Why More Parents Are Turning to Chiropractic and Laser Therapy for Neurodevelopmental Support
If you’re a parent of a child with neurodevelopmental delays or disorders, you’ve probably already walked a long, winding road—filled with evaluations, therapies, specialists, and more questions than answers. You might have seen some progress, or maybe you’re still searching for the missing piece. Either way, we see you, and we want you to know there’s hope—and that hope lies in getting to the root of the issue, not just managing symptoms.
Neurodevelopmental Delays Are More Common Than Ever
We’re seeing more children today struggling with speech delays, motor coordination issues, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, focus challenges, and emotional dysregulation. Conditions like ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and sensory processing disorder are becoming household terms—but the rising numbers don’t make these challenges any easier to face as a parent.
The big question is: Why is this happening? And even more importantly—what can we do to truly support our children’s developing brains and nervous systems in a safe and effective way?
Traditional Care Often Focuses on Symptoms
While occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medication can all play an important role in a child’s journey, they often focus on addressing what is happening—not necessarily why it’s happening. When a child is melting down, can't sleep, or struggles with communication, most approaches aim to manage the behavior itself instead of looking at what’s going on beneath the surface—in the nervous system.
At Sprout Family Chiropractic in San Diego, we believe healing and development start at the source of all regulation and function: the nervous system.
Introducing Low-Level Laser Therapy: A Safe, Research-Backed Approach
One promising, gentle technology that’s gaining attention in the world of pediatric neurodevelopment is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). While it might sound high-tech or intimidating, it’s actually one of the most gentle, non-invasive, and safe therapies available—and it’s been shown to have profound effects on brain and nervous system function.
Imagine something as simple as a soft light helping your child’s brain cells communicate better, reduce inflammation, and improve energy production—all without any side effects or discomfort. That’s what low-level laser therapy offers.
And when paired with neurologically-focused chiropractic care, it becomes a powerful, root-focused approach to helping kids thrive, not just survive.
What is Low Level Laser Therapy?
If you've never heard of low level laser therapy before, you're not alone. While it’s been widely used in sports medicine and chronic pain settings, its benefits for the brain and nervous system are now gaining real traction—especially in children with neurodevelopmental challenges.
Low level laser therapy uses specific wavelengths of light (usually red or near-infrared) to stimulate healing and restore balance at the cellular level. But let’s be clear: this isn’t a surgical laser or anything that burns. It’s totally non-invasive, non-thermal, and pain-free. Your child may not feel a thing during the session—but there’s a whole lot happening beneath the surface.
Here’s how this safe, research-backed technology supports the brain and body:
1. Reduces Inflammation in the Brain and Body
Many kids with neurodevelopmental disorders experience neuroinflammation—a chronic state of irritation in the brain that can block communication between neurons and slow down development. Think of it like static on a phone line—the message is there, but it’s not getting through clearly.
Low-level laser therapy helps calm this inflammation by reducing harmful molecules (called pro-inflammatory cytokines) and boosting antioxidants. This creates a more peaceful environment in the brain where healing and development can finally take place.
2. Boosts Brain Cell Activity and Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change, grow, and form new connections. This is especially important in children—whose brains are still developing and learning how to adapt. For kids facing developmental delays, that process can be blocked or slowed down.
Low-level laser therapy enhances neuroplasticity by increasing blood flow, improving oxygen delivery, and stimulating key enzymes in the brain. This helps brain cells fire more efficiently, allowing different regions of the brain to connect, communicate, and work as a team.
3. Enhances Mitochondrial Function (aka the Brain’s “Batteries”)
Inside each brain cell are little energy factories called mitochondria. They produce the energy (called ATP) that cells need to function, grow, and repair. In kids with neurological stress, these mitochondria are often underperforming—leading to symptoms like brain fog, fatigue, or poor focus.
Low level laser therapy works directly on these mitochondria, helping them create more energy and perform better. It’s like recharging a drained battery—restoring the energy your child’s brain needs to heal and grow..
4. Supports Brain Connectivity—Lighting Up the Whole Brain
One of the most exciting things about low level laser therapy is how it helps the brain work better as a whole. Kids with ADHD, sensory challenges, or developmental delays often have disconnected brain regions—their frontal lobe (which handles planning and focus) might not be syncing up well with their emotional or sensory centers.
Research has shown that low level laser therapy can increase communication between different parts of the brain, helping everything sync back up. In other words, it helps your child’s brain get on the same page again. Imaging studies (like EEG and fMRI) have even shown better synchronization in brain wave activity after laser sessions.
