If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), you may feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, or dismissed. Perhaps you have been told that “nothing is wrong” because your test results are normal—even though your body says otherwise. You might be experiencing tremors, seizures, weakness, or even speech issues, yet medical scans and labs come back clean. This can leave patients—and parents of children with FND—frustrated and hopeless.
But there is hope. Functional Neurological Disorder is real, and it is treatable. With the right neurological approach, it is possible to retrain the brain and improve quality of life.
What Is Functional Neurological Disorder?
Functional Neurological Disorder refers to a group of symptoms stemming from a problem in the functioning of the nervous system, not the structure. In other words, the nervous system appears intact on traditional tests like MRIs or EEGs, but its communication pathways are not operating efficiently. The brain’s “software” is glitching, even if the “hardware” looks fine.
The hallmark of FND is a mismatch between voluntary movement or sensory input and how the brain processes or expresses that information. This can result in:
- Motor symptoms (tremors, paralysis, gait abnormalities)
- Seizure-like episodes (known as dissociative or functional seizures)
- Speech issues (stuttering, whispering, loss of speech)
- Sensory disturbances (numbness, tingling, vision changes)
- Cognitive issues (brain fog, attention difficulties)
These symptoms are not feigned or fabricated. They arise from real changes in brain function and can be deeply debilitating.
The Impact on Daily Life
FND can severely affect a person’s ability to work, study, socialize, or care for themselves. The unpredictability of symptoms often leads to social isolation, depression, and anxiety. Many patients are stuck in a cycle of seeking answers without receiving validation.
For children, school becomes a battleground of fatigue, confusion, and sensory overwhelm. They may struggle to keep up with peers, participate in sports, or even attend classes regularly. For adults, FND may result in job loss, chronic fatigue, dependence on others for mobility or self-care, and loss of independence.
In both age groups, the emotional toll is immense, often leading to coexisting mood or anxiety disorders.
Children vs. Adults: Similarities and Differences in FND
Children and adults can share many of the same core FND symptoms, but their presentations and treatment responses can vary.
In children, symptoms often present acutely and may include:
- Non-epileptic seizures
- Sudden loss of ability to walk or speak
- Fatigue and pain without identifiable cause
Children are also more likely to have a clear stressor or trauma associated with symptom onset, such as school bullying, illness, or family instability. The developing brain may be more plastic and responsive to treatment, but early intervention is key.
In adults, symptoms may develop gradually or be linked to life stress, head injury, infection, or chronic fatigue. Adults may carry additional diagnoses such as:
- Fibromyalgia
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Migraine
- Depression or anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Both groups can experience real physical disability, and both require a multidisciplinary approach.
How FND Is Treated in the Medical World
The conventional medical approach to FND has evolved significantly over the past two decades. Where once FND was dismissed as “psychosomatic” or “conversion disorder,” it is now recognized as a neuropsychiatric condition requiring integrative care. Standard treatments may include:
- Neurophysiological education: Helping the patient understand that the disorder is real, reversible, and related to brain function—not imagination or malingering.
- Physical therapy: Especially helpful for motor symptoms like gait issues, tremors, and paralysis. Therapists often use distraction and dual-task training.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): Used to support emotional regulation, address trauma, and reduce symptom-related anxiety.
- Speech-language therapy: For voice changes, stuttering, or aphonia.
- Occupational therapy: To help individuals regain daily functioning.
- Medication: Antidepressants or anxiolytics may be prescribed for comorbid depression or anxiety, but they are not a direct treatment for FND itself.
Despite these options, treatment success varies, and many patients plateau or continue to experience disabling symptoms. This is where chiropractic neurology may offer another path forward.
A Chiropractic Neurology Approach to FND
Chiropractic neurology (also called functional neurology) works from a brain-based perspective. It views symptoms not as fixed dysfunctions but as signs of disorganized neurological communication—an opportunity for recalibration.
