Autism: Autism Treatment Options

You are here:

Home
Autism: What is Autism?
Autism: Treatment Options

Autism: Treatment Options

November 1, 2011 at 11:28

Autism: Treatment Options

Neurofeedback is a safe and effective treatment to greatly reduce symptoms associated with Autism and many other disorders. Clients typically respond to neurofeedback rapidly, with significant results noted within a few months of starting treatment.

Click here for more information on How Neurofeedback Works!

Traditional Treatment Options:

Medication:

There are a myriad of medications available as treatment options for Autism symptoms , many of which have numerous side effects. Your physician would be the resource for more information about this option. Medication treats the symptoms, but does not address the true cause of the symptoms. Effects are typically short-term; thus, this type of treatment is often on-going, with mixed results. Many of our clients are looking for a treatment plan without medication. We will work with your doctor in reducing or eliminating medications.

Nutrition:

Many health experts agree that improved nutrition often plays at least a limited role in relieving some symptoms in many disorders, including autism and should be included in treatment options for most people. Dallas Brain Changers can assist you in finding healthier nutritional choices and/or can guide you to an appropriate nutritional professional.

Counseling/Psychotherapy:

When performed alone or practiced in conjunction with medication intervention, counseling and psychotherapy are popular and well-known treatment options for a variety of disorders. However, this form of intervention may become a long-term and expensive endeavor, often spanning many years, with widely varying results.

Dallas Brain Changers Treatment Options:

When an integrated approach is utilized, involving both counseling and neurofeedback, results are achieved exponentially, often within a few months, and are proven to be more effective and long-lasting.

Click here for Autism: Case Study

Neurofeedback Treatment:

*Neurofeedback is an effective, non-drug, non-invasive treatment option that has been proven to permanently reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with many conditions, including symptoms associated with autism. It is a technique of operant conditioning which directly changes brain function. Neurofeedback dramatically affects arousal regulation. In so doing, this ‘brain training’ can normalize the propensity to high or low arousal as seen in the qEEG or Brain Map of those with Autism. Furthermore, neurofeedback directly acts on specific brain activity known to be altered in autism. Neurofeedback is an option for those seeking treatment without medication.

Efficacy of Neurofeedback for Children in the Autistic Spectrum: A Pilot Study

Betty Jarusiewicz, PhD

Journal of Neurotherapy, Vol 6(4) 2002

ABSTRACT

Background: The efficacy of neurofeedback training was evaluated in 12 children in the autistic spectrum with matched controls, based on established training protocols for other conditions with similar symptoms.

Method: Twenty-four autistic children were divided into two groups, matched by sex, age, and disorder severity. One group received neurofeedback training and the second acted as a control group. Responses to the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklists (ATEC) and parental assessments of problem behaviors were analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of neurofeedback training for this condition.

Results: Neurofeedback training resulted in a 26% average reduction in total ATEC rated autism symptoms compared to 3% for the control group. Parental assessments reported improvement in all behavioral categories: socialization, vocalization, anxiety, schoolwork, tantrums, and sleep, compared to minimal changes in the control group.

Discussion: Autistic spectrum children who underwent neurofeedback training showed significant improvements in autism symptoms and behaviors. The magnitude of improvement was independent of initial severity or age.

*Interested clients are advised to make an informed choice regarding Neurofeedback therapists, since there are several treatment options available. It is advised to look for a provider who is board certified by BCIA and a member of AAPB.

Call us today to begin the path toward increased health and healing! We are waiting for your call!