In this article, we look at the experiences of health care professionals who have successfully used neurofeedback training for autism treatment. They include many who follow the Defeat Autism Now! protocol developed by the Autism Research Institute, Many therapists and health care professionals have since adopted neurofeedback training as an essential part of their autism treatment protocol.
"Promising, early results should be followed up. Parents might try neurofeedback training to see whether their child could benefit." – Susan F Othmer and Siegfried Othmer Autism Society of America
Case study of Steven
One early report about neurofeedback for autism was presented in August 1997 by Joy Lunt, who treated an eight year old boy with autism. Steven (not his real name) started neurofeedback for autism training in September 1996. Joy Lunt, a neurofeedback practitioner who has been providing neurofeedback for autism and other conditions since 1993, reports:
By session #5, Steven’s Mom and school noted improvement in his ability to respond to verbal cues and he was sitting still for short periods. He was also beginning to focus for short periods on school work. (The comments from school were a surprise as they had no idea he was doing the biofeedback. Mom made the choice not to tell them until she was more sure about the changes.)
After session #8, his teacher told Mom that it had been the best day he had ever had in school!
After session #12, Teachers comments were that it was like having a different child in class. They frequently report to Mom about how much more cheerful he is at school lately.
Between session #12 and #28, he started working on school work with Mom at home with success for the first time. Also took his first spelling and math tests and did well. Now he does consistently well in both of these subjects.
Improvements in language really became noticeable about now. His speech slowed down and he became easier to understand.
We have discovered that he has quite a sense of humor and better yet, he understands it and uses it appropriately. (He likes to tease his mom). He also has a great sense of rhythm and plays the drums very well. Friends who come to the house are able to understand him for the first time.
By January 27, 1997, Steven had done approximately 60 sessions now. His vocal volume is much better controlled, and he responds well when asked to lower his voice. He very rarely has the outbursts of noises that used to be commonplace.
His physical movements are smoother and less robot-like. His mother beams when he asks her for a hug and kiss.
On his school report form the comment was written that he is a "JOY" to have in the classroom. Mom blames me for that, what a pleasure!
In March 1997, Steven celebrated his birthday by having a party at a video arcade! What a test! This is a place he could not tolerate for even a moment before. Mom reports that he loved it, interacted well with the other kids, waited his turn for the games and was not at all overwhelmed by all of the noise and activity.
A fuller report on Steven’s experience with neurofeedback for autism can be found at the EEG Spectrum International website.
Research on 16 autistic kids
In September 2001, B. Jarusiewicz of the Atlantic Research Institute presented a scientific paper, Efficacy of Neurofeedback in the Autistic Spectrum. The study was conducted on 16 kids who received neurofeedback for autism, and compared with another 16 controls who did not receive neurofeedback for autism.
Our study involved the training of 16 individuals using Neurofeedback, applying a number of assessment processes, and comparing those trained with 16 non-trained individuals.
Eighty eight percent of those trained reduced their levels of autism within months (measured by Rimland’s ATEC check-list) – on average 26% compared with control group on average of less than 5%.
Before and after videos (Greenspan method) were also used for comparison purposes. All results show significant improvement on average in the areas of speech (30%), socialization (34%), other types of health (sleep, anxiety, tantrums – 29%), and cognitive awareness (16%).
When compared with other treatment modalities using the Rimland Treatment Effectiveness Survey, Neurofeedback, even in early comparison, is rated on a par with Occupational therapy, surpassed to date only by Behavior Modification and Speech therapies.
Dr Jarusiewicz’s report on neurofeedback for autism was taken from the EEG Spectrum International website. Dr Jarusiewicz is on the Board of Directors and is currently a shareholder of EEG Spectrum International, Inc., the developer of the technology used in neurofeedback for autism.
Scientific Paper by Dr Arthur G Sichel, Lester G Fehmi and David M Goldstein
In 2005, Dr Arthur G Sichel, author of The Alphabet Kids and a world authority on autism, presented a scientific paper with two co-researchers, titled Positive Outcome With Neurofeedback Treatment In a Case of Mild Autism.
This paper discussed the case of Frankie, an 8 1/2 year old boy who received neurofeedback for autism:
Frankie exhibited a seeming lack of awareness of the existence of others. He did not seek comfort when distressed. He showed no imitation of his siblings and did not engage in social play.
His mother reported that he did not vocalize until the age of three, when he began to babble. He did not make eye contact, did not look at the person or smile in social approach. He had a fixed stare in social situations.
Two separate psychologists, each in private practice, one also a school psychologist, diagnosed him autistic. A neurologist specializing in autism, who is on the faculty of a medical school, diagnosed him autistic. A special education professor at a state college said he was autistic-like but brain damaged and said there was no hope for improvement.
As of this writing, Frankie has received 31 sessions (of neurofeedback training).
His mother reported significant changes after three training sessions. She said he was talking more and had been affectionate with his siblings. For the first time in his life he played with his sister, and even kissed her, and he put his arm around his older brother.
Over the course of training, Frankie’s behavior continued to change. He began attending to and reacting to others. He started making eye contact. He presented his biofeedback trainers with valentine cards he had made; he appeared shy while presenting them and seemed thrilled when the cards were praised.
