Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of MNRI Reflex Neuromodulation on Children Diagnosed with Autism Based on Reflex Assessments, QEEG Analysis and ATEC Questionnaire

Introduction: The hypotheses of neurodevelopmental causes of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are still to be discovered. Recent studies show some reasons to include abnormalities in the development of the brain and central nervous system. The MNRI-Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