Functional
Disconnection
Syndrome
What is Functional Disconnection Syndrome (FDS)?
Functional disconnection syndrome is where the right and left hemispheres of the brain are developing at different rates. This could be due to a number of different reasons that may have occurred before, during or after birth that can cause these developmental issues. Due to this difference in development and maturation, the brain is unable to connect, communicate, and share information appropriately. Though these developmental disorders are all complex and offer their own host of symptoms, they all share a common root cause: a brain imbalance. This imbalance often results in a diagnosis of functional disconnection syndrome.
Symptoms of Functional Disconnection Syndrome
The symptoms of functional disconnection syndrome vary depending on which side of the brain the imbalance is on. Learning disabilities, social disabilities, behavioural disabilities, and attention problems are all different symptoms that may manifest from a disconnection in the brain.
These symptoms can include:
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Difficulties paying attention or focussing
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Difficulties with concentration or working memory
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Hyperactivity / hypoactivity
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Impulsiveness
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Emotional dysregulation
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Automatic, involuntary or uncontrollable behaviours
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Anxiety / sleep issues / OCD
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Inability to quickly process information
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Reading, writing or speaking issues
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Social awkwardness or withdrawl
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Failure to pick up on non-verbal cues or read people well
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Difficulties with movement or balance
Treating a Hemispherical Imbalance
We will start with an assessment form to determine which hemisphere is underdeveloped at your child. This may include testing primitive reflexes, cranial nerve functions, cerebellar function, and frontal eye fields. These symptoms affect multiple systems of the body, so this comprehensive assessment is essential. Once we have collected the necessary data, a home-therapy plan will be developed to stimulate and promote hemispheric integration and synchronisation.
We will tailor this home therapy plan to each child’s needs to ensure the brain can work as a whole. We use tools that you may not have heard of yet such as vibration and laser for light therapy.
Improving Communication in the Brain
The brain responds best to environmental stimuli, such as movement, sound, vision, touch, and taste. To treat functional disconnections, the first step is to identify where the functional weakness is occurring. By using primitive reflex assessments, we can get to the underlying cause of the disconnection. Then, if a child has a weakness in auditory processing, for example, we can utilise auditory stimulation to help improve this disconnection.
We provide a variety of intervention approaches depending on what the child needs. These approaches can include:
Hemispheric Integration
Hemispheric integration is a rehabilitative therapy that incorporates stimulation and training of certain parts of the brain. This approach works to strengthen the weak and under-functioning neurological pathways that are not communicating with each other. The process encourages neuroplasticity, resulting in improved academic and social behaviour.
Neurosensory
The neurosensory approach stimulates sensory pathways to improve motor and cognitive behaviours, focusing on environmental stimulation to improve the weaker areas of the brain. Primitive reflex training, movement stimulation, and other specific stimuli are utilised in this method.
Functional Biochemistry
Functional biochemistry is the use of natural compounds that are proven to support neurological, immunological, and digestive processes. As a more holistic approach, functional biochemistry helps us find the underlying cause of the disconnection, not just treat the symptoms caused by it.
Nutritional Education
Eating habits affect your entire body, and individuals with functional disconnection syndrome are no different. Through nutritional education, we will help you introduce the best diet for your child’s needs to promote optimal brain function, balance the gut and reduce inflammation.
Transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM)
This is a non-invasive, safe, and cost-effective neurostimulation technique that uses red or near-infrared light—typically via LEDs or lasers—to stimulate brain cells through the scalp and skull. By targeting the mitochondria in the brain, this light increases ATP energy production, boosts cerebral blood flow, and reduces neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.
Functional Neurology
Functional Neurology is a new concept for many people. In essence, functional neurology is the evaluation and intervention programme for the central and peripheral nervous system. Very basically, functional neurology can be thought of as exercise, training or rehab for the brain. Just like training a muscle makes it stronger, training your brain will make it stronger.
What does it mean to make the brain stronger?
By this, we mean improve the function of the brain. This can be achieved by making positive neuroplastic changes. Neuroplasticity is the term that describes the brains ability to make new connections in order to achieve a new function. Think about a developing child learning to walk or talk or write. It takes practice, but once the task is learned, it is hard wired. Through trauma, degeneration, or a developmental obstacle, the brain may not be wired correctly, or it may have a weak or broken wire. A functional neurological intervention is one that promotes rewiring and/or strengthening a connection that is already in place.
Functional neurology is brain training.
Smell, taste, sound, balance, vision, movement, and touch are utilized in specific ways to promote neuroplastic changes. Making a positive neuroplastic change requires specificity. Intervention needs to be specific for the part of the brain requiring change and then the intervention intensity needs to be done within the brain’s capacity.