A New, Brain-Based Approach to Special Education

28 March 2006
MINDFITNESS®
a BioFeedBack Resources International e-mail newsletter
edited by Harry L. Campbell, BCIA, NRBS Past President
technical editing and production by Edwin Johnson

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***** INSIDE THIS ISSUE *****

I.A New, Brain-Based Approach to Special Education

II.Spring Calendar

1. A New, Brain-Based Approach to Special Education

   The Status Quo

   In 1998, 60% of twelfth-graders were not reading proficiently. Jobs that formerly were held by illiterate individuals have gone overseas. More US jobs than ever before require high level technical skills. Since 1965, American taxpayers have spent more than $321 billion in federal funds on public education, yet average reading scores for 17 year olds have not improved since the 1970s.

   New breakthroughs in neuro-scientific research could have a major impact on how we help children with learning problems. Based on fifteen years of clinical experience and research, BrainTrain has combined the latest discoveries in brain research, the power of computer technology, and trained dynamic teachers.

   BrainTrain’s remarkable series of computerized brain-building exercises can easily be incorporated into your student’s IEP (Individualized Educational Program). The software is designed to help stimulate the growth of new connections between brain cells. Students learn the basic cognitive skills necessary for academic and life success – attention, reasoning, listening, self-control, and information processing.

   Through repetition of the exercises and the computer’s immediate feedback, students can develop the tools they need to achieve success in school and in life.

   Dr. David Rabiner, Duke University researcher, has been awarded a 1.15 million dollar grant to study the effectiveness of computerized attention training using Captain’s Log with elementary school children with attention problems.

   This Department of Education grant is the largest grant ever awarded for cognitive training research. The study is based on previous research in which even moderate attention problems were found to have a strong impact on academic achievement, and even one-on-one tutoring was found to be ineffective in helping children with ADHD learn to read. A large-scale study such as this one is vitally important, since it expands beyond the population of students formally diagnosed with ADHD and evaluates the long-term impact of attention training on academic success.

   (The above section was reprinted by permission from the Braintrain Spring 2006 catalog.)

   For more information about Braintrain software contact Harry Campbell at Biofeedback Resources 877-669-6463 or 914-762-4646 or at Harry.

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2. Spring Calendar

   Apr 21-26,2006 – BIOFEEDBACK BCIA CERTIFICATION TRAINING – Tarrytown, NY

   May 19-23,2006 – NEUROFEEDBACK BCIA CERTIFICATION TRAINING – Tarrytown, NY

   Costs:
   Biofeedback = $1185 US
   Neurofeedback = $985 US
   Contact: Biofeedback Resources 877-669-6463 or 914-762-4646.

   Apr 30, 2006, 9:00am-3:45pm
   NORTHEAST REGIONAL BIOFEEDBACK SOCIETY’S SPRING CONFERENCE – White Plains, NY

   Featuring: 9:00-10:30am – Julie Weiner, MS, BCIAC, Sr. Fellow

   “Pain Management Using a Cognitive Restructuring/Biofeedback Combination”
   Julie Weiner has been BCIA Certified for over twenty years. Her master’s degree is in nutrition. She originally honed her pain management skills through nine years as staff biofeedback specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital’s pain center, and currently works at the Biofeedback and Integrative Medicine Center of Riverdale and A Family Urology Practice in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. She combines biofeedback training with nutrition education and cognitive self-awareness skills to teach pain reduction, muscle relaxation and stress coping strategies to patients with insomnia, anxiety, and chronic pain – particularly headaches, neck and back pain, repetitive strain injury, fibromyalgia, interstitial cystitis and vulvodynia. Formerly a book editor, MS. Weiner collaborated on The Complete Guide to Health and Nutrition by Gary Null, PhD, and The Body Electric by Robert O. Becker, MD and Gary Seldon.

   10:45am-12:15pm – Celeste De Bease, PhD, BCIAC

   “Psychophysiological Profiling”

   Can physiological profiling help us decide on the best course of treatment? Psychophysiological profiling is a means of interpreting basic patterns of physiological reactivity/recovery and then working with these patterns to construct a coherent treatment plan.

   The workshop explores the mind-body link as it manifests itself in psychophysiological measurements which include SEMG, GSR, TEMP, and EEG. The impact of the psyche on the soma and vise versa is investigated. Correlations between psychometric data (MBHI, MMPI2, SCL90R) and psychophysiological data will be investigated.