This can translate into:
Calmer behavior and fewer meltdowns
More organized thoughts and speech
Improved coordination and motor planning
Better social and emotional regulation
While it might just look like a soft light from the outside, low level laser therapy is making real, deep changes inside—setting the stage for healthier brain function, better connection, and greater potential for growth.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Neurodevelopmental Delays
Every child develops at their own pace—but sometimes, delays or struggles in key areas may be signs that the nervous system is overwhelmed or not developing in sync. These symptoms often show up in different ways depending on the child’s age and stage, and while they may seem unrelated, they’re often connected at the neurological level.
We’ve worked with many families who’ve said, “Something just feels off…” or “We’ve been to every specialist, and we still don’t have answers.” If that’s you—you’re not alone.
Below are some of the most common signs that we see in kids with neurodevelopmental challenges, and that may respond positively to a nervous system-based approach like LLLT.
Infants & Toddlers
Delays in motor milestones like crawling, sitting up, or walking
Speech or communication delays
Low muscle tone or poor core strength
Poor sleep patterns or difficulty settling
Frequent meltdowns or inconsolable crying
Sensory sensitivities (e.g. to light, sound, or touch)
Head flattening (plagiocephaly) or torticollis
These early signs are often your child’s way of telling you their nervous system needs help organizing and integrating sensory input. Low level laser therapy can help by supporting brain development and improving neural communication during this critical window of growth.
Preschool & Elementary-Age Children
Trouble focusing, sitting still, or following instructions
Hyperactivity or impulsiveness
Difficulty with transitions or emotional regulation
Sensory overwhelm in busy or loud environments
Struggles with handwriting, coordination, or balance
Frequent headaches, tummy aches, or fatigue with no clear cause
Behavioral issues that don’t respond to typical strategies
For this age group, many of these behaviors are linked to poor communication between brain regions—like the frontal lobe (attention and behavior) and the sensory or motor systems. LLLT, paired with chiropractic care, can help restore those connections and reduce the nervous system “noise” that makes everyday tasks harder than they need to be.
Teens & Adolescents
Brain fog, trouble concentrating, or poor academic performance
Low energy or chronic fatigue
Anxiety, depression, or frequent mood swings
Sleep disturbances (can’t fall asleep or stay asleep)
Slowed physical coordination or clumsiness
Difficulty organizing thoughts, tasks, or time
Teens face mounting physical, emotional, and academic demands. When their nervous systems are dysregulated, it can feel like their brains are running in slow motion—or on high alert all the time. Low level laser therapy offers a non-invasive way to calm that stress, boost energy production in the brain, and help them feel more in control of their minds and bodies.
The truth is, these symptoms aren’t just “a phase” or a personality quirk. They’re often signs that the nervous system is under stress and not adapting well to the world around it. With the right tools—like low- level laser therapy and neurologically-focused chiropractic care—we can help calm that stress, support healing, and give your child the foundation they need to thrive.
Causes and Contributing Factors of Neuro-developmental Disorders
Getting to the Root of Your Child’s Challenges
As parents, we naturally want to know: What’s causing this? Why is my child struggling to hit milestones, regulate their emotions, or feel at ease in their own body?
The truth is, neurodevelopmental delays aren’t caused by one single thing. They usually stem from a combination of stressors that affect the nervous system—especially during critical windows of development. These stressors may start even before birth, and often build over time until the nervous system becomes overwhelmed.
Here are some of the most common contributing factors we see at Sprout Family Chiropractic:
1. Birth Trauma or Prenatal Stress
The birth process is one of the first and most important experiences your child’s nervous system goes through. Even in seemingly smooth births, things like long labor, C-sections, vacuum or forceps use, or a nuchal cord (cord wrapped around the neck) can create tension in the upper neck and brainstem area. This can lead to subluxations—misalignments that interfere with how the brain and body communicate.
Stress during pregnancy—whether physical, emotional, or chemical—can also prime the nervous system to be stuck in a constant state of “fight or flight,” long before baby takes their first breath.
2. Dysautonomia: An Overwhelmed Nervous System
Many of the kids we care for are dealing with something called dysautonomia—an imbalance within the autonomic nervous system (the part that controls things like heart rate, digestion, mood, and immune function).
When the sympathetic branch (fight-or-flight) is stuck on high, and the parasympathetic branch (rest-digest-heal) isn’t functioning well, the body struggles to regulate even the most basic functions. This can lead to:
Emotional and sensory dysregulation
Gut and immune challenges
Sleep disturbances
Developmental delays
Low level laser therapy and chiropractic care both help rebalance the autonomic nervous system, creating a calmer internal state that supports growth and healing.
