Basic HTML Version
Delta Living Magazine.com 17
due to other autistic spectrum and/
or learning disorders, ADHD, bipolar,
conduct and anxiety disorders. Her
professional goal is to help improve
the overall quality of life for adults,
children, adolescents and families,
and she accomplishes this through
play therapy, social skills training,
anger management, parenting
education and collaboration with
agencies and schools.
Understanding the difference between
a child with a developmental delay
and a normally developing child
requires the help of a licensed
practitioner.
“The thing that sticks out the most
are their social interactions; teachers
saying they’re isolated and withdrawn
and not socializing with the group –
more than just shyness,” said Myers
of Brentwood, who is a wife and mom
together with two kids ages 9 and
15. “A lot of people will see these
disorders and misdiagnose them.”
She said AS is mostly found in
males, under-diagnosed in females
and is passed on genetically from
one of their parents who has AS, or
other conditions such as bipolar and
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
“They’re finding the male brains
of those with AS have an under-
connectivity of their four lobes
of the brain, poor long distance
connectivity, but very good visual
skills. Unfortunately, their brains
cannot quickly integrate information
from sounds and pictures,” she said.
Neurofeedback is one tool Myers
uses to help her clients reduce
symptoms and behaviors that are not
productive.
Using computer technology and
electroencephalogram (EEG),
Neurofeedback helps improve several
conditions and improve personal
performance. It’s used to monitor
and feedback information to the brain
about its own activities.
“Electrodes are placed on the scalp
and measure at the cortical level brain
wave functioning. The information
then comes up as feedback in a game
or movie on a monitor. The feedback
is visual, auditory and tactile, and
that gives folks the information to
influence and/or change brain wave
functioning,” explained Myers.
She said it normally takes 20 to 40
sessions, each 35 minutes long, and
costs $125 per session.
“Weigh that against years of
medications and appointments,”
added Myers, who says selective
insurance companies are now
covering it. “The sessions won’t cure
the disorder, but instead reduces
symptoms and sometimes the need
for medication.”
She said the sessions also help
with physical calming and anxiety,
something Temple knows a lot about.
In her 7-time Emmy-Award winning
HBO film called
Temple Grandin,
Autism Gave Her A Vision, She Gave
It A Voice
, Temple designed and
created her own calming device in
1965 called a “Squeeze Machine,”
patterned after a squeeze chute used
for inoculating cattle.
When she saw the calming effect it
had on a frantic cow on her aunt’s
farm in Arizona, she discovered it had
the same comforting effect on her,
when she became hypersensitive.
Whether through self-calming
devices, Neurofeedback or therapy
sessions, today there’s a wealth of
resources and help available for
parents, teachers, family members
and those concerned with children
and adults with Asperger Syndrome.
“One of
Temple’s
many messages
to parents
and teachers
of autistic
kids involves
accentuating
their positive
traits and
talents.”
Nancy Meyers
Visit Temple Grandin’s official website at
www.TempleGrandin.com