Has your child been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? You are not alone. Autism is a condition that effects 1 in 88 children according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control.
While we are, as individuals, as different as snowflakes, we also have some pretty big similarities….our brains. We have discovered a great deal about how the brain functions and it’s “Neuroplastic” abilities to change and remodel its structure and pathways to create better (or worse) brain function. We have learned that our brain waves can become “off-track” resulting in unwanted states or behaviors. We have also learned that there is a way to get these brain waves back “on-track” so the brain can perform and function at its very best. Neurofeedback teaches self-regulation. Once the client has learned, the individual tends not to forget (we don’t usually forget how to ride a bike once that skill has been well learned). Unlike medication, neurofeedback has no side effects.
Neurofeedback has been able to help with the following ASD symptoms:
- hyperactivity
- communication
- touch and contact
- focus and attention
- anxiety
- parent or teacher instruction
- social interaction
- tolerance to change
Dr. Robert Coben, a neuropsychologist from New York, and his colleague Dr. Ilean Padolsky performed a study that included 37 Autistic Spectrum Disorder children called the “Assessment-Guided Neurofeedback for Autistic Spectrum Disorder,” The results of his study showed improved ratings of ASD symptoms for 89% of the experimental group.
View the study here
