- (636) 296-8123
- office@abundanthealthstl.com
- 1804 Jeffco Blvd, Arnold, MO 63010
Your child is struggling, and nobody can tell you why. We don’t have all the answers, but we can show you what’s happening in their nervous system and help support it.
We want to be honest with you about what we do, and what we don’t do.
We don’t claim to treat or cure autism. We wouldn’t tell you that, and you should be skeptical of anyone who does. What we do is support the nervous system, and for many children on the autism spectrum, the nervous system is under extraordinary stress.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex neurological and developmental condition that affects how a person processes sensory information, communicates, and interacts with the world. There’s no single cause, and every child on the spectrum is different. But there is one thing many autistic children share: a nervous system that is chronically dysregulated.
For many of these kids, the nervous system is stuck in a state of high alert, processing every sound, sensation, and social interaction as if it were a potential threat. This isn’t a behavioral choice. It’s a physiological state. And it affects everything: sleep, digestion, behavior, communication, emotional regulation, and sensory tolerance.
What we look for is whether spinal tension, often traced back to birth trauma or early developmental stress, is contributing to that nervous system dysregulation. We measure it, we track it, and we’re honest with you about what we see.
Signs a child’s nervous system may need support:
We don’t start with adjustments. We start with data.
Before we touch your child, we run a full INSiGHT nervous system scan. This is a non-invasive assessment that measures three things: the function of the autonomic nervous system, tension patterns in the spinal muscles, and the quality of brain-body communication.
For children on the autism spectrum, this scan often reveals significant sympathetic dominance, asymmetrical muscle tension patterns, and disruptions in neural communication, all of which are consistent with what parents describe observing at home.
From there, we create an individualized care plan. Adjustments for autistic children are adapted to their sensory profile, we move slowly, we explain everything, we allow time for the child to get comfortable, and we never force anything. Some of our youngest or most sensitive patients start with simply lying on the table while we place gentle contact. We meet each child exactly where they are.
As care progresses and the nervous system begins to settle, many parents report changes they didn’t necessarily expect: better sleep coming first, then improved digestion, then more regulated emotional responses, and in some cases, increased engagement and communication. We re-scan regularly so you can see objective nervous system progress alongside whatever you’re noticing at home.
We also coordinate with other members of your child’s care team, occupational therapists, speech therapists, behavioral specialists, because we believe a team approach produces the best outcomes.
We have the tools to measure what we can’t see.
Working with autistic children requires more than good intentions, it requires specialized training, sensory-aware techniques, and objective data. Our INSiGHT scanning technology lets us show families what’s happening in their child’s nervous system before and after care. Our doctors are neurologically-focused, pediatrically trained, and affiliated with the PX Docs network. We have deep experience with the autism community, and we approach every child with patience, flexibility, and respect.
We support the nervous system, we don’t treat autism itself. For many autistic children, the nervous system is in a state of chronic dysregulation that affects sleep, digestion, sensory processing, and emotional regulation.
No, and we’d never suggest it should be. Occupational therapy, speech therapy, ABA, and other evidence-based supports are important parts of many children’s care plans. We work best alongside those therapies.
Every adjustment is customized to the child. For sensory-sensitive kids, we move slowly, narrate every step, and never rush. We use extremely gentle pressure.
The nervous system filters and processes every sensory input the body receives. When it’s dysregulated, it has difficulty accurately filtering sensory information.
The most commonly reported early changes are improved sleep and reduced digestive issues. From there, many families describe reduced meltdown frequency and intensity, better tolerance of sensory input, and increased engagement.
Schedule a nervous system assessment today, let’s start with data, not guesses.
