“Because the brainstem houses important centers for autonomic regulation, sensory integration, and vagal nerve activity, stress in this region early in life may influence how a child processes and responds to sensory input.”
—Dr. Christian Price, DC
By Lauren Keating
Most people go about their daily lives with their brains automatically sorting and responding to the many stimuli they encounter through their five senses. But for those with Sensory Processing Disorder, the brain's interpretation and response to sights, sounds, and sensations does not run as smoothly.
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological condition where the brain has atypical responses to sensory input. This hypersensitivity, hyposensitivity, or sensory seeking response to sounds, textures, lights, or movements affects daily function and can lead to health outcomes such as delayed motor skill development and/or emotional instability caused by frustration or discomfort.
Parents may find that their child is highly sensitive and reactive to loud sounds, such as covering their hands around their ears at the sound of a bathroom hand dryer. They may also avoid textures, like not touching sand at the beach, or refuse to wear certain clothing because of the material's feel, or something as small as having a tag. While some avoid, others seek out intense sensory input, constantly moving or craving pressure and stimulation.
While SPD is not recognized as a standalone diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR), it is identified by clinicians such as pediatric neuropsychologists and occupational therapists through the observations and gaps in sensory profile checklists.
Its cause is unknown, and may be linked to genetic or neurological factors. It is often co-occurring with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) because of overlapping symptoms, but while those with ASD generally have sensory symptoms, not all with SPD have autism.
A Link Between SPD And C-Sections
Environmental factors, such as restricted sensory experiences, are another potential cause of SPD. But what shapes how the brain processes sensory input in the first place?
Understanding how sensory processing develops has led some experts to look at one of the earliest experiences a newborn has: birth itself. Increasingly, attention is turning to whether
cesarean section deliveries may influence early sensory development.
According to a 2022 study published in the journal International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, children born via C-section showed higher rates of sensory processing difficulties compared to those born vaginally. The study found that nearly 80 percent of children born via C-section are affected by sensory issues.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9180069/
“From a neurological chiropractic perspective, birth is one of the most neurologically intense events in a person’s life,” said Dr. Christian Price, DC, pediatric chiropractor at Summit Life Chiropractic in Boise, Idaho. “During delivery, the baby’s head and neck experience significant compression and rotational forces while passing through the birth canal. When labor becomes prolonged, involves interventions such as forceps or vacuum extraction, or results in a C-section after hours of stalled labor, those mechanical stresses can place additional strain on the upper cervical spine and brainstem region.”
Trained with a post-doctoral certification with the Pediatric Experience (PXDocs), a network of specialized, neurologically-focused chiropractors dedicated to pediatric, prenatal, and family care, founded by Dr. Tony Ebel and Dr. Matt Hill, Dr. Price said he often evaluates this through the lens of neurospinal stress and spinal misalignment, where restricted spinal motion and neurological tension may interfere with optimal communication between the brain and body.
“Because the brainstem houses important centers for autonomic regulation, sensory integration, and vagal nerve activity, stress in this region early in life may influence how a child processes and responds to sensory input,” Dr. Price said.
While he makes it clear that there is no “direct causal relationship” between c-sections and SPD, he added that several studies have identified a significant association between surgical births and higher rates of sensory processing challenges. While more research needs to be done, in his experience providing neurologically-focused chiropractic care for children and families, Dr. Price said it’s common for children with sensory challenges to also have a history of birth stress and early signs of nervous system dysregulation.
“While each child is unique, these patterns suggest the birth process may play a meaningful role in early neurological development.”
The Disregulated Nervous System
Children with SPD are faced with various challenges. This may be constant fidgeting or inability to focus or sit still. It could be increased anxiety during transitions or changes in routine.
“Because the nervous system regulates nearly every function in the body, including sleep, digestion, immune activity, and emotional regulation, sensory dysregulation often affects multiple systems of the body, not just behavior alone,” Dr. Price said.
Some kids escape situations that are too loud or bright, while some act without thinking, or have an urge for pressure and need to touch or crash into things. They may have weak gross and fine motor skills, such as trouble with handwriting, and a lack of proprioception and coordination.
While some may think these children are picky (especially when it comes to food textures), being difficult (tantrums and emotional outbursts are common, trouble with transitions between activities), lacking in social awareness skills (hard time fitting in with peers or understand social cues), this behavior is the nervous system protecting itself from feeling overwhelmed by what it perceives as intense stimuli.