After 31 neurofeedback sessions he notices his sister’s distress and tries to interfere when she resists taking a bath or going to bed. He seeks comfort when he reads something upsetting. He imitates his older brother and plays with his brother, his sister and a friend.
He no longer tires easily and no longer has trouble falling or staying asleep. His headaches are significantly reduced, as is his tendency to appear anxious and worried. He is much less shy and withdrawn.
At this point in treatment, Frankie’s verbalizations are still limited and responses continue to appear slow.
He now sometimes makes eye contact and no longer has a fixed, vacant stare in social situations. He engages in a lot of imaginative play with his sister. He now reads with some expression.
He does not speak much and speaks monotonously, but a singsong quality was not present during later sessions. He now refers to himself as ‘T" He initiates conversations at home and asks for what he wants.
Before, he frequently engaged in a repetitive jumping activity. Now, he rarely does this.
Before, he showed great attachment to a number of unusual objects, insisting on carrying them around. He now carries markedly fewer things around with him.
The behavioral changes and the brain wave changes in this 8-year-old autistic boy are viewed as a positive outcome of neurotherapy. These results are suggestive that neurotherapy can be an effective treatment for some of the symptoms of mild autism. It would be interesting to follow possible further gains with additional neurotherapy sessions.
More details are in the full version of Dr Sichel’s report on neurofeedback for autism.
Case study of Joe
Joe is a 9 year old boy with autism who has a history of misdiagnosis and a family history of ADHD. When Joe was 2 1/2 years of age, his mother was told that he was deaf and was advised to take her son for tubes in his ears. A Special Education psychologist informed his parents that Joe was retarded.
Joe was in Special Education Classes. He had OCD (obsessive, compulsive disorder) behavior, Eneuresis (bedwetting) and allergies. Joe was Hyperactive and nonverbal, in speech therapy for six years.
When Joe first began neurofeedback for autism, he could not sit still for more than 15 minutes. But soon, his condition improved. His therapist who conducted neurofeedback for autism reports:
EEG biofeedback training began for only 15 minutes each session (Joe could not sit still any longer), four times a week for three weeks.
By the 4th week, Joe could sit still long enough to undergo 30 minutes of each session, twice a week. At this time he began to calm and exhibited no OCD behaviors.
By the 7th week, Joe began to call the neurofeedback trainer’s name and started saying, "Hi" when he came in the office.
His speech therapist wanted to know what the family was doing because his speech had improved at a level of two years growth within the six months.
Six weeks later, Joe began talking in sentences.
Joe is surpassing his peers in school. He is reading, counting, and adding in 5′s and 10′s.
He told the neurofeedback trainer, "I’m tired of this computer stuff."
Recently, the trainer told Joe to watch the volcano explode. He quickly replied, "Volcanos don’t explode. They erupt."
A fuller report on Joe’s experience with neurofeedback for autism can be found at the EEG Spectrum International website.
Case study of Adam
Adam was originally thought to have extreme ADHD, but he was not communicating well. Speech was dominated by phrases he would mimic from videos and advertisements. He did not initiate conversations, and answers were rote material heard on TV.
Before Adam underwent neurofeedback for autism training, it was also difficult to get him engaged in activities. Additionally, Adam had sleep difficulties, did not eat well, and had frequent ear and other infections. He was in a special pre-school for two years, where he often exhibited behavior problems.
His case study on neurofeedback for autism was reported by Glen Martin, a neurofeedback practitioner in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Over the first twenty sessions, there were no sudden changes. He did sleep better; he was calmer; and his behavior was improved. The conviction that improvements were in fact taking place came gradually to the parents.
After a break, training was extended to forty sessions. It was in this time frame that the diagnosis of autism was finally made, and the parents realized the potential need for long-term training.
The visits to the clinician’s office were inconvenient, however, so the family purchased the EEG biofeedback instrument and obtained the professional training in EEG biofeedback so that Adam could be trained at home. On this basis, the training could be conducted every day.
In February 1996, when Adam was five, he was tested by a speech pathologist. Adam was found to be severely delayed in receptive and expressive language.
By the end of 1996, Adam was within age-appropriate range on both, despite the fact that the recommended speech therapy had not been done.
The speech pathologist was impressed. "This kind of thing does not usually resolve itself in ten months. It borders on the miraculous."
She had never seen such dramatic improvement in her entire professional experience. Another speech pathologist, when seeing the pre/post training test results, simply said "Wow!" IQ scores have also shown improvement.
Socially Adam is making gains as well. He is just starting to have friends, and he now plays at recess. At this point he still doesn’t initiate interaction with other children, but will do so with adults.
Also in this time frame, Adam’s mom took the Options Institute training in Sheffield, Massachusetts. The techniques learned there were also very helpful. The combination has led to improvements well beyond the expectation of the parents both in terms of the goals reached, and the rate at which they were obtained.
Adam is now mainstreamed in a regular kindergarten. He will be seven years old in May.
A fuller report on Adam’s experience with neurofeedback for autism can be found at the EEG Spectrum International website.
