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Autism Recovery Stories
Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) include Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Aspergers. These are life-changing, family-altering conditions usually diagnosed in childhood after heartbroken parents have endured multiple appointments and conflicting diagnoses. Behavioral treatments have been the traditional options for ASD. Medication treatments have had marginal success.
A Neurofeedback component (EEG or brainwave biofeedback) as a vital part of the treatment plan for these children, adolescents and adults is now being offered by The Attention Learning Center. This is not a substitute for behavioral and social treatment approaches. However, our treatment experience is showing remarkable improvements in these patients’ attention and behavior. This is making the traditional behavioral treatments more effective. We have seen nonverbal ASD patients begin to use language. We have seen them begin to make eye contact and increase their socialization dramatically. And to their parents astonishment, and ours, we have seen patients develop a sense of humor. The improvements with ASD students are the most remarkable results we have seen in our 20 years of providing Neurofeedback Therapy. We are excited for the parents and children struggling with these conditions.
Early Stages
Most of us trained in the 1960-1980s were taught to conceptualize Autism in the category of Schizophrenia. Given the poor contact with reality that patients with moderate and severe ASD seem to have, it’s understandable why diagnosticians included it within psychotic disorders. A breakthrough occurred when we began to view Autism as a unique attentional problem related to ADD and ADHD. This theory has been adopted by many clinicians and researchers today, as ASD & ADD share some of the same abnormal genes and neurotransmitters. We call this the “ADD-Aspergers-Autism Connection.” There are, however, many significant difference from ADD.
More Recently
Early EEG Biofeedback researchers were inspired by this reconceptualization of Autism as an attentional problem. An examination of the brainwaves of the autistic patient consistently revealed an abnormal EEG signature. The autistic EEG signature is different from the ADD signature, however.
Whereas the ADD patient doesn’t produce enough Beta (fast) Wave activity, most ASD patients produce too much Beta activity! Simply stated, their brains appear to be over focusing.
This over stimulation of the brain contributes to many known ASD behaviors such as a fascination with certain things, obsessions, repetitive rituals or other self-stimulating behaviors. This is why we see stereotypic interest in water, favorite movements and other repetitive behaviors.
In the figure below, the red color in the top area of the bottom quarter (Beta division) shows an over focused pattern of brain activity in this autistic patient. This is all possible to identify and treat today because of the development of the QEEG Maps (which look like MRI pictures but without the use chemicals or radiation).
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