Learning or behavioral difficulties

An open letter to parents of children with learning and behavioral difficulties

Dear parents,

At the Functional Neurology Institute (FNI) in Lisse, we increasingly speak with parents of children struggling with learning or behavioral difficulties, such as ADD, ADHD, autism, Asperger's, dyspraxia, or dyslexia. These parents have already come a long way with schools, doctors, and specialists, and who sometimes feel insecure or even misunderstood.

We see daily how well-intentioned advice doesn't always align with a child's true needs. Children are labeled at a young age or referred to medication, while the underlying causes of their behavior or learning difficulties are rarely addressed.

Medication isn't always the only solution

We recently received an email from a mother who asked if our institute could help her daughter. She explained that her daughter "absolutely needs medication to function properly." After an open explanation of our approach, in which we don't prescribe medication but instead work with functional neurological training and high-quality supplements, she decided not to continue the program.

We respect everyone's choice. At the same time, we regret making a child solely dependent on medication, when there are so many more options to support and strengthen the brain naturally.

What happens in the brain?

Medications such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) and similar drugs (Concerta, Equasym, Medikinet) affect dopamine levels in the brain. Dopamine plays a key role in motivation, coordination, and cognitive processes. These drugs can provide temporary improvement, but they also carry risks and side effects, such as insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, headaches, palpitations, and decreased appetite.

More importantly, long-term use can disrupt the natural balance of a developing child's brain.

The brain is like a growing cauliflower

You can compare the brain to a growing cauliflower: it needs healthy soil, water, and sunlight. Even before conception, the brain's development can be influenced by the physical, emotional, and mental health of both parents. During pregnancy, and even until around the age of 24, the brain continues to mature into a stable and balanced network, a process we call neuroplasticity.

Healthy neuroplasticity means that the brain can adapt, learn, and recover. Everything a child experiences—nutrition, stress, exercise, sleep, screen time, social interaction—affects this development.

Heredity and Epigenetic Influences

While some behavioral and learning problems may have a genetic component, we now know that epigenetic factors are at least as important.
Epigenetics concerns how lifestyle and environmental factors switch genes on or off without changing the DNA code itself. Think of nutrition, exercise, stress, air pollution, or even positive influences such as love, rest, and structure.

The beauty is: epigenetic changes are modifiable. This allows us to do a lot to improve a child's brain function and behavior.

Another path is possible

At FNI, we look beyond the diagnosis. We investigate why the brain isn't functioning optimally and how we can restore that balance with targeted neurological stimulation, nutritional interventions, and natural support.

We believe in restoring the foundation: a well-functioning brain that can develop at its own pace into a balanced and powerful whole.

Finally,

We live in a time when children are more likely to reach for a screen than a jump rope. Less outdoor play and social interaction have a direct impact on their brain development. That's why it's more important now than ever to pay attention to the brain's natural growth.

Parents, get well-informed. Ask questions. Keep seeking a balance between science, intuition, and common sense. And know that there are alternative, scientifically proven paths without making your child's brain dependent on medication.

Warm regards,
Functional Neurology Institute Team
Lisse