Functional Disconnect: ADHD, autism, SPD, OCD, ODD, Tourette’s

Dr. Stephen Stinn
Aug 23, 2017 · 2 min read

Some of us know that the brain has two different hemispheres, left and right, that behave very differently. The left side is more analytical, linear thinking, and IQ driven. The right side is more creative, intuitive, and abstract thinking.

When it comes to a neurodevelopmental, learning, or behavior issue, virtually every case has a functional disconnection syndrome. This is when one side of the brain is much stronger and more mature than the other side. The brain is not damaged in any way; it’s just that through brain development, one side has grown at a much faster pace than the other side.

ADHD and autism are neurologically very similar in that they are both right brain deficits. Picture someone going to the gym and ONLY doing left sided bicep curls and never working the right side. As the strong side keeps getting stronger and stronger, the brain as a whole becomes more and more inefficient because it becomes hard for the two sides to communicate effectively. Circuits in the left and right can’t find each other. Hypothetically, picture a 5th grader with a 12th grade level left brain and a 1st grade level right brain. These two sides of the brain would have a difficult time communicating to each other. That’s also why kids with neurodevelopmental issues have an unevenness of skills. For example, a child with Asperger’s can be genius level when it comes to memorization and facts but at the same time failing every reading comprehension class.

How can we help a child with Functional Disconnection Syndrome? You start stimulating and “working out” the weak side of the brain. This is done with light, sound, smell, movement, etc.

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Dr. Stephen Stinn

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Helping kids that have neurodevelopmental disorders and/or who are struggling in school.