3. Toxic Load, Inflammation & Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Our kids today are facing more environmental stress than ever—think chemicals in food, plastics, pollution, and even blue light exposure. These toxins add up and can contribute to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction (which means cells aren’t producing enough energy).
This is especially concerning in the brain, where energy demands are high. If the mitochondria aren’t working well, everything slows down—focus, memory, speech, even mood.
The good news? Low-level laser therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation, combat oxidative stress, and recharge the mitochondria, which helps get those brain cells back on track.
4. Chronic Stress & Sensory Overload
Modern life is full of noise—literally and figuratively. From busy classrooms to digital screens and jam-packed schedules, our kids are often bombarded with more stimulation than their nervous systems can handle.
If their brains are already struggling to process sensory input, this overload can trigger meltdowns, shut-downs, or behavioral outbursts. And when the brain is constantly working overtime, it can’t prioritize growth, healing, or development.
Looking Beneath the Surface
All of these factors—physical tension, emotional stress, chemical overload, and poor nervous system regulation—can lead to miscommunication between the brain and body. And that’s exactly what we specialize in at Sprout Family Chiropractic.
By using neurologically-focused chiropractic adjustments and tools like Low-Level Laser Therapy, we help remove interference in the nervous system, so your child can finally start making those developmental connections that may have been delayed or disrupted.
Our Brain Assessment
Seeing the Whole Picture—Not Just the Symptoms
When a child is struggling developmentally, parents are often sent from one specialist to another—each offering a piece of the puzzle. A speech therapist might address language, an OT might help with coordination, a GI doctor might look at digestion. But few providers step back and ask the most important question:
How is your child’s nervous system functioning as a whole?
At Sprout Family Chiropractic, that’s where we start. Because when we understand how the brain and body are communicating, we can finally make sense of all the different symptoms—and more importantly, we can begin to create real, lasting change.
INSiGHT Scans: A Window Into the Nervous System
Our office uses a cutting-edge technology suite called the INSiGHT Scanning System. It’s completely non-invasive (no needles, no radiation, no pain!) and gives us objective data about how your child’s nervous system is functioning in real time.
Here’s how we assess:
Thermal Scan
This shows how well the autonomic nervous system is regulating things like digestion, immunity, and inflammation. If there's imbalance here, it often points to dysautonomia or poor vagus nerve function—key issues in kids with neurodevelopmental delays.
Surface EMG Scan
This measures muscle tension and communication between the brain and spinal cord. High tension often indicates that the nervous system is stuck in “fight or flight” mode, while low tone may show it's shut down or disconnected—both of which are common in children with behavioral or developmental challenges.
Heart Rate Variability (HRV) Scan
This is our “gold standard” for nervous system adaptability. It shows how well your child’s body is handling stress and whether they’re operating from a balanced, healing state—or stuck in survival mode.
Together, these scans give us a full picture of how your child’s nervous system is operating, where the stress is located, and how well they’re adapting to daily life.
A Targeted, Personalized Approach
Once we identify areas of stress or dysfunction, we use that information to create a care plan that’s completely tailored to your child. This may include:
Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Adjustments to reduce interference and restore healthy communication
Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) to calm inflammation, improve cellular energy, and support brain connectivity
Ongoing INSiGHT scans to track progress over time, so you can actually see the changes happening inside your child’s nervous system
This approach doesn’t just tell you what’s wrong—it helps you understand why it’s happening and what we can do about it.
Helping the Nervous System Heal—Gently, Naturally, and Effectively
Once we’ve identified where the nervous system is struggling, the next step is to support it in a way that’s gentle, strategic, and deeply healing. At Sprout Family Chiropractic, our entire approach is centered around helping the brain and body reconnect—so your child can function and feel their best.
Our care plans are customized for each child, but most include a combination of two key tools:
Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Adjustments
These aren’t the big, twisty, crunchy adjustments you may have seen on social media. In fact, most kids don’t even realize they’ve been adjusted—it’s that gentle.
We use extremely specific, light-force adjustments to reduce subluxations—misalignments that disrupt the way the brain and body communicate. By removing this interference, we help:
Calm the “fight or flight” response
Activate the parasympathetic (rest, digest, and regulate) system
Improve posture, motor coordination, digestion, and emotional regulation
Over time, these adjustments help reset the nervous system, giving your child the stability and adaptability they need to grow.
