THE EFFECT OF BIOFEEDBACK THERAPY FOR AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD)

Abstract

Biofeedback has been reported to reduce symptoms of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in several studies. Children affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have impairment of social interaction and demonstrate difficulty with emotional communication, display of posture and facial expression, with recognized relationships between postural control mechanisms and cognitive functions. Beside standard biomedical interventions and psychopharmacological treatments, there is increasing interest in the use of alternative non-invasive treatments such as biofeedback that could potentially modulate brain activity resulting in behavioral modification.

Biofeedback therapy is a form of alternative medicine that involves measuring a patient’s quantifiable bodily functions such as sweat gland activity, skin temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and muscle tension, conveying the information to the patient in real time, this will arise the patient’s awareness and conscious control of their unconscious physiological activities. The purpose of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of biofeedback as a method of treatment of the core symptoms of ASD.

Keywords: Biofeedback, Autistic Spectrum Disorder