“I Don’t Know Where We Would Be” {Sponsored}

Imagine what it’s like to be a doctor, only to be told your child has something you can’t diagnose or fix.  This is exactly how Charlotte felt when she, an elementary school educator and counselor, continued to watch her child continue to suffer in school.  After all, elementary school is her speciality.  Shouldn’t she, his mom, be able to help him, her son?  To know what to do, to make it better for him?

Jake, Charlotte’s six-year-old son, was having a hard time socially and emotionally at school.  She observed him on the playground.  She talked to his teacher.  Charlotte describes seeing his interactions with his peers and conversations with his teacher both painful and heartbreaking. Jake didn’t know how to interact with others and was confused in the classroom.  He was disruptive, immature, and emotionally not capable of completing tasks that were asked of him.  ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) had been discussed, but Jake has a history of seizures, making medication not an option for him.

Frustrated and confused, Charlotte was able to connect with another teacher at, of all places, a baby shower.  This teacher mentioned that a student in her 2nd grade class had been going to Brain Balance and how impressed she was by the quality of the treatment this student was receiving.  The center’s therapists had contacted her, given her suggestions on how to help this student.  At the urging of her mom, Charlotte decided that Jake’s problems were getting worse and even though she was skeptical about Brain Balance, she decided to have Jake evaluated.

The initial assessment showed evidence that Jake was right-brain weak with ADHD tendencies.  His emotional and social age was that of a 4 year-old, a fact that came as no surprise to his family.  Often described as a, “Bull in a china shop”, Jake also insisted on wearing mittens from the ages of 2 to 4.5 years old, no matter the weather.  As it turns out, he was having issues with primitive reflexes and how his brain reacts to stimuli.

Activities at Brain Balance - San Antonio
Activities at Brain Balance – San Antonio

Still skeptical, Charlotte and her husband decided to give Brain Balance a 3 month trial period.  They began by starting the elimination diet as part of the nutritional aspect of the program.  After a blood test and trying different foods, it was discovered by both family members and his teachers that Jake reacted to bananas, pickles, cucumbers, soy bean oil, and cotton seed oil.  Again, Charlotte was not 100% sure that food could have an impact on her son’s behavior, but after seeing the differences with her own eyes, she understood how certain dietary changes could cause such huge changes.  Along with these nutritional changes came eye therapy, physical core therapy, and different activities at Brain Balance, the family also started monitoring screen time (computer, iPad, television) into thirty minute increments.

When I asked Charlotte to tell me the one major thing that helped Jake, she said it isn’t just one thing.  It’s a combination of the guidance from the Brain Balance staff with the simple things she could do at home to help her son.  Originally, she and her husband set a goal for Jake to be age appropriate.  She confided that they couldn’t take him anywhere before starting the program- out to eat, to the mall- and that they were basically stuck inside their home because it was all too overwhelming.  Now, they can live like a normal family and she has no idea where they would be if it wasn’t for Brain Balance.

Charlotte, speaking mom-to-mom, started to have a little catch in her throat toward the end of our conversation when she talked about how Jake is doing now.  He plays with his friends on the playground and loves football.  He’s excelling with his academics.  He refused to ride a bike without training wheels in the fall, but within two months of starting Brain Balance, he competed in the school-wide bike rodeo, sans training wheels.  Another true success story of a child who was helped by Brain Balance.[hr]

Curious about Brain Balance?  Now is the time to see what it is and what it can offer your child.  The summer time might be “down time”, but right now is a great time to visit the center to see how it can help your child overcome struggles or increase his or her potential.  Call 210-620-7378 to make an appointment.  Don’t wait until the chaos of back-to-school starts, the center is open and ready to help your child and your family with their innovative approach and treatment.

Brain Balance of San Antonio

 

 

 

 

Lindsay
Lindsay is the co-founder of Alamo City Moms Blog. A native New Orleanian, Lindsay found her way to the Alamo City via her husband, Steven, who is a born and raised San Antonian. She is a mom to three young children. Lindsay earned her B.A. in Psychology from Rhodes College and her M.A. in Early Childhood Education from UTSA. She was a preschool and first-grade teacher for 10 years and is now a Reading Specialist and Dyslexia Therapist.