BIOFEEDBACK
AND THE TREATMENT OF
MOTOR SPEECH DISORDERS
 
 

WHAT IS BIOFEEDBACK?
 

Biofeedback is a broad term used to describe many aspects of alternative therapy procedures.

 

The following definitions were proposed by professionals in the field of biofeedback.

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Biofeedback is a process that "involves making one aware of very subtle changes in physiological states in the hope of bringing those processes under conscious control". (Hassett, 1978, p. 137)

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"Biofeedback involves the use of sensitive instruments to measure, process, and indicate the ongoing activity of various body processes or conditions of which the person is usually unaware so that the patient, client, or student may have the opportunity to change and develop beneficial control over these body processes". (M.S. Schwartz & Fehmi, 1982, p.4)

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"Biofeedback is a process in which a person learns to reliably influence physiological responses of two kinds: either responses which are not under voluntary control or responses which are ordinarily or easily regulated but for which regulation has broken down due to trauma or a disease." (Blanchard & Epstein, 1978)

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WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF BIOFEEDBACK?                             

 
The field of applied biofeedback began in the United States in the late 1950’s. It is the result of a convergence of many separate disciplines. Some of the major converging fields include: psychophysiology, behavioral medicine, learning theory, stress management techniques and biomedical engineering. The term "biofeedback" began to be used in clinical setting around 1969.
 

WHAT CAN BE TREATED USING BIOFEEDBACK?                       

 
Migraines Tension Headaches

Digestive Disorders High Blood Pressure

Cardiac Arrhythmia’s Raynaud’s Disease

Epilepsy Motor Disorders

 

HOW DOES BIOFEEDBACK WORK?                                          

 
Bioelectrical Potentials Are Detected and Amplfied---------------------------------

Bioelectrical Signals Are Converted To Easily Processed Information-------------

This Information Is "Fed Back" To The Client Almost Immediately-------------

The Client Learns Voluntary Control Responses From This Feedback----------

 

WHAT IS THE PREFERRED BIOFEEDBACK METHOD FOR
MONITORING MUSCLE CONTRACTION?
 
EMG

The electromyogram (EMG) is a neurodiagnostic graphic record which detects the electrical muscle action potentials (MAP) using surface electrodes that contact the skin above the muscle.

 

HOW CAN BIOFEEDBACK BE USED IN THE TREATMENT
OF SPEECH DISORDERS?
 TREATMENT OF:

Parkinsonian Dysarthria
Hypertonia in Spastic Dysarthria
Speech Disorders Resulting From Repaired Cleft Palate
Acquired Apraxia of Speech
Fluency Disorders
Tardive Dyskinesia
Phonological Disorders 

ALSO USED FOR:

Modification of Lip Hypertonia
Reduction of Hemifacial Spasms
Elimination of Psychogenic Cough

 

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WE HOPE THIS BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO BIOFEEDBACK WILL ENCOURAGE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT’S CLINICAL VALUE TO THE SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
 
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