Neurofeedback
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Autism
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
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Signs of Autism
Autism Treatment
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Brainwave Definitions
Autistic Spectrum Disorders
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Autistic Disorder
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Causes of Autism
Autism Symptoms
Case Study of Autism
Neurofeedback Article
The Lighthouse Network
Defeat Autism Now
Parent of Autistic Child
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Autism Society of America
Autism Research
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Training Your Brain To Be Calm
Casey is an 8-year old autistic boy, the youngest of three children, who was diagnosed at the age of 22 months. At the age of 6 he said his first words, which made his mother ecstatic, hopeful and very confident he would succeed at having a full life. In September 2003, Casey was mainstreamed for half a school day with peers and this September he was fully mainstreamed in 3rd grade! He broke the language barriers in February 2003 starting with full sentences, communicating his wants and needs and has done nothing but improve since. |
| Jennifer Martin, diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, suffered for years from anxiety and an overactive brain that sometimes kept her from sleeping at night. Doctors were happy to prescribe tranquilizers, sleeping pills or Ritalin. But she knew she wanted a non-drug solution. |
| Both Casey and Jennifer have come to the Atlantic Counseling Center in Atlantic Highlands for help. They are being helped by Dr. Betty Jarusiewicz, a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who specializes in neurofeedback treatment of autism spectrum disorders. |
What is Neurofeedback?
| Also called neurotherapy; it’s a non-invasive training that is similar to the biofeedback used by athletes to achieve better performance. Neurofeedack, however, trains not the body, but the brain itself. How neurofeedback came to be discovered and more widely used is detailed in A Symphony of the Brain by Discover science writer, Jim Robbins. |
| “People used to think that your brain stayed the same throughout your life and there was nothing you could do to change it.” says Dr. Jarusiewicz. Neuroscientists today are learning that the brain is an amazingly flexible and adaptable organ. |
| Operant conditioning is used to help clients reach their goals. In practical terms, an electrode is attached to the head at specific locations while the client observes a simple video game or series of images. The client is rewarded for achieving the desired state during the game. In this way, clients can be trained to clam their minds, ease pain, or heal trauma. It is painless, works with no side effects, and best of all, is safer and less expensive than drugs. |
| Some of the other conditions that neurofeedback research has worked for include addiction, autistic spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, depression, migraines and post-traumatic stress disorder. |
| Dr. Betty, as her patients call her, became interested in neurofeedback in 1999, first to assist in the recovery process in addiction, and then for individuals on the autism spectrum, a growing population that as few effective treatment options available. The FDA has not approved any medical treatments for autism (only for related symptoms) simply because none have been found. Neurofeedback, however, is not a medical treatment but an educational one, which works to condition the brain to regulate itself. |
| A consultant to EEG Spectrum International, Inc., which developed the software and hardware interfaces for Neurotherapy and developed training courses for appropriate clinicians, Dr. Jarusiewicz also runs a non-profit organization, Atlantic Research Institute, Inc. A.R.I. develops and manages research projects using Neurotherapy, particularly in the area of autism, learning disabilities, disordered brain issues as well as addiction. Her study on the use of Neurotherapy has been published by the peer-reviewed journal, Journal of Neurotherapy, Volume 6(4), 2002. The results were impressive. She showed with statistical significance a change (lessening) of autism behaviors by 26% in an average of 36 sessions over 4.5 months. This was compared with a control group that used conventional methods of changing behaviors that achieved 3% change. All major issues improved for all children trained: speech, schoolwork, tantrums, socialization, anxiety and depression. |
| Dr. Betty is now working on a pilot project to enable parents of autistic children to conduct neurofeedback from home, with the help of a licensed clinician. She is also conducting a clinical trial for FDA approval for use of neurofeedback specifically for use in the autistic spectrum, which is in the planning and development stages. |
| The future for Casey and the emerging field of neurofeedback looks promising. “Casey has changed from a frustrated and sometimes very angry little boy to a very intelligent, bright, communicative student who has the world at his fingertips and will show other parents that there is a bight future ahead for their children and the rest of their family.” says Casey’s mother. |
| Reprinted with permission from: New Jersey Holistic Magazine; Volume XVII, No. IV, (Winter Issue, 2004) |
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