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.

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Having a Chiropractic background since the year 2000, Dr. Kaminsky offers many methods of treatment with an emphasis on Craniosacral Therapy in NYC.

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a method focusing on the link between the cranium (head) and sacrum (the second to last bone at the base of your spine), scientifically proven to work in unison to pump fluid throughout the body, an unknown disruption of which can cause many health issues.  The craniosacral mechanism pumps vital fluid called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) through the body and in a sense energetically lubricates the joints, tissues, organs; basically all cells of the body. It is the driving force of all your body’s systems of function; including maintaining the tone of your muscles.

The Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord) are surrounded with CSF generating energetic rhythmic impulses of fluid delicately pumping throughout your body’s parts “breathing” the movement of life. This measurable rhythm of moving fluid, like the heart rhythm, pulse rhythm, breathing rhythm is the foundational “blueprint” and primary principle of our real-time state of our health. 

Compromises of our rhythmic movements of fluid flow correlates to the impulse restrictions in the system which the body is unable to overcome or self-correct. This is the reason why we have “dis-ease”, symptoms, conditions, basically all ailments.  This is where the skill of an experienced craniosacral therapist becomes valuable.  By placing his or her hands on your body the practitioner can feel, detect, evaluate, and facilitate correction of these restrictive arrhythmic impulses.

The craniosacral therapist helps your rhythm restore and renew in compromised areas allowing for healing to take place of sensory, motor, musculoskeletal, neurological disorders, symptoms, conditions and pain.  To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your healing treatment with Dr. Kaminsky.