Techno Stuff
So many resources and so little time. So here are some of my favorites. Things, tips and technology that can educate, entertain and improve the quality of life for you and your family.
Brain Entrainment – Mind Alive Inc.
Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE) uses flashes of lights and pulses of tones to gently and safely guide the brain into various brain wave patterns to boost your mood, help with sleep, sharpen your mind and increase your level of relaxation. Our AVE devices are also used successfully to boost physical performance for athletes, academic performance for students and cognitive performance for seniors. Also referred to as brainwave entrainment (BWE).
Neurofeedback Treatment
Autism is a disorder that affects brain function and hinders a child from developing at a normal pace.
Autistic children often have difficulty with communication, social behavior and interaction, impaired speech and other issues.
Due to the fact that there are a myriad of symptoms that may appear in an autistic individual, finding a beneficial treatment can be difficult, especially when no two children with autism are the same.
That said, there is an alternative treatment known as Neurofeedback that is showing positive results in helping many children on the spectrum achieve normal brainwave function, which may help improve the disorder for the long term.
What is Neurofeedback? Neurofeedback - also called Neurotherapy, Neurotraining, EEG (Electroencephalogram) Biodfeedback or brain wave therapy – is a non-invasive training technique that is designed to exercise and strengthen the brain. Thus, it is not unlike biofeedback, which is often used by athletes to train their body to improve their performance. The main difference is that Neurofeedback focuses on improving the brain not the body.
It is a computerized process that is designed to retrain brainwave patterns, so that they will function in a normal state and stabilize the central nervous system.
In order to achieve this goal, special equipment is used that monitors and measures the patient’s brain electrical activity and then re-trains the brain to be more open to the requirements of life. In other words, it exercises, calms and improves the stability of the brain. There are two different types of Neurofeedback: Beta/SMR and Alpha/Theat. Each is designed to measure a different type of brainwave.
How does it work? The patient is hooked up to electrodes (sensors may be connected to the person’s head, scalp, neck and/or ears) that are connected to a computer-based instrument that allows the experienced trainer to monitor brain waves.
The computer processes the signal and gives proper feedback. The patient is provided with certain tasks throughout the session based on the information (I.E. pictures, video, sounds, etc.) presented by the computer. The type of tasks utilized is based on the individual’s specific situation.
Through computerized feedback the brain learns to reinforce certain EEG frequencies and inhibits others. In short, it boosts specific brainwaves that assist in better function and lowers excessively fast or slower brainwaves that obstruct good function. Research has found that over the course of many sessions (10 to 40+, 60 minute sessions), the results of Neurofeedback have a positive effect and lead to a healthier and improved regulated brain, and results are often permanent. It is an easy treatment that anyone can do. It is painless and has minimal side effects.
How can it benefit autistic children? When properly performed, Neurofeedback helps brain development. It can assist in the regulation of sleep, behavior, thinking, emotions and more. Typical benefits that are commonly seen in individuals involved in Neurofeedback training include:
- Increased concentration
- Reduction in impulsive behavior
- Improvement in emotional control (I.E. less temper tantrums, outbursts, etc.)
- More ability to relax mentally and a decrease in stress
- Less recovery time needed when mental fatigue occurs
- Higher frustration tolerance (I.E. quicker rebound from setbacks/obstacles)
- Improved capacity to maintain workload for an extended period of time
Many of these improvements result in an individual developing better communication skills, which can lead to greater self-confidence and self-esteem at home, school and work.
Where can you go to obtain this treatment? If you are interested in having your autistic child undergo Neurofeedback treatment, the following are different methods you can try to find a reputable provider in your area:
- Ask your health care professional, your child’s therapist or local hospital
- Ask other parents or members of your autism support group
- Check your public phone directory
- Check the website of the autism society or foundation of your country
- Search online using your city name and “neurofeedback” “EEG” or “neurofeedback provider” as your main keywords.
What is the cost of Neurofeedback? While costs may vary depending on your provider, it can cost $100 or higher per session, which can be quite expensive when you consider a child may require 40 sessions or more to achieve adequate results. Furthermore, this does not include the initial consultation fee that can be close to $400. Nevertheless, some Neurofeedback providers may offer a discount to clients who pay for multiple sessions at once, so be sure to ask if this is an option.
Also, if long-term treatment is necessary, you may be able to consider home training once basic progress and stabilization have been made.
Will insurance cover it? Most health insurance companies often do not cover Neurofeedback. However, some insurance programs may cover a certain number of sessions or might even cover the entire course of treatment depending on if they deem Neurotherapy an accepted form of treatment for autism.
It is in your best interest to simply ask your health insurance provider if Neurofeedback is covered for your child’s autism, that way you can learn about their policies, which is an important part of financial planning for treatment.
Lastly, keep in mind that, while the success rate has been reported as high, not every autistic child will benefit from Neurofeeback treatment. Therefore, be sure to consult your child’s doctor and learn as much as you can about the entire treatment process first before making any final decisions.
