Neurodiversity

Treating autism and ADHD, both in children and adults, is not the same as treating many other health challenges. The therapeutic goal is to support the patient’s brain and decrease the added demands placed on it by the condition, thereby helping to lessen challenges such as environmental sensitivity, digestive problems and rumination.

This approach to health involves addressing both the challenges of neurodivergence itself and health conditions that occur more frequently in ND individuals, such as connective-tissue disorders and headaches. These conditions may require their own diagnosis and treatment. Awareness of common co-occurrence makes them more readily identifiable and less likely to be overlooked and untreated.

Educational, behavioural, and medication-based strategies may not address the physical health factors affecting how well a ND brain functions.

For example, treatment of ADHD with stimulants does not improve sleep (instead often worsens it); consequently, insomnia should also be assessed and treated directly while keeping the ADHD framework in focus. An underlying or overlooked health issue may be adding to difficulties with focus, emotional regulation, sensory processing, or day-to-day functioning. Identifying and treating additional (unrelated to ND) burdens may improve a person’s capacity to live more comfortably in their body and environment.

Naturopathic care provides an opportunity to look at these overlapping concerns in a holistic way. The patient’s health history is reviewed, issues that may require further investigation are considered, and an individualized health strategy is developed. The purpose is to improve overall health so that the brain and body are better supported, not to make the person less neurodivergent.

Health Factors That May Be Considered

Depending on the individual, some of the relevant considerations may include

Nutrition

  • Nutritional deficiencies or increased nutrient requirements
  • Overall diet and nutritional intake
  • Essential fatty-acid intake
    Folate metabolism and transport
  • Vitamin B12 status and requirements
  • Vitamin D3 levels

Digestive health

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms and digestive function
  • Gut microbiome, including bacterial or fungal imbalance
  • Food intolerances, including gluten, casein or other
  • The possible effects of antibiotic exposures

Immune function

  • Food allergies and sensitivities
  • Immune-system balance
  • Current or previous infections, including Lyme disease
  • Conditions such as PANS or PANDAS when relevant

Detoxification and antioxidant systems

  • Detoxification pathways and capacity
  • Oxidative stress, glutathione production and antioxidant protectionMethylation and transsulfuration pathways

Metabolism and cellular energy

  • Mitochondrial function and cellular energy production
  • Metabolic dysfunction

Other systems and factors

  • Environmental exposures and toxin burden, including heavy metals
  • Genetic factors that may affect individual susceptibility
  • Brain chemistry, neurotransmitter balance and emotional regulation
  • Inflammation
  • Sleep
You do not have to keep guessing or try to manage what is happening to yourself or your child. Getting a Naturopathic assessment can help identify the physical health factors that may be adding to the load on the brain and body, and create a practical, individualized plan to address them. Book an appointment to begin looking at the whole picture and take the next step toward improving quality of life and reducing barriers to healing.
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