What Is Tongue Tied & Sensory Processing in Evergreen CO

Tongue tie, or tethered oral tissues (TOTS), is when the base of the tongue is tied to the floor of the mouth by a piece of skin tissue called fascia. This tissue or tether can limit the range of motion of the tongue and how the mouth grows, moves, and develops. This tether occurs at conception due to a genetic variation due to increased parental stress and is fully formed by 4 weeks of pregnancy. TOTS can lead to many issues such as breastfeeding or latch issues, airway issues because the tongue can block the airway, dental issues, sleeping issues, and postural issues because it is a midline problem.
Chiropractic care is needed for children with TOTS because this tether runs from the tongue all the way down through the body to the toe flexors and it can cause the head to be flexed forward, legs flexed up, and the body pulled to one side. Chiropractic care can help decrease this tension and increase the range of motion of the spine so that it moves properly in a segmental, corkscrew fashion. Remember, 90% of stimulation of the brain occurs with proper spinal movement. So, when our spine moves properly, our brain grows properly, and we reach proper developmental milestones, such as rolling, over, sitting up, crawling, and walking. Chiropractic care in Evergreen CO encourages proper spinal and brain development.
Dr. Katy has advanced training to identify a tie and remove body tension pre and post-revision and she works with a group of highly skilled dentists who can diagnose and release the tongue tie if needed. She also has a lactation consultant in the office, who can help with latch issues to the breast or the bottle pre and post-revision. Dr. Mooberry has created a team of skilled providers to help these children thrive post tongue tie.
What is Sensory Processing Disorder in Evergreen CO?
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a complex disorder of the brain that affects developing children as well as adults in Evergreen. Individuals with SPD misinterpret everyday sensory information received from the five senses: touch, vision, sound, smell, and taste. In addition, there are two senses that are rarely heard of; the vestibular and proprioceptive senses. The vestibular system has its function housed in the upper cervical spine (neck), the inner ear, and the base of the brain (cerebellum). The proprioceptive system sends messages to the brain from information received from the spinal joints and all other joints of the body.
Some people with SPD feel bombarded by sensory information and are often overwhelmed. While others seek out sensory experiences and often may act out inappropriately. SPD can lead to behavioral problems, difficulties with coordination or attention, learning disorders, low self-esteem, and a variety of other issues.
Contributing Factors of SPD in Evergreen
It is estimated that as many as 1/20 children may suffer from SPD! Contributing Factors of SPD Include:
- Environment
- Toxicity Exposure
- Birth Trauma
- Breech Birth
- Cesarean Section Birth
- Hereditary
- Retained Primitive Reflexes
- Overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system
- Spinal Subluxations
Children with SPD are often misunderstood and labeled as aggressive, clumsy, inattentive, or “difficult”. They may also be diagnosed as having ADD/ADHD, or another diagnosis’s under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorder. SPD can also co-exist with these disorders as well as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Anxiety Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and others. The neurological disorganization resulting in SPD occurs in three different ways: 1) the brain does not receive messages due to a disconnection in the nerve cells 2) sensory messages are received inconsistently, or 3) sensory messages are received consistently but do not connect properly with other sensory messages. When the brain processes sensory messages poorly; inefficient motor, academic, or emotional output is the result.
Properly functioning vestibular and proprioceptive systems are two key components in developing a healthy sensory processing system. Because these two sensory systems have functions that are regulated by input from spinal areas, it is essential that children and adults with signs of SPD be evaluated by a family wellness chiropractor for vertebral subluxations (misalignments) of the spine that may be causing interference within the brain and sensory systems.
Signs of Sensory Processing Disorder
TOUCH
Tactile input is important in determining one's behavior. Inadequacies in processing tactile input can lead to a difficult time with activities of daily living, poor student performance due to difficulty manipulating objects such as pencils or scissors, and/or poor peer interactions due to inadequate modulation of tactile sensations. Children that have difficulties processing tactile sensory input may appear:
- Anxious
- Controlling
- Aggressive
- Avoids touch or craves touch
- Dislikes or avoids messy play such as finger
- painting
- Appears irritated by certain clothing (e.g. tags in shirts) or food textures
- Appears irritated when someone is in close proximity
- Often appears very active or fidgety
- Has difficulty manipulating small objects
- Uses his/her hands to explore objects
- Often puts objects in the mouth
SMELL
Children that have sensory processing disorder of smell may be susceptible to allergies; especially environmental allergies. They may exhibit an excessive need to smell toys, items, or people. Or, they may not like new clothes, toys, or furniture because of the smell. Their behavior or health may deteriorate after cleaning the house due to the toxic effect of the cleaning chemicals.
TASTE
Children that have sensory processing disorders of taste may be “picky eaters”. They may also exhibit “pica” which is the act of eating non-edible items such as chalk, crayons, dirt, etc.
AUDITORY
Children with auditory processing disorder may demonstrate some of the following:
- Become upset w/loud or unexpected noises
- Hum or sing to screen out unwanted noises
- Are easily distracted by loud noises
- Enjoys loud sounds and repeats them several times
- Has difficulty w/clothes that make noise
- Has difficulty w/verbal prompts
- Covers ears frequently
- Speaks in a loud voice to screen out incoming noise
- Notices, or is bothered by environmental noises that most would screen out (e.g. refrigerator, air conditioner, ticking clocks).
VISUAL
Children with sensory processing disorder of the visual system may exhibit some of the following:
- Difficulty going downstairs
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Pain, watering, discomfort when required to perform visual work
- Inability to read without losing place
- Rubbing eyes after use
- Frequent headaches or stomachaches after visual work or school
- Difficulty copying
- Inability or difficulty reading aloud
VESTIBULAR
The vestibular system helps regulate all of the other sensory systems; dysfunction here will likely lead to dysfunction in other systems as well. Children with vestibular processing disorder may have a history of repeated ear infections and/or ear tubes. They may also display some of the following:
- Avoidance of movement; especially head movement
- Headbanging
- Motion sickness
- Avoidance of merry-go-rounds or roller coasters
- Excessive watching things spin or excessive spinning themselves
- Inability to read/write in cursive
- Dizziness/nausea caused by watching things move
- Hearing problems
- Inability to sustain listening without moving or rocking
- Problems with balance
- Difficulty walking on uneven surfaces
- Has the need to move fast
PROPRIOCEPTION
Children with proprioceptive processing disorder may demonstrate some of the following:
- Need to be held, swaddled, and snuggled
- Unusual need to have physical contact with another person; clinging
- Hysteria over washing hair or pulling shirts over the head
- Avoidance of eyes closed activities
- Difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep
- Sleepwalking/falling out of bed
- Extreme restlessness while sleeping
- Need for heavy covers or clothing or backpack to feel grounded
- Need to have a light on to sleep
- Avoidance of team sports
- Aversion to crowds
- Clumsiness, tripping over own feet, bumping into things
- Difficulty grasping mathematical concepts
- Inability to accept physical and social boundaries
OFFICE HOURS
Monday
Closed
Tuesday
9:00pm - 5:30pm
Wednesday
1:00pm - 5:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 1:00pm
Saturday
9:00am - 1:00pm
Sunday
Closed
Get Moving Chiropractic
30772 Southview Drive #140
Evergreen, CO 80439