Biofeedback
measures subtle fluctuations in EEG brain waves, muscle tension, skin
temperature, skin conductance, pulse volume, & breathing patterns.
The patient looks at a computer screen while hooked up to a
monitor. Whenever the patient
has irregular brain waves, the object on the computer screen crosses a top
line & a high pitched sound is heard.
When the patient has regular brain waves, a low sound is heard. The
patient is instructed to watch the screen & listen to the sound. This
trains the brain to relax in the awake state & to focus on a task.
The
purpose of biofeedback is to:
Normalize or re-train bodily processes that are functioning improperly.
Assess the specific areas of the brain that are most damaged using a QEEG (quantitive EEG). In the QEEG, the patient wears a "hat" with holes in it for the EEG electrodes.
Normalize
certain brain chemical imbalances & associated moods, emotions
& behaviors.
Reduce/eliminate
prescribed medications.
Biofeedback
is covered by most medical plans & is accepted by most
"traditional western" medical practioners. The patient
should be able to follow very simple commands.
http://www.biofeedback.net/altmedicine
A
man who nearly drowned as a child had difficulty keeping jobs.
When he attended biofeedback, he was able to keep a job & even
received several promotions!
My
daughter has received over 10 biofeedback treatments.
Most people were dismissing my daughter in therapy as a being in a
borderline vegetative state. She's
more aware, pleasant, smiles, laughs and vocalizes more.
She had a difficult seizure disorder to treat.
Medications were increasing the seizure activity.
The seizures were "absent mal" and focal seizures several
times per day. She now has
days with no seizure activity! Her
neurologist is pleased. In
school, she's increasing her awareness and participating more in class.
She has minimal outbursts.
Family members and others are more accepting of her in public.
Beck, Devon's mom