Chiropractic Care for Speech Delays

Chiropractic care can be an effective treatment for children with speech delays. The earlier a child receives treatment, the more effective it’s likely to be. Sometimes, therapy helps children catch up to their peers, even when they have severe delays.

Chiropractic care optimizes overall health and well-being in children. In addition to targeting specific issues affecting speech, improving overall health supports speech development. Treatments support communication between the brain and the rest of the nervous system. They also improve immunity. Chiropractic care can even help with confidence issues and the anxiety that develops when children don’t feel they are “measuring up” to their peers.

Consider chiropractic care if you’re looking for a natural way to treat speech delays.

What Causes Speech Delays in Children?

A variety of factors can cause speech delays, including:

• Oral impairment, including feeding issues or other oral-motor problems
• Hearing problems or hearing loss
• Autism
• Lack of stimulation
• Slow physical development
• Intellectual disability
• Neurological issues
• Speech or language disorder, which could be linked to a learning disability

Males are more at risk than females. Some situations that increase the risk even more include: 

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Family history of language problems or speech delays
• Parents with lower levels of education

The Connection Between the Central Nervous System & Speech

The central nervous system is comprised of the brain and the spinal cord. The spinal cord connects to the brain via the brain stem. It runs down through the spinal canal, which is surrounded by vertebrae. Information is carried along the spinal cord from various parts of the body to and from the brain. The brain is divided into regions called lobes. The temporal lobes are associated with hearing and interpreting sounds.

Problems with the central nervous system, including spinal misalignment, affect the messages that travel to and from the brain. This can affect hearing, as well as a wide variety of other functions in the body.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help Improve Developmental Speech Delays

Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive treatment that is suitable for children. It, as well as the use of craniosacral therapy, can help children with associated developmental delays, including speech issues. This is because the development of the brain and the ability to learn to speak is affected by the alignment and overall health of the spine.

Chiropractors focus on improving overall health. They allow the body to function and heal as it naturally should. This allows the brain to develop properly because the energy in the body is not focused on issues in the central nervous system. Keep in mind that in addition to speech delays, pediatric chiropractic care also:

• Improves communication between the body and brain
• Facilitates better balance and posture
• Improves muscle tone and coordination
• Reduces inflammation in the body
• Boosts the body’s natural immune system

All of these can play a role in helping children with speech delays. Chiropractic treatment also helps to improve overall health, which allows for a better quality of life.

Case Studies

One case study showed that a multidisciplinary approach to treating Prader-Willi syndrome that included chiropractic adjustments, craniosacral therapy, movement therapy, and nutritional therapy improved the existing symptoms and slowed the progression of the disease in one seven-year-old female child. Children with Prader-Willi syndrome often experience hearing problems and/or speech delays.

Another study showed that chiropractic care may be helpful for pediatric patients with developmental delay syndromes such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, learning disabilities, and ADHD, all of which could include speech delays. That study included a four-year-old boy with dyspraxia whose sensorimotor function was restored after receiving chiropractic care.

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.