“Children with Sensory Processing Disorder often experience more than behavioral challenges. Many are dealing with a dysregulated nervous system,” Dr. Price said. “From a neurological chiropractic perspective, this often involves imbalance within the autonomic nervous system, sometimes described as dysautonomia, where the body has difficulty shifting appropriately between the sympathetic fight or flight response and the parasympathetic rest and regulate response.”
When the nervous system becomes stuck in a heightened state of stress, the brain can become overreactive to sensory input. This can lead to sensory overload.
“The nervous system coordinates nearly every function in the body by integrating sensory input, autonomic regulation, and motor control. When communication within the neurospinal system becomes disrupted due to stress patterns, often described in chiropractic as subluxation and dysautonomia, the body may struggle to regulate sensory input, movement, and internal functions effectively.”
Thinking Outside the OT Box With Chiropractor Care
Pediatricians and occupational therapists typically approach Sensory Processing Disorder through a sensory integration and developmental framework. Treatment is commonly occupational therapy (OT), which focuses on helping children develop skills and coping strategies through structured sensory activities and environmental modifications.
As a chiropractor trained in neurological assessment methods, Dr. Price evaluates how neurospinal dysfunction and autonomic imbalance may affect a child’s ability to process sensory input efficiently and then provides treatment.
“Neurologically focused chiropractic care approaches the issue from a slightly different perspective by evaluating how nervous system regulation may influence sensory processing,” he said.
His approach as a certified PXDoc is complementary to more traditional forms of treatments such as OT or a “sensory diet” (movement breaks, applying deep pressure).
“Chiropractic care aims to improve nervous system regulation, while occupational therapy helps children develop practical skills and strategies to navigate sensory input in daily life.” Dr. Price said.
He said that children can be evaluated by a chiropractor as early as infancy, stressing that those who experience complications during pregnancy, labor, or delivery may widely benefit. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to chiropractic care, it’s typical for visits to be more frequent when starting treatment to reduce neurospinal stress and support nervous system regulation.
“Adjustments for infants and children are extremely gentle and highly specific, often using no more pressure than what would be used to test the ripeness of a tomato,” he said. “When performed by chiropractors trained in pediatric care, chiropractic adjustments for children have been shown to carry a very low risk of adverse events.
At Summit Life Chiropractic, the practice uses CLA's: INSIGHT Scans, a non-invasive, drug-free technology that helps evaluate how the nervous system is functioning and adapting to stress.
The system consists of small handheld scanners and sensors connected to a computer, that provides three assessments: thermal imaging, is used to measure temperature patterns along the spine, and provides insight into how the autonomic nervous system is functioning; surface electromyography that measures electrical activity in the spinal muscles and identifies patterns of neurological tension, muscle tone imbalance, and compensation within the neurospinal system; and Heart Rate Variability, or HRV, that evaluates how well the nervous system adapts to stress by measuring the balance between the sympathetic fight or flight response and the parasympathetic rest and regulate response.
“Together, these scans help us understand how significant nervous system stress patterns may be and where they are occurring within the neurospinal system. They also allow us to track changes over time as the nervous system becomes more balanced and adaptable,” Dr. Price said.
The scanning process is quick and painless, and takes a few minutes to create a report card to identify how the autonomic nervous system is performing.
“For many families, these scans provide the first objective window into how their child’s nervous system is functioning, helping guide care in a way that goes beyond simply managing symptoms,” he said. “Seeing these patterns visually helps them better understand that their child’s challenges are not simply behavioral but often connected to how the nervous system is functioning and responding to stress.”
Parents with children with SPD can often feel overwhelmed. Between the lack of research, hardships with therapies, and navigating supporting a misunderstood child, chiropractic care may be another tool to help ease symptoms and provide nervous system regulation.
Dr. Christian Price, DC, is a pediatric focused chiropractor and PX Docs certified practitioner who specializes in neurologically focused chiropractic care for children and families. His work centers on supporting optimal nervous system function in infants and children experiencing sensory, developmental, and neurological challenges. Dr. Christian Price, DC is a certified PX (Pediatric Experience) practitioner and CLA INSiGHT Scan Approved Professional. This focuses on prenatal, babies, and children's nervous system health, which helped his own son overcome his neurological struggles.www.summitlifechiropractic.com
