Specialisterne: leveraging the unique skills of Autistics at competitive market terms

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Another treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders as well as for many other conditions is Neurofeedback.

Firstly, a description of key terms.

What is the difference between ‘Neurofeedback’ and ‘Biofeedback’?

…Biofeedback refers to a training or coaching process in which technology is used to help a person (or animal) get more information about his body than the normal senses provide. The information is used to raise the level of awareness about the function and eventually, to increase voluntary self control over the funciton-- such as heart rate, muscle tension, stomach acidity, skin conductance, respiratory patterns or rate, body position or joint angle, skin temperature or brain electrical or blood flow activity.
Neurofeedback, also called EEG Biofeedback or Neurotherapy, is one variety of biofeedback which focuses on feeding back information about brain activity-- usually EEG (electroencephalographic.) It usually involves increasing or decreasing brainwave activity of certain frequencies at certain locations. Some trainers only use neurofeedback. Others combine central biofeedback “central nervous sytem” ie., EEG or Brain biofeedback with peripheral biofeedback, ie., muscle, skin temperature, respiration, heart rate, etc…

Within Neurofeedback there are a variety of forms and approaches that can be taken. Here are two of them I will mention in future posts…

…QEEG-driven Neurofeedback Training
This the most “medical model” approach. Folks who practice this way start by doing what is called a “quantitative EEG” (QEEG). This uses many sensors all over your head to measure how your brain is functioning compared to a database of “normal” brains. The idea is that differences from “normal” brain activity likely account for symptoms or inefficiencies and they target these differences when they do training.
…Hemoencephalography [HEG]: Brain Blood-Flow Biofeedback
This a different approach to training the brain.
Instead of using brain waves as guidance, we are using feedback about the blood flow in the brain to allow the person to learn to increase the activity level of the area under a sensor. This is a useful neurofeedback approach especially when we want to target certain skills or areas of damage…

I will also write about Heart Rate Variability (HRV) retraining, which is a form of Biofeedback, in a future post…

…Heart rate variability retraining will allow you to monitor your heart rate and respiration rate on a computer screen, giving you feedback as to the co-ordination between them. By adjusting your breathing patterns you will notice changes in your heart rate and will find when you have created and are maintaining a good heart-brain connection. This will help you tremendously during times of stress to be better in control of your body response.
Heart rate variability retraining gives your nervous system more healthy input throughout your day, creating good patterns in your nervous system and body. This adds value to your adjustments and maximises the rate at which your nervous system will improve…

(sources: Futurehealth - Special: Futurehealth; http://www.brainandhealth.com/Neurofeedback.html; HRV Biofeedback Vitae Health)