Low Level Laser Therapy
This is where the magic of light comes in. As we explored earlier, low level laser therapy stimulates healing at the cellular level by reducing inflammation, boosting brain activity, and improving mitochondrial function.
When paired with chiropractic care, it becomes a powerful tool for kids with neurodevelopmental delays because it:
Soothes an overstimulated brain
Improves neural connectivity and brain-body coordination
Enhances outcomes of other therapies by helping the brain respond better to new input
It’s completely painless—your child simply rests while a soft, cool light is applied to specific areas of the head, neck, or spine. Sessions are short (often under 10 minutes) and can produce long-lasting neurological benefits.
How low level laser therapy & Chiropractic Work Together
On their own, chiropractic and laser therapy are powerful. But together, they create a synergistic effect that supports healing in ways neither could achieve alone.
Think of it like this:
Chiropractic adjustments help remove interference in the nervous system—like untangling a knotted string so that messages between the brain and body can flow clearly again.
low level laser therapy then energizes the cells, reduces inflammation, and boosts brain function—like plugging the system back in and recharging it so it works better than ever.
One clears the path. The other fuels the journey.
This combined approach is especially effective for kids with neurodevelopmental delays because:
It calms the overstressed, overactive nervous system
It improves the brain’s ability to process and adapt to new information
It creates lasting changes in how the brain and body communicate
Together, chiropractic care and low level laser therapy form a nervous system-first approach that supports true healing and transformation—naturally, safely, and with the child’s long-term growth in mind.
Practical Tips for Parents at Home
While the foundation of care happens in our office, there are also simple things you can do at home to support your child’s nervous system and enhance the effects of low level laser therapy and chiropractic adjustments:
Routine is regulation: Predictability helps reduce sensory overwhelm and builds nervous system safety
Movement breaks: Encourage gentle movement, especially outside, to support brain-body connection
Digital detox: Limit screen time, especially in the evening, to give the brain a chance to reset
Rest matters: Prioritize sleep hygiene—cool, dark rooms, calming routines, and predictable bedtimes help the nervous system shift into healing mode
Every child’s nervous system is unique—but with the right tools, guidance, and support, we can help it regulate, grow, and thrive. At Sprout, our goal isn’t just symptom relief—it’s long-term transformation from the inside out.
Benefits of Low Level Laser Therapy for Neurodevelopmental Challenges
At first glance, Low Level Laser Therapy might seem too simple to have a real impact—after all, it’s just light, right? But behind that soft red glow is a powerful, research-backed tool that’s been shown to make meaningful improvements in the lives of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
The truth is, low level laser therapy works at the cellular level to support real neurological change—and we’re now seeing the results of that in both clinical studies and real families.
Reduced Irritability, Aggression, and Meltdowns
In a groundbreaking clinical study, children and teens with ASD who received just eight 5-minute sessions of low level laser therapy over four weeks showed a dramatic reduction in irritability and agitation. According to the study, the children in the active treatment group improved by an average of 15 points on the irritability scale compared to no change in the placebo group—a statistically significant result.
Many parents describe this as their child becoming more emotionally balanced, less explosive, and more able to handle everyday stress.
Improved Speech, Social Engagement & Connection
The study also showed significant improvements in areas like:
Lethargy and social withdrawal
Inappropriate speech patterns
Hyperactivity and noncompliance
Repetitive or stereotyped behaviors
These are some of the core challenges in children with neurodevelopmental delays, and improvements in these areas suggest that low level laser therapy may be helping restore more efficient communication between brain regions.
By stimulating neural networks—especially those involved in social cognition, attention, and language—low level laser therapy helps the brain become better connected, more flexible, and more responsive to the world around it.
Strengthened Brain Connectivity & Neuroplasticity
One of the most exciting findings from this and other studies is how low level laser therapy appears to influence the "default mode network"—a group of brain regions that helps regulate internal thought, emotion, memory, and social behavior.
Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often show poor connectivity in this network, leading to challenges with self-regulation, communication, and emotional control. low level laser therapy helps improve synchrony and coordination across brain regions, making it easier for your child to process information, respond to their environment, and build new neural pathways.
Lasting Results Without Medication
One of the most powerful takeaways from the research? These improvements didn’t fade after treatment stopped—they continued to build for weeks even after the laser sessions ended. That’s the power of working at the root level of the nervous system: you’re not just managing symptoms—you’re supporting long-term change.
And best of all, it’s done without medication, side effects, or overstimulation.
