At least 75% of the children I see have allergies as well as dyslexia or other learning or behavioral issues. If a child has allergies, it’s difficult to know which emotional or physical symptoms are coming from the allergy and which are part of the learning or behavior challenge.
Many actions we wouldn’t typically associate with allergies, such as yelling and screaming or crying and pouting, can truly be allergic reactions. We treat the allergies first and then move on to the learning or behavior issues.
Is it possible your child has allergies? How about you? See the list of physical and emotional symptoms of allergies below. You may be surprised at the reactions allergies can cause.
Physical symptoms experienced by allergic patients:
- Energy that varies from high to low and can change quickly.
- Sleepiness or insomnia, unexplained fatigue, general feelings of restlessness
- Pain that may vary from a dull ache to a sharp, shooting sensation.
- Chest tightness
- Intestinal issues such as hiccups, belching, or bloating.
- Tickling in the lungs, coughing, or sneezing.
- Heart palpitations, low or high blood pressure, fluctuating heart rate, or varicose veins.
Emotional feelings or symptoms experienced by allergic patients. These symptoms may manifest as physical signs but are actually caused by the stress of the allergen:
- Anxiety, depression, nervousness, odd feelings in the stomach, moodiness, crying or laughing spells, or suicidal thoughts.
- Eye issues such as blurred vision, or feeling something in the eye.
- Tightening of the throat or choking.
- Migraines or headaches, nausea, ear ringing, or numbness anywhere in the body.
- Digestive issues such as diarrhea or constipation.
- Itching in the genital areas or lowered libido.
- Unusual cravings for spicy salty, sour, or sugary foods.
Some of the obvious physical signs of allergic reactions you might see are dark circles under the eyes, a constantly dripping nose, and sneezing. If you see these signs along with any of the symptoms above, allergies are likely affecting your child as much as, if not more than, the behavior or learning challenge.
Of the allergens I desensitize children to, twelve are the most common and egregious. These basic twelve allergens are listed below:
- Eggs
- Calcium or dairy
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B complex
- Sugar
- Iron mix
- Vitamin A
- Mineral mix
- Grains and wheat
- Yeast mix
- Acids or bases
- Artificial or added hormones
Allergies are an overlooked yet important issue for all of us, and they can mimic so many other problems. Fortunately, we can resolve allergies without resorting to shots or drugs. If you try to treat the dyslexia or other learning disability without addressing the underlying allergy, you will have limited success.
Feel free to contact me at 512 331-0668 to discuss your child’s situation and determine your next step. Allergies and dyslexia can both be helped!!
