Sensory Processing Deficits is a term that refers to a set of conditions or problems that cause difficulty in a child’s ability to interpret or recognize the information being communicated to them. The information is from one or several of the five senses (taste, touch, smell, vision, sound) as well as two other senses, the proprioceptive system and vestibular systems. The proprioceptive system extends throughout the spine and joints. Any problems with this system can translate to difficulties with motor skills, learning, behavior, and emotional and social development.

Our sensory system is a “read and react” system and our body is “preprogrammed” to respond appropriately to environmental stimuli.  This is ‘sensory learning’ or processing. What kids who suffer from things like Sensory Processing Deficits, ADD/ADHD, Autism, etc are unable to properly process, integrate, coordinate, and adapt to their sensory environment. It’s important to be mindful these are neurological INPUT and COORDINATION issues and not output and or behavior problems.

Common Indicators of Sensory Processing Deficits:

• An intervention during the labor and delivery process: C-section, vacuum, forceps, or increased difficulty, pulling, or twisting of the child’s head and neck during delivery.
• Colic, reflux, and gas pains in infancy.
• Torticollis and plagiocephaly.
• Constipation and digestive issues.
• Frequent ear and sinus infections.
• Speech delays.
• Abnormal motor development early in life (i.e. Skipped crawling).
• Poor balance and coordination, frequent falls and injuries.

Experts point to many possible causes of the increase of people with ADHD, sensory processing and learning disorders including expanding environmental pollutants/toxins, heavy vaccination schedules, non-breast fed children, allergic or inflammatory reaction to foods, and early childhood traumas like falls, and improper development through excessive use of infant car carriers, walkers, and jumpers – all may play a role in Sensory Processing Deficits.  

However the most commonly agreed to cause and a major hypothesis of the cause of Sensory Processing Deficits are traumatic birth injuries to the upper neck and brainstem regions (ie. forceps, vacuum extraction, C-section).  The most vulnerable area of the infant’s body is the upper cervical spine.  The upper neck spine of the baby, the part where the brain stem joins the spinal cord is critical for normal respiratory rate, facial symmetry, hearing, sleep, immune function and many other important functions.  During childbirth the upper cervical spine and cranial bones can undergo stresses resulting in subluxation, or misalignments of the spine and cranial bones. Subluxation is the mechanical compression and irritation to spinal joints and nerves.  Subluxation restricts and impedes the cerebral spinal fluid flow (the neurological feedback loop) by causing altered rhythms of neurological flow. This can lead to many negative health implications and affecting the senses and emotional state is a major repercussion.  This area is incredibly sensitive to any disruptions to cerebral spinal fluid flow and abnormal positions of the vertex of the fetal head.

A Chiropractor will use cervical adjustments and if trained, CranioSacral Therapy hands-on manipulations to bring these subluxations back into alignment and release any hindrance of the nervous system.

Alex was born in March 1972. At the age of 7 he started to experience frequent headaches with all the conventional symptoms of a Migraine headache. His particular headache resulted in him experiencing auras, nausea and sensitivity to light with no particular trigger to the onset of the migraine.

After years of treatments, therapies and medications, his headaches were no better and Alex continued to experience them all throughout childhood and into young adulthood. Some years the headaches would come monthly, some years every two to three months and some years weekly. His headaches were incurable, there was nothing that could alleviate the symptoms and head pain. Until he experienced cranial manual therapy, which resulted in the complete eradication of his life-long Migraine Headaches.

At the age of 16 Alex noticed a mild deformity in the right side of his ribs, a slightly lower right shoulder and the experience of constant lower back pain. Although mild, a diagnosis of Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis had been labeled.

At the age of 18 he was involved in a serious car accident that exacerbated his lower back pain. Throughout the years Alex had tried a multitude of conventional treatments but continued to suffer on and off with lower back pain, even throughout Chiropractic school and beyond.

In 2015 and fifteen+ years out of Chiropractic school, Dr. Kaminsky participated in his first and life changing Craniosacral Therapy seminar and he was fascinated, intrigued and hooked. It all made sense, he was immediately astute to its methods and since that first seminar, and as a result of trading sessions of Craniosacral Therapy with his colleagues, his back pain subsided and till this day has never returned.

Dr. Kaminsky decided to enhance his skill-set to better serve his patients. He began reaching out to other craniosacral therapists, cranial osteopaths, and many types of leading practitioners from various fields for advise and consultations He also enrolled in Upledger continuing education seminars with a focus on mostly hands-on manual and alternative therapies.

And, as he gained knowledge with his own health issues, he has learned to help more and more patients achieve great health results.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is headache free and low back pain free, and has committed himself to a life of learning, teaching and treating patients. His emphasis is on the patient’s stored patterns of the body and each individual healthcare needs.