| There are thousands and thousands of children who | | | | a few more treatments and within a relatively short |
| under perform in school. As one who did not speak | | | | period of time, Chloe's reading dramatically improved. |
| until I was almost five years old and who struggled in | | | | Today, Chloe actually enjoys reading on her own. |
| elementary school, I empathize with children who | | | | Emotional issues are another reason children may not |
| have learning difficulties. | | | | perform well in academic and social settings. A high |
| Why don't some children do well in school? Is our | | | | school senior named Zack was failing his senior year |
| educational system to blame? While the public school | | | | and recently had a panic attack during a test. His |
| system could certainly benefit from better funding, | | | | mother brought him to my office hoping to eliminate |
| the system is not entirely the reason some children | | | | Zack's test anxieties so that he could at least pass |
| are not able to keep up in class. Some kids just do | | | | the High School Equivalency Test. Zack was |
| not fit the mold to be able to learn using | | | | obviously an intelligent and decent kid but he |
| the standard educational approach. There are eight | | | | clearly was not interested in school. He barely |
| or nine different types of intelligences and some | | | | managed to get an average C grade. Naturally, he |
| children fall behind because their personal gifts and | | | | had given up on going to college. He thought that |
| interests are not supported by the system. | | | | learning a trade would be his best ticket to earning |
| As strange as this may sound, a child's | | | | a living. |
| underachievement at school could be an allergy to | | | | While eliminating anxiety is no replacement for |
| some food. Did you know that food allergies and | | | | actually understanding math or English, my approach |
| emotional problems can actually affect the body and | | | | was to treat him for his emotional issues. It only |
| brain's ability to perform? Any athlete will tell you that | | | | took five sessions for Zack to become |
| their pollen allergy interferes with their ability to | | | | neurologically neutral in his response to math and test |
| compete. While this is not always the case, | | | | taking. It came as no surprise when he passed |
| some children improve their performance in | | | | the High School Equivalency test after our holistic |
| school once their food allergies are under control. | | | | work together. For me, this experience is |
| Although medication helps alleviate symptoms, the | | | | bittersweet, because I could have treated Zack |
| side effects often impair optimal brain and body | | | | before he entered high school and he could have |
| function. It's better to discover and treat the | | | | avoided the embarrassment as a teenager. While it is |
| underlying problem that is causing the allergy. | | | | never too late, there are some cases in which one |
| As a holistic practitioner, I often see children with | | | | would wish to have had an earlier impact. |
| food allergies who also have problems in school. | | | | Not all learning challenges are allergy related. Not all |
| Chloe, a six year old patient, was having difficulty | | | | learning challenges are emotionally based or a product |
| reading. Her mother stated that the child was | | | | of the educational system. However, cases like |
| also experiencing nightmares. When I evaluated her, | | | | Chloe's and Zack's demonstrate that it is possible to |
| I noticed she had a sensitivity to citrus fruit. Through | | | | significantly change a child's educational experience |
| holistic procedures, Chloe's nightmare issue was | | | | and improve the quality of their lives through safe, |
| resolved and her fruit sensitivity was eliminated. First, | | | | gentle, holistic treatment. |
| her concentration and attention span improved, and | | | | And of course, parental involvement is the |
| then her overall comprehension level increased. After | | | | cornerstone for a child's success. |