by Dr. Jeremy Fritz
A child views the world through the magnificent brain.
The brain is composed of two sides, called hemispheres, which ideally function together to create an overall perception of the world around us. The two hemispheres of the brain create a completely different picture of reality, yet this difference is not consciously perceived because both sides of the brain are in constant communication with one another. When the hemispheres are working in synch with one another, the brain works as a unifying whole and life is experienced as a state of overall balance.
Throughout childhood, the hemispheres mature as the brain is stimulated by the child’s sensory and motor experiences. If the hemispheres develop out of synch, the brain becomes imbalanced and children will experience their world differently from their peers.
Prior to discussing what happens when the hemispheres develop out of synch, it is imperative that one understands the functions of the right and left brain to better grasp the role that each hemisphere plays in interpreting our personal experiences. The following chart demonstrates the different functions between the two hemispheres:
As one can see, the world is experienced differently when processed through either the right or left brain. With a balanced brain, our experiences are shared equally between the left and right hemispheres. This process occurs as a result of continual communication between the two sides of the brain. When the two sides are sharing information equally, the brain operates efficiently and all tasks seem to function effortlessly.
So what happens if the brain is out of synch? Well the simple answer is that life becomes out of balance. Tasks that were once performed effortlessly are now recognized as a challenge. When the brain is out of synch, a child may experience life as if he/she is disconnected from the world. The term in science used to explain this brain imbalance is a Functional Disconnection Syndrome (FDS). FDS explains the brain as being desynchronized or out of rhythm in relation to how the right and left hemispheres share information with one another. This imbalance in the brain occurs because the two halves of the brain are not electrically balanced, leading to a lack of communication between the hemispheres. Without proper communication between the two hemispheres, the brain automatically processes information through the stronger side. As the brain develops, the stronger side continues to mature at a faster rate and the disconnection widens.
Noting that all human functions are distributed either in the right or left hemispheres but, not both, a Functional Disconnection will present differently based upon the hemisphere involved. For example, the right side of the brain controls non-verbal communication, whereas, the left side of the brain controls verbal communication. A child with a under active right brain will have a tendency to process spoken language quite literally with a lack of awareness to facial and auditory cues necessary to determine the underlying meaning of the language. This failure to read non-verbal communication is at the root of socialization issues that many right brain deficit children experience daily. The right hemisphere also controls various other functions including large muscle movements, body spatial awareness, emotional regulation, attention, immune suppression, and unconscious processes as noted above. Many children present with deficits in one or more of the right brain functions leading to a life that is tattered with inattention, poor coordination, compulsive tendencies, rigidity in routines, lack of awareness of both self and others, emotional instability, multiple digestive and allergic responses, and a general neglect for others.
With an understanding of an “out of synch” brain, one can begin to view various childhood behavioral/learning problems as functional brain based disorders rather than strictly being behavioral based. Stay tuned next month for various brain based strategies to use in the classroom to assist the disconnected child.
Dr. Jeremy Fritz is a board eligible Chiropractic Neurologist with the American Chiropractic Neurology Board, certified as a Clinical Nutritionist by the International and American Associations of Clinical Nutrition, and functional medicine practitioner with an emphasis on Childhood Neurobehavioral and Developmental Disorders. Dr. Fritz is also the Executive Director of the Brain Balance Achievement Centers of Vernon Hills, IL & Mequon WI.
The Brain Balance Program® is an individualized and comprehensive approach to helping children with neuro-behavioral and learning difficulties surmount their unique challenges. This proprietary, non-medical program has been successful in helping hundreds of children reach their physical, social/behavioral health and academic potential. We work with children who suffer with ADD/ADHD, Dyslexia, Learning Disabilities, Asperger’s and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
