ has worked with many autistic children and has developed a list of guidelines for manipulative therapists to help maximise the benefits of the treatment (Table 3).

Table 3.

Treatment guidelines for children with autism.⁶

• Establish consistent treatment routines. Since many of these children are disturbed by change, it is best to maintain a general consistency in the way each child is greeted, treated and sent home from visit to visit.

• Avoid any loud disturbances during treatment. Hypersensitivity to a sound is a common problem and may even interfere with therapy. A relaxed quiet environment will promote effective care.

• Distraction is key. Having an assistant distract the child with finger puppets or story books for instance, may allow the clinician to work more effectively.

• Be alert for non-verbal cues of discomfort from the child; these may be areas in need of attention.

• Question parents about changes in behaviour patterns. Significant changes for a child with autism may include the cessation of curious behaviours such as headstands, spinning objects and tugging at clothing. Positive change may also be indicated by an increase in the repertoire of foods the child will eat or an improved use of vocabulary.

Case studies, anecdotal reports and uncontrolled trials do not provide proof of the efficacy of chiropractic care for autistic individuals. However, for some patients and parents, the results are significant and may make a positive difference to their quality of life.



Conclusion

Autism is a life-long developmental disability characterised by impairments in social interaction, communication and imagination.

There is still no agreement regarding the causes of autism, in spite of the many years of research. The areas currently under investigation include anatomy and neurology, as well as the neurochemical and genetic aspects of the condition. There are no medications licensed to treat autism; drugs are used to treat symptoms such as aggression and hyperactivity and special educational techniques are used to help autistic individuals to realise their potential.

Many chiropractors and other manipulative therapists report symptomatic improvements in behaviour following treatment, particularly upper cervical adjusting. However, whilst case studies and anecdotal reports are encouraging, further research in the form of larger, controlled trials are needed to establish the role of manipulative care in the treatment of autism.

References

1 National Autistic Society fact sheet 1—Important facts about autism and Asperger syndrome for GPs.

2 C. Lord, E.H. Cook, B.L. Leventhal and D.G. Amaral, Autism spectrum disorders, review, Neuron 28 (2000), pp. 355–363

3 P. Baker, J. Piven and S. Schwatz, Brief report; Duplication of chromosome 15q 11-13 in 2 individuals with autistic disorder, J Autism Dev Disord 24 (1994), pp. 529–535.

4 J. Buitelaar and S. Willemsen-Swinkels, Autism: current theories regarding its pathogenesis and implications for rational pharmacotherapy, Paediatr Drugs 2 (2000) (1), pp. 67–81.

5 I. Dragulev, The use of medication for people with autism, Autism Netw 6 (2000), p. 1.

6 T. Barnes, Chiropractic management of the special needs child, Top Clin Chiropractic 4 (1997) (4), pp. 9–18.

7 L. Wing, The continuum of autistic characteristics. In: E. Schopler and G.B. Mesibov, Editors, Diagnosis and Assessment of Autism, Plenum Press, New York (1998).

8 L. Wing and J. Gould, Severe impairments of social interaction and associated abnormalities in children: epidemiology and classification, J Autism Dev Disord 9 (1979), pp. 11–29.

9 P. Howlin and A. Moore, Diagnosis in autism, Autism 1 (1997), pp. 135–162.

10 S. Baron-Cohen, J. Allen and C. Gillberg, Can autism be detected at 18 months? The needle, the haystack, and the CHAT, Br J Psychiatry 161 (1992), pp. 839–843.

11 S. Baron-Cohen, A. Cox and G. Baird, Psychological markers in the detection of autism in infancy in a large population, Br J Psychiatry 168 (1996), pp. 158–163.

12 J. Buitelaar and S. Willemsen-Swinkels, The autistic spectrum: subgroups, boundaries and treatment, Psychiatr Clin North Am 25 (2002) (4), pp. 811–836.

13 E.R. Ritvo, B.J. Freeman, A.B. Scheibel, T. Duong, H. Robinson and D. Guthrie et al., Lower purkinje cell counts in the cerebella of four autistic subjects: initial findings of the UCLA-NSAC Autopsy Research Report, Am J Psychiatry 143 (1986), pp. 862–866.

14 R.B. Minderaa, G.M. Anderson and F.R. Volmar, Whole blood serotonin and tryptophan in autism: temporal stability and the effects of medication, J Autism Dev Disord 19 (1989), pp. 129–136.

15 Jennings J. Current aetiology and treatment of autism: a literature review. AECC Library 2002.

16 A.J. Wakefield, S.H. Murch, A. Anthony, J. Linnell, D. Casson and M. Malik et al., Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis and pervasive-developmental disorder in children, Lancet 351 (1998), pp. 637–641

17 B. Vastag, Congressional autism hearings continue, no evidence MMR vaccine causes disorder, J Am Med Assoc 285 (2001) (20), pp. 2567–2569.

18 A. Patja, I. Davidkin, T. Kurki, M.J. Kallio, M. Valle and H. Peltola, Serious adverse events after measles, mumps and rubella vaccination during a fourteen year prospective follow up, Paediatr Infect Dis J 19 (2000) (12), pp. 1127–1134.

19 F. DeStefano and R.T. Chen, Autism and measles, mumps and rubella vaccine: no epidemiological evidence for a causal association, J Pediatr 136 (2000), pp. 125–126.

20 A statement by the editors of The Lancet. Lancet 2004;363:820–4.

21 A. Wakefield, A statement by Dr. Andrew Wakefield, Lancet 363 (2004), pp. 823–824

22 K.M. Madsen and M. Vestergaard, MMR vaccination and autism: what is the evidence for a causal association?, Drug Saf 27 (2004) (12), pp. 831–840.

23 W. Chen, S. Landau, P. Sham and Fombonne, No evidence for links between autism, MMR and measles virus, Psychol Med 34 (2004) (3), pp. 543–553.

24 H. Honda, Y. Shimizu and M. Rutter, No effect of MMR withdrawal on the incidence of autism: a total population study, J Child Psychiatry 46 (2005) (6), pp. 572–579.

25 A.L. Aguilar, J.D. Grostic and B. Pfleger, Chiropractic care and behaviour in autistic children, J Clin Chiropractic Pediatr 5 (2000) (1), pp. 293–304.

26 J. Grostic, Dentate ligament–cord distortion hypothesis, Chiropractic Res J 1 (1998) (1), p. 50.

Return to AUTISM

Return to CHIROPRACTIC RESEARCH Articles

Since 2-27-2006