Autism Spectrum Disorders
Autism is a serious developmental disorder that impairs the ability to communicate and interact. It is also very common, with as many 200,000 cases a year identified in the U.S. alone.
Autism spectrum disorder impacts the nervous system. The range and severity of symptoms can vary widely, that is why it is called the autistic ‘spectrum’. Common symptoms include difficulty with communication, difficulty with social interactions, obsessive interests, and repetitive behaviors. There is often poor eye contact and speech may be limited to echoing the words of others. The difficulty communicating may even prevent speech. People with autism usually have a hard time recognizing the emotional state of others.
The behavior of autistic individuals can be very hard to understand. Stimming is a common symptom, where the person engages in certain behaviors over and over. This can be rocking, laughing or doodling with body parts or things, even self-harm These behaviors are an attempt to self soothe as the stimuli of the world is often overwhelming to an autistic individual.
How does Neurofeedback therapy help?
A common finding in the autistic brain is that it is very lacking in the alpha frequency. Alpha is the neutral gear of the brain. When we are in alpha, we have relaxed attention. A brain that can’t do this is subject to overwhelm. In addition, there are usually specific sensory processing issues in autism. Sounds do not get perceived as they would for a neurotypical person, touch can be too much. Some autistic individuals do not speak as they cannot stand the sound of their own voices. Others have not developed the neural pathways that allow speech.
Training usually involves amplitude and neuromodulation training to increase alpha. Loreta Neurofeedback helps train the pathways of sensory processing.
Success stories
Meet Michelle
When we met Michelle, she was virtually non verbal and reckless. She would melt down when routine was changed and could not handle transitions from one thing to the next without protest. This is a long-term treatment. We have worked on the connections within her brain that handle language, sensory processing and emotional control with combinations of tACS, PEMF, DC and neurofeedback. Finally this year, Michelle travelled with her parents to another country and navigated all the planes, cars and hotels without a single hiccup. Her Mother had tears in her eyes as she thanked us.
Meet Lydia
Lydia found me through her talk therapist when she was 25. Lydia could be described as having autism and being high functioning. She held a good job. Friendships were more difficult for her. Lydia had become obsessed with concerns about a friend who is an extreme environmental activist. She was often upset that her friend would be harmed by her beliefs, or that she, Lydia, would say something in disagreement that upset the friendship. She had become increasingly anxious over these issues. Her therapist collaborated that timeline and added that Lydia had always had more anxiety than was comfortable.
Her QEEG revealed an occipital lobe overrun by fast beta waves. This is a signal of hypervigilance. In addition, these fast waves were taking their energy from the alpha frequency which was underpowered in the occipital lobe. There was also a deficit of alpha in the right prefrontal cortex so that her avoidance behavior was always ‘on’!
We used training of parasympathetic nervous system to increase her sense of safety in the world and amplitude training to balance the prefrontal cortex away from its anxious stance. After 10 sessions of neurofeedback, Lydia reported that she was much more comfortable in general and tolerating her friend with much less concern