With Dr. Matt Hamilton: The Perfect Storm Behind Autism, What Many Parents Miss Until It’s Too Late

Hey, What's Up! It's Tommy.

I’m super stoked because I sat down with Dr. Matt Hamilton from Maximum Potential Chiropractic, and we kicked off a longer, science-heavy conversation about neurologically focused chiropractic care and something they call “The Perfect Storm.” This episode is Part 1, and I’m splitting it up so the ending is going to feel like a hard stop. That’s on purpose, because I want you to be able to actually absorb this stuff without your brain melting. We started by talking about my son, Wyatt, and what Dr. Matt is seeing in his scans right now, including heart rate variability (HRV), autonomic nervous system changes (dysautonomia), and a stubborn mid-thoracic area that can affect digestion, detoxing, and overall energy. From a dad perspective, I love that they don’t just guess. They track progress with real numbers, then adjust the plan when things stall. Dr. Matt also explained how their team can change “levers” in care, timing, where they adjust, and the technique they use, and how that can change the proprioceptive input and help the nervous system wake up and regulate better. Then we moved into the big idea: the “Perfect Storm” is often hiding in plain sight, like a “moonwalking bear.” It’s usually not one single thing. It’s more like layers that stack up over time, fertility stress, stressful pregnancy, birth trauma or intervention (C-section, induction, forceps, vacuum, cord issues, epidurals), plus early medical and pharmaceutical exposure. Dr. Matt connected this to vagus nerve development, regulation, and why so many kids struggle with sleep, digestion, immune issues, motor planning, sensory challenges, and speech. We also talked about how parents carry a ton of stress too, and how getting out of fight-or-flight matters, for our kids and for us. I even shared a simple thing that helped me calm down fast: laying on my back and putting my legs up on the wall for five minutes. Sounds silly, works great. If you’re new to this topic, take your time with it. Nothing about this is instant. It’s a process. We’ve been in care for two years, and I’m still learning. I’m sharing it because I know families need more options, more hope, and more support.

This is part 1 of 2 of my conversation with Dr. Matt.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. Matt says every child has their own “storm,” so care plans should be personal, not cookie-cutter.
• HRV and clinical scans can help show progress, not just feelings or guesswork.
• The “Perfect Storm” pattern often includes pregnancy stress, birth intervention, and early medical stress on the nervous system.
• Vagus nerve function matters for regulation, sleep, digestion, immunity, movement, and even speech development.
• “They’ll grow out of it” can be a dangerous mindset if early symptoms are warning signs of bigger issues later.
• Medication can change chemistry short-term, but parents still deserve a plan that supports long-term development.
• Progress takes time. Months, sometimes years, especially when the nervous system got pushed off course early.
• Community matters. Parents need people around them who bring grace, support, and real help.
• Parents need to stay well too. Anxiety is real, and getting regulated helps the whole family.
• The best time to act is early, but it’s never too late to start building a better path.

If this episode hit home and you’ve got questions, send them to me. I want to turn your questions into future episodes, and I also want families to feel less alone. Visit spectrumincamouflage.com, and email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com. Share the show with a parent who needs more hope and more options, and please subscribe wherever you listen.

Contact Information
Website: spectrumincamouflage.com
Email: tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com
Dr. Matt’s office: mpchiro.com
Office email: info@mpchiro.com

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Together, we can create a community to support autistic kids and their families. If you have questions or ideas or want to share your journey, email me at tommy@spectrumincamouflage.com.

Let’s learn, grow, and make a difference, one step, one piece of the puzzle, one child at a time.