| Most people cannot relate to the profound | | | | several positive changes. His medications were cut |
| challenges of life with autism. But if this is | | | | in half, his speech patterns slowed down and |
| something you are all too familiar with, you are | | | | became easier to understand, and his memorized |
| naturally interested in any type of therapy that | | | | speech gave way to some original thoughts and |
| has shown promise and could be used to change | | | | ideas. They saw significant improvement in his |
| the life of a friend or loved one. One such | | | | gross motor skills and balance. He became more |
| treatment for autism and Asperger's syndrome is | | | | stable emotionally, and he even began initiating |
| neurofeedback. | | | | touch and asking for hugs. He also interacts much |
| Consider the case of a 14-year-old girl named | | | | better with his brothers and sisters. |
| Carly, whose story was featured on 20/20. At a | | | | Neurofeedback is a method of training the brain |
| very young age, she had been diagnosed with | | | | to function differently. During the sessions, the |
| autism, and had been written off as being | | | | therapist will attach very thin leads that conduct |
| mentally incompetent. As she grew, her body | | | | and transmit the electrical energy from the brain |
| flopped and flailed and her tantrums were | | | | to various locations on the patient's scalp. |
| continuous, but her parents refused to give up. | | | | A special gel is used to comfortably hold the leads |
| They worked 40-60 hours a week with Carly. | | | | in place. The patient will then use brain waves to |
| Progress was slow, but their love for their | | | | alter what is happening to a visual display on a |
| daughter impelled them to persist. | | | | computer screen. Through positive reinforcement, |
| Then, one day, at the age of 11, Carly sat down | | | | the brain learns to progressively use the desired |
| at a computer and, typing one finger at a time, | | | | waves, and eventually the changes in brain |
| revealed that there was a very intelligent young | | | | function may become permanent. |
| lady buried beneath the outward persona she | | | | The 98 sessions noted above may not be typical |
| presented verbally and physically. She was not | | | | for autism; the number of sessions needed may |
| "stupid" or "retarded"; she was a very bright girl | | | | involve years, rather than months. This is not |
| with real emotions. Carly may have | | | | meant to imply that data currently exists to |
| single-handedly changed the way the world views | | | | support results like this for everyone using |
| people with severe forms of autism. She is now | | | | neurofeedback for autism or Asperger's |
| writing a novel. | | | | syndrome. However, no data exists to support |
| Another astounding case is that of an | | | | the idea that it cannot. |
| eight-year-old boy diagnosed with autism. He had | | | | The results experienced by this young man and |
| a very limited vocabulary, and did not like to be | | | | his family are "miraculous" when compared to |
| touched. After 98 sessions of neurofeedback | | | | other forms of treatment. Cases like these open |
| therapy, his parents were thrilled to observe | | | | up an entirely new realm of possibility and hope. |