Key Benefits of Low Level Laser Therapy Parents See
Decreases irritability and emotional outbursts
Improves speech and language function
Increases social interaction and connection
Reduces repetitive behaviors and hyperactivity
Enhances focus, memory, and calmness
Improves brain connectivity and regulation
Safe, non-invasive, and well-tolerated—even in sensitive children
At Sprout Family Chiropractic, we use Erchonia’s FDA-cleared lasers, which were used in the study and are trusted worldwide for their safety and effectiveness. For families looking for a drug-free, gentle, and science-supported way to help their child thrive, low level laser therapy offers real hope.
Why Erchonia Lasers Are Safe for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
When it comes to using lasers near a child’s brain and nervous system, safety is a top priority. That’s why at Sprout Family Chiropractic, we use Erchonia low-level lasers—the safest and most researched lasers available today.
Not All Lasers Are the Same
Most people hear “laser” and think of the kind used in surgery or for skin resurfacing. Those are high-power, heat-generating lasers that work by cutting or burning tissue. While effective in those settings, they aren’t safe to use on or around the brain—especially in children.
Erchonia lasers are different. They use low-level, non-thermal light, meaning they don’t generate heat or cause damage to tissue. Instead, they gently stimulate cells to promote healing and better nervous system function—without any pain or risk.
What Makes Erchonia Lasers Unique?
Erchonia lasers are Class II, low-level lasers that use extremely low power (in milliwatts) to deliver energy in the form of light. Here’s why that matters:
No Heat or Tissue Damage: Unlike surgical lasers, Erchonia lasers don’t produce thermal effects, so there’s zero risk of burning or overheating the tissue—even when used on the head or spine.
Safe for the Brain: Because there's no heat, Erchonia lasers are safe for neurologically sensitive areas like the brainstem and cranial nerves, which is essential when working with neurodevelopmental delays.
Clinically Proven & FDA Cleared: Erchonia lasers are FDA-cleared for multiple conditions and backed by over 20 years of research and clinical use, including with children and sensitive populations.
Power vs. Energy: Why Lower is Better
Many people think that a higher-powered laser must be better—but that’s actually a myth. When it comes to supporting the brain and nervous system, it’s not about how powerful the laser is, but how effectively the energy is delivered to the cells.
Erchonia’s research shows that lower-powered lasers can actually penetrate deeper and more efficiently than high-powered ones—without causing any harm or overstimulation.
Gentle, Safe, and Effective—Especially for Kids
The goal isn’t to flood the body with energy. It’s to give cells just the right amount of support to function better. That’s why Erchonia lasers are such a good fit for kids with developmental challenges—their gentle nature helps spark healing without overwhelming their already sensitive systems.
Whether we’re supporting focus, calming meltdowns, or promoting better speech and motor skills, this non-invasive approach helps us meet your child where they are—safely and naturally.
There Is Hope—And It Starts With the Nervous System
If you’re a parent navigating the challenges of a neurodevelopmental delay, we want you to know: you’re not alone, and there is help that goes beyond symptom management.
At Sprout Family Chiropractic, we look deeper—into the nervous system, where so many of these challenges begin. Through the power of gentle chiropractic adjustments and Low Level Laser Therapy, we’re able to support the brain in doing what it was always meant to do: regulate, connect, grow, and heal.
The research is clear. low level laser therapy has been shown to:
Reduce irritability and emotional outbursts
Improve communication, behavior, and social engagement
Enhance overall brain connectivity and neuroplasticity
Support long-term neurological change—without drugs or invasive procedures
When paired with neurologically-focused chiropractic care, the results can be truly life-changing.
We believe your child’s challenges are not their destiny. With the right tools and the right support, their nervous system can find its way back to balance—and from there, anything is possible.
At Sprout Family Chiropractic in San Diego, we specialize in helping children with neurodevelopmental delays through a gentle, customized, and neurologically-focused approach. Whether your child is just starting their journey or you’ve tried “all the things” and still feel stuck, we’re here to help uncover the why behind the struggle and support healing at the root.
Getting started is easy:
Schedule a New Patient Consultation – We’ll start with a review of your child’s history, a chiropractic physical exam and INSiGHT Scans to evaluate how their nervous system is functioning.
Explore a Custom Care Plan – Based on your child’s unique needs, we’ll create a plan that may include chiropractic care, low level laser therapy, and progress tracking.
Watch Your Child Begin to Thrive – As we restore balance to the nervous system, you may begin to see your child sleep better, regulate more easily, and engage more with the world around them.