If your child shows delays in speech, movement, or coordination, Three Nails Chiropractic in Franklin, TN helps by supporting nervous system function through gentle, drug-free care.
Why Speech & Motor Delays Matter
Watching your child lag behind siblings or peers in speaking, walking, or coordination can feel worrying and isolating. Speech and motor delays affect not just milestones, but confidence, communication, and the joy of everyday connection. At Three Nails Chiropractic, we approach these challenges from a neurological, whole-family perspective—research-informed, gentle, and rooted in trust.
What They Are / Why They Happen
Speech Delay
A speech delay means that a child is slower than expected in developing language—whether sounds, words, or combining words—even after ruling out hearing or cognitive causes.
Speech problems like apraxia (difficulty planning mouth movements) are not due to weak muscles but to brain-body miscommunication.
Factors like birth trauma (forceps, vacuum, C-section), torticollis, chronic ear infections, or plagiocephaly may add tension to the upper cervical spine or brainstem, interfering with nerve signals that support communication.
Motor Delay
A motor delay means a child is slower than typical in gross motor (e.g. crawling, walking) or fine motor (e.g. grasping, stacking) skills. Some of this may reflect nervous system stress affecting coordination, balance, or muscle tone.
Because motor patterns are built through brain-body communication, interference (or “noise”) in those pathways can slow or distort how the body learns new movement.
It’s normal for boys to lag slightly behind girls in early language or fine motor tasks, especially in the toddler years. Some variation in timing is expected and not pathological. Still, if your child is persistently behind expected milestones—beyond what you'd expect—it's worth investigating.
Growth, temperament, and neural wiring differ from child to child. Our aim is not to label, but to assess whether interference is slowing them down unnecessarily.
Boys vs Girls
What Parents Commonly Notice
Below are real-life signs parents often Google when concerned:
Delayed babbling, few consonant sounds, or limited vocabulary
Difficulty combining words, slurred or unclear speech
Trouble imitating sounds or slow progress with speech therapy
Delayed crawling, walking, or stumbling, “clumsy” movements
Weak grasping, trouble with small toys, delayed hand coordination
Frequent falls, poor balance, or avoidance of physical play
These signs can feel subtle or confusing—sometimes parents assume “they’ll catch up.” But when delays persist, early support makes a big difference.
“Before coming to Three Nails, my 3-year-old struggled to string words—and walking involved falling a lot. Over months of care, his balance improved and his speech started filling in. It’s been such a gift to see him blossom.” — Sarah
How Chiropractic Helps
Neurological Connection & Nerve Communication
Every word we speak, step we take, and gesture we make is regulated by our nervous system. If the brain can’t communicate clearly with muscles, coordination and speech can struggle. A core goal of pediatric chiropractic is improving how the brain and body talk.
Subluxation, Vagus Nerve & Dysautonomia
A subluxation is a slight misalignment or abnormal tension in the spinal joints that can irritate nerves and distort signaling. When present near the upper neck, this can interfere with brainstem and cranial nerve communication that supports speech, motor control, and coordination.
The vagus nerve, which travels from the brainstem down through the neck, helps regulate voice, swallowing, breathing rhythm, and gut-brain interaction. Interference there may impair speech coordination or motor tone.
Also, the concept of dysautonomia (an imbalanced autonomic nervous system) may underlie some developmental delays: children under chronic nervous system stress may default to “fight or flight,” which hampers growth, learning, and integration.
We begin with a detailed case history (including birth, milestones, therapies)
Noninvasive scans or assessments to evaluate neurological stress or asymmetry
Very light, specific adjustments—not broad twisting or forceful manipulation
Ongoing monitoring of progress and communication with your child’s care team
Integrative support (e.g. movement, play, home strategies) so results are holistic
We do not promise to “cure” speech or motor delays, but aim to remove interference so your child’s innate capacity can shine through.
What Gentle Pediatric Care Looks Like
Why Families in Franklin Choose Three Nails Chiropractic
God-centered healing: We believe true healing comes from above, working through the body as God designed it.
Neurological emphasis: We focus on the brain-body connection, not just symptoms.
Safe, gentle pediatric adjustments: Tailored to babies, toddlers, and children of all ages.
Collaborative & caring: We partner with speech therapists, OTs, pediatricians, and you.
Insight scans: Advanced technology that measures stress in the nervous system and helps us find the root cause of your child’s challenges.
Whole-family approach: From newborns to parents, care is personalized to help every family member heal and thrive naturally.
Hope-filled environment: Families find answers, peace, and a renewed sense of hope from the moment they walk in the door.
“We tried speech and OT for a year with slow progress. With chiropractic support, our daughter’s clarity and confidence began shifting faster than we expected. Grateful to have found a caring practice so close to home.” — Jenna
Serving Families in Franklin, Brentwood, and Spring Hill, TN
If your child shows signs of speech or motor delays, don’t wait and worry — let us help. At Three Nails Chiropractic in Franklin, TN, we serve families in Franklin, Brentwood, Spring Hill, Thompson’s Station, and surrounding areas.
Call (615) 931-9819 or schedule your visit today to explore how nervous system support could be part of their growth plan.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Is chiropractic safe for babies and toddlers with delays?
A: Yes. Pediatric chiropractic uses extremely gentle techniques adapted to each child’s size and neurodevelopment. Adjustments are noninvasive and respectful of delicate anatomy.
Q: Will chiropractic replace speech therapy or OT?
A: No. We consider therapy and medical care essential. Chiropractic is a complementary approach to remove interference and support better outcomes in those therapies.
Q: How soon might we see changes?
It depends on the child, the severity, and how long the delays have been present. Some parents notice immediate changes in language and subtle improvements in clarity, movement, or confidence within weeks; deeper changes often take months.
Q: My child seems “fine” but slower than peers—should I wait?
A: If your child hasn’t met key age‐appropriate milestones or seems to struggle more than expected for their age, an evaluation is wise. The earlier we intervene, the more plasticity and responsiveness we often find.