Today I was involved in another hearing before an
Administrative Law Judge regarding Regional Center funding for a child with
autism. It was, once again, surreal. The “fair” hearing is held
after Regional Center denial of funding for neurofeedback. The parents decided
to press their demands, and they invited us to help make their case. Since the
parents had already experienced five training sessions with their child, they
came armed with lots of reports of progress. I came with my Power Point presentation
on autism, and also armed with all the relevant books: Continue reading “Newsletter Regional Center”
Author: Siegfried Othmer
Since 1987 Siegfried Othmer has been engaged in research and development of clinical applications of EEG biofeedback. Currently he is Chief Scientist at the EEG Institute in Woodland Hills, CA. From 1987 to 2000 he was President of EEG Spectrum, and until 2002 served as Chief Scientist of EEG Spectrum International. Dr. Othmer provides training for professionals in EEG biofeedback, and presents research findings in professional forums. He has been involved continuously in the development of computerized instrumentation to provide EEG biofeedback training since 1985.
Yoga of the Heart
“The heart is the recording secretary for the ego.”
— Japanese Proverb
Caroline Grierson and Sue and I have been listening to a tape by Ira Rosenberg of a short course on Heart Rate Variability (HRV) training delivered at one of the meetings of the California Biofeedback Society. Rosenberg has been doing this work since the early eighties—another instance of clinicians in the lead in the development of a field. His experience with a variety of heart ailments is extensive, and most impressive.
The talk struck a chord with me on a number of issues. First of all, I am hopeful that self-regulation technologies will be the key to having people assume responsibility for their own health and well-being, with a diminished role played by an authority figure. Secondly, I am hopeful that the discipline imposed by self-regulation based technologies should be life-long, and not restricted to short periods in one’s life where one is paying tribute to a biofeedback therapist. Thirdly, I am hopeful that there will be a shift from a concern about deficits and diagnoses to wellness and optimal functioning. To have this idyllic future be realized, people must be able to understand the issues, on the one hand; they must not be hindered by expensive instrumentation over the long haul; and the techniques must offer multiple, broad-spectrum benefits so that they become habitual. Continue reading “Yoga of the Heart”
“Artistes and Autistes”
“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.” Albert Einstein
The debate continues on the various lists about the value of QEEG-based information to drive protocols. Whereas the fissures in the field are not as severe now as they once were, a divide still clearly exists, with people encamped comfortably on one side or the other. Each side claims to have science on its side, but if truth be told, we are each reinforced in our approach by what amount to a succession of dramatic case histories, plus a sprinkling of supportive studies.
What matters in determining which side of the divide we are most comfortable with is not simply the accumulating data, however, but who we are as scientists or clinicians. It is our personal style in confronting new information that determines which kind of evidence we will attend to. When this orientation is then graced with clinical success, it is continually reinforced. With a technique as powerful as neurofeedback, such reinforcers are plentiful. Continue reading ““Artistes and Autistes””