If you are a parent of an autistic child you've already done a lot of research. It's only natural that you want to give your child the best chance for a fulfilling life. For parents new to this diagnoses, you're probably trying to determine what's best for your particular situation and what approach will yield results.

Depending on which school of thought you subscribe to, your decisions regarding your course of action will vary quite a bit. These may include medication, physical and occupational therapies, behavioral and dietary interventions, and lots of parental advocacy in dealing with educators. There is a lot of conflicting information out there, and often, potential remedies such as biofeedback get lost in the shuffle due to lack of exposure or competing interests. Here's what we do know. Autism is a type of brain disorder known as PDD, or pervasive developmental disorder. The most common problems associated with this condition are poor social skills, communication difficulties, and behavioral issues like tantrums and outbursts.

Anyone can get autism, and though there seems to be a genetic link, there is no hard proof that parents are the cause. Unfortunately, many parents still blame themselves and experience tremendous feelings of guilt. While there is no known cure at this time, there are things that can be done to help those afflicted with Autism function on a more rewarding level in their day to day lives. The exact cause of Autism still remains unknown, but some symptoms can be traced back to neurological inefficiencies in the brain. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, sensory integration and the ability to process information are compromised. Because of a lot of "mixed signals" that just don't get channeled properly, the social responses of an individual can be inappropriate or even harmful. Adjusting to new situations that are outside the normal routine cause stress and frequently trigger an over reaction. Even loud or unusual noises can set off an episode of undesirable behavior. Be it a special education setting or a mainstream classroom where inclusion is practiced, two of the more noticeable benefits of biofeedback are its effectiveness in maintaining better control of emotions and improved academics. Here's how it works. By taking a QEEG (quantitative electroencephalogram), neurological development can be assessed and used to pinpoint specific areas of the brain that are underdeveloped or not working properly. The electrodes are then attached to these areas so they can be worked on to stimulate and strengthen activity that will do the most good. This localization allows for concentrated efforts in trouble spots that may have been either overlooked or just not diagnosed properly. A compelling NBC video clip provides an excellent visual explanation of what we have been talking about, and is available with the generosity of our esteemed West Coast colleague, Dr. Michael Linden. Here's the link:

http://www.mpccares.com/autism-neurofeedback-treatment.htm

For those of you wanting to know more, another excellent article on the subject is available at: http://www.educational-therapy.com/networker.html