Dad, What have you heard about this? I recall you mentioning that you have child who suffers from autism. What do you know about EEG & HEG Biofeedback?
HEG biofeedback (included by some in the new term “neurofeedback”) is a new “brain training” modality that is showing great promise for solving the various problems of the ADD to Autism continuum in conjunction with EEG biofeedback.. Particularly, the end closer to Autism. (Including the 15% that doesn’t repond entirely with 60 sessions of the Sterman EEG biofeedback training.)
The full name is HEMOENCEPHALOGRAPHY. As the first part indicates, it has to do with blood - in this case blood flow in the brain. It seems that blood flow is poor in certain brain areas of persons suffering from several types of “brain problems”. These include ADD/ADHD, autism, epilepsy, brain injury, stroke, depression, and schizophrenia.
Researchers have found that this poor blood flow in a section of the brain can be increased with biofeedback training in much the same way as EEG biofeedback. Results on ADD/ADHD and Autism to date have been fair to good. Using HEG biofeedback initially, and finishing up with EEG biofeedback, may shorten the number of sessions dramatically, and also may improve the success rate.
Dr Hershel Toomim of BioComp has developed an attachment unit that works in conjunction with the BrainMaster. BHT now only leases the BrainMaster upgraded to accept this HEG attachment for those who want to lease HEG. Otherwise, the Play Attention unit is recommended.
The operation is relative easy to understand. The unit is set over an area of poor blood flow, and two different frequency lights are flashed down into the brain. The bone and tissue is translucent, and light receivers (same frequencies) can measure the amount of “redness” in the area, showing the amount of blood flowing. This signal is fed back to a computer screen, and the trainee just concentrates on increasing it, much like EEG biofeedback. The research indicates that this training is much faster than EEG biofeedback using the Sterman method. In particular, it is very useful for autistic and actual brain damaged persons. Dr Toomim has done most of his work on actual cases of autism with excellent results.
Doctor Toomim’s paper gives much more information on this new and exciting advance.
Case study shows dramatic improvement in a girl who is not only dyslexic, but is on the ADD-Autism continuum as well. Tomm Friend has worked with both HEG and EEG biofeedback, and has researched the possibility of insurance payments for HEG at least. It seems that there is a standard medical procedure, “Near Infrared Spectroscopy”, which has its own code number and insurance will pay. Check out “NIR Spectroscopy” on the web to read about it. Since Medicine uses NIRSpec for diagnosis, you can talk about how clever Hershel has been to apply it interactively and dynamically (viz. as biofeedback).
Join either or both of the Discussion Groups/newsletters/bulletin boards moderated by Dr Bate. The original and very active group is devoted to Orthomolecular and Holistic Therapies. Subscribe by clicking Orthomolecular. Another is devoted to ADD/ADHD subjects. Join this by clicking ADD_ADHD. The only rules are no spamming, no flaming, otherwise it’s “free speech” on anything near to the subject. There are many experts on every facet of alternate health.
http://www.adhd-biofeedback.com/HEG.html