   Workshop Objectives:

   1) Identify the correlates between psychological (psyche) and physiological (soma) patient information.

   2) Recognize certain physiological patterns in your own patients and be able to explore the implications of these patterns with respect to your treatment strategy.

   3) Obtain familiarity with the historical basis of psychophysiological/psychogenic patterns and pathologies.

   Celeste De Bease, Ph.D, BCIA, is a clinical assistant professor at Widener University’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology and director of the on-campus biofeedback clinic. She teaches a course entitled Medical Psychophysiology which prepares graduate psychology students to incorporate mind-body into their future role as healers.

   Her private practice, BioNeurofeedback Treatment Center, focuses on work in the growing sub-specialty of medical psychology. More and more, psychologists are treating people with medical conditions.

   Dr. De Bease is also chair-elect of the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America and past president of the Pennsylvania Society of Behavioral Medicine & Biofeedback of America.

   12:15-1:30pm – Buffet Luncheon is provided with paid registration

   1:30-1:45pm – Recognition of current and outgoing NRBS Board members Installation of new NRBS Board members Announcements

   1:45-2:15pm – Harry Campbell, BPS, BCIAC, NRNP

   “Overview of Biofeedback Instrumentation”

   The presentation will give a basic introduction and review of biofeedback instrumentation. EMG, Temperature, EEG/Brain wave, Skin Conductance, Heart Rate/Heart Rate Variability, Respiration, and Blood Pressure will be covered. Basic demonstrations will be provided followed by questions and answers.

   Harry Campbell is the Managing Director of Biofeedback Resources International. He has over 20 years of experience in biofeedback. Harry Campbell is a BCIA Associate Fellow who has trained staff at many military facilities, hospitals, universities, and private clinics throughout the country. He is also Past President of the NRBS.

   2:15-3:45pm – Afternoon Round Table Biofeedback Equipment Demonstrations

   Sponsored by Biofeedback Resources International and InterCure/RESPeRATE

   Fee:
   NRBS Members – FREE
   Non-members- $50
   Students $20 (Please bring student ID)

   Lunch included

   Location:
   NYPH-Weill Cornell Westchester, Staff Annex 2
   21 Bloomingdale Rd, White Plains, NY

   Registration forms are available on the website: www.nrbs.org

   May 6-7, 2006
   BIOFEEDBACK AND STRESS MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS with Elizabeth Stroebel, Ph.D, BCIAC and Harry L. Campbell, BPS, BCIAC
   Cost: $295
   Contact: Biofeedback Resources 877-669-6463 or 914-762-4646.

   PROCOMP INFINTI TRAINING – Opportunities to receive training on the new Biograph Infiniti Software and hardware in a location near you.

   PORTLAND, OR, USA
   Introduction to BioGraph Infiniti 1-Day Workshop
   April 4th, 2006 (Tuesday)

   Developer Tools Lite Workshop
   April 5th, 2006 (Wednesday)
   Event: AAPB’s 37th Annual Meeting www.aapb.org

   TAMPA, FL, USA
   Introduction to BioGraph Infiniti 1-Day Workshop
   April 21st, 2006 (Friday)

   Developer Tools Lite Workshop
   April 22nd, 2006 (Saturday)

   CHICAGO, IL
   Introduction to BioGraph Infiniti 1-Day Workshop
   Friday, May 5th, 2006

   Developer Tools 2-Day Workshop
   Saturday, May 6th & Sunday, May 7th, 2006

   BOSTON, MA
   Introduction to BioGraph Infiniti 1-Day Workshop
   Friday, May 19th, 2006

   Developer Tools Lite Workshop
   Saturday, May 20th, 2006

   ATLANTA, GA, USA
   Introduction to BioGraph Infiniti 1-Day Workshop
   June 9th, 2006 (Friday)

   Developer Tools Lite Workshop
   June 10th, 2006 (Saturday)

   DES MOINES, IA, USA
   Introduction to BioGraph Infiniti 1-Day Workshop
   June 23rd, 2006 (Friday)

   Developer Tools Lite Workshop
   June 24th, 2006 (Saturday)

   Costs:
   1-Day Workshop = $100 US
   2-Day Workshop = $195 US
   3-Day Workshop = $275 US

   Contact: Biofeedback Resources 877-669-6463 or 914-762-4646.

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