Autism
Technology Enhances Brain Integration Benefits to Subjects with Autism Noted
By Ruth Olmstead, Ph.D.
Recently, I conducted a small pilot study using an audio-visual, right/left brain integration device (D.A.V.I.D. 1 or Digital, Audio, Visual, Integration Device) on three people with autism in the San Diego area. The results indicated a marked improvement in all three subjects.
Research studies conducted over the past ten years seem to indicate that various sound and light impulses stimulate synapses (nerve endings) to grow and form new pathways between the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
The subjects I studied listened with head phones to familiar and unfamiliar sounds. Theoretically because of the need to rationalize these sounds, the brain will search out and make neuro-associations to form a more active state of awareness.
Sound was not the only stimulus. The subjects also wore goggles inset with small full spectrum lights. This provides direct stimulation to the brain through the optic nerve, affecting brain patterns.
Following treatment, the parents of all three subjects reported positive changes. The most significant were an increase in communication skills with the use of full sentences, better articulation, and a larger vocabulary. In all three subjects, the most noted response was a dramatic increase in emotional stability. Additionally, there was a decrease in aggressive behavior, tantrums and self stimulation (repetitive hand movements, twirling of objects called "stemming"). Eye contact and level of interaction with their surroundings was also improved, along with the ability to follow instructions and accept change. The subjects demonstrated more affectionate behavior and a greater social awareness.
Based on experiments conducted by PSI-USA Research Foundation, subjects experiencing digital audio-visual integration reported many interesting results:
- Deep mental and physical relaxation, reducing stress
- Increased clarity of thought and improved concentration
- Expanded creative thought processes
- Gains in conflict resolution and decision making
- Improved memory
D.A.V.I.D. 1 sessions are tailored to achieve individual desired results. Progress is charted and documented.
Autism
The following definition is from the Autism Society of America:
Autism is a severely incapacitating lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. It occurs in approximately fifteen out of every 10,000 births and is four times more common in boys than girls. It has been found throughout the world in families of all racial, ethnic and social backgrounds. No known factors in the psychological environment of a child have been shown to cause autism.
The symptoms are caused by physical disorders of the brain. They include:
- Disturbances in the rate of appearance of physical, social and language skills.
- Abnormal responses to sensations. Any one or a combination of senses or responses are affected: sight, hearing, touch, pain, balance, smell, taste, and the way a child holds his body.
- Speech and language are absent or delayed while specific thinking capabilities might be present.
- Abnormal ways of relating to people, objects and events.
Autism occurs by itself or in association with other disorders which affect the function of the brain such as viral infections, metabolic disturbances, and epilepsy. It is important to distinguish autism from retardation or mental disorders since diagnostic confusion may result in referral to inappropriate and ineffective treatment techniques. The severe form of the syndrome may include extreme self-injurious, repetitive, highly unusual and aggressive behavior. Special educational programs using behavioral methods have proven to be the most helpful treatment.