Here is how chiropractic neurology addresses FND:
1. Neurological Mapping and Assessment
Every patient undergoes a detailed functional neurological exam. This includes testing:
- Eye movements
- Balance and coordination
- Posture and gait
- Reflexes
- Cognitive integration
- Sensory processing
These findings provide insight into which brain regions are underactive, overactive, or poorly connected. In FND, common findings may include:
- Abnormal saccadic eye movements (pointing to midbrain or cerebellar involvement)
- Poor proprioceptive integration (a mismatch between sensation and motor output)
- Disorganized frontal lobe inhibition (the brain’s ability to suppress unwanted movements or emotional reactions)
2. Individualized Brain-Based Therapy
Once imbalances are identified, non-invasive therapies are used to stimulate specific brain regions and strengthen brain-body integration. This may include:
- Vestibular therapy: Stimulating balance centers to recalibrate motion perception and motor output.
- Eye movement therapy: Improving saccades and smooth pursuit for better midbrain and cerebellar coordination.
- Sensorimotor retraining: Using light touch, proprioceptive input, and functional movements to rebuild neural maps.
- Neuroplasticity exercises: Simple repetitive drills tailored to improve timing, sequencing, and inhibition within the nervous system.
- Cognitive-limbic integration: Helping the brain re-learn how to suppress inappropriate motor or emotional responses.
Each therapy is matched to the patient’s capacity and delivered in a graded, supportive manner. The goal is not to “override” the symptoms, but to teach the brain a better way to process and respond to incoming information.
3. Nutritional and Lifestyle Support
Functional neurological dysfunction is often exacerbated by poor sleep, blood sugar dysregulation, inflammation, and micronutrient deficiencies. A functional medicine provider or qualified nutritionist may also offer guidance on:
- Omega-3 fatty acid intake
- Gut-brain health (especially important in cases with IBS or autoimmune overlap)
- Sleep hygiene and circadian rhythm regulation
- Breathing strategies to regulate the autonomic nervous system
The Hope of Neuroplasticity
The core message of chiropractic neurology is that the brain can change. Neuroplasticity—the ability of the brain to rewire itself—is the foundation of recovery for patients with FND. With consistent input, the brain can learn to regulate movement, sensation, speech, and emotion in a more adaptive way.
For children, early intervention often yields faster results due to the flexibility of the developing nervous system. For adults, progress may be slower, but meaningful change is still possible—especially with personalized care and a whole-brain approach.
Final Thoughts
Functional Neurological Disorder is a real, complex, and often misunderstood condition that affects both children and adults. It lives in the gray area between neurology and psychiatry, between physical and emotional symptoms, and between normal imaging and abnormal experience.
But it is not hopeless.
Through a chiropractic neurology lens, FND is not viewed as a life sentence but as a sign that the brain needs help reorganizing its internal communication. With careful assessment and personalized rehabilitation, it is possible to shift from dysfunction to function—and from confusion to clarity.
If you or someone you love is suffering from functional neurological disorder and you would like to learn how chiropractic neurology can help, contact the team at Georgia Chiropractic Neurology Center today. We look forward to hearing from you.
Written by Sophie Hose, DC, MS, DACNB, CCSP
Peer-Reviewed References
- Espay, A. J., Aybek, S., Carson, A., et al. (2018). Current concepts in diagnosis and treatment of functional neurological disorders. JAMA Neurology, 75(9), 1132–1141. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.1264
- Edwards, M. J., Adams, R. A., Brown, H., Pareés, I., & Friston, K. J. (2012). A Bayesian account of ‘hysteria’. Brain, 135(11), 3495–3512. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/aws129
- Kozlowska, K., English, M., Savage, B., Chudleigh, C., & Chudleigh, C. (2020). Multimodal rehabilitation: A mind–body, family-based intervention for children and adolescents with functional neurological symptom disorder. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 61(2), 209–219. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13133
- Stone, J., Hoeritzauer, I., & Edwards, M. (2021). Functional neurological disorder: Diagnosis and treatment. The BMJ, 376, n1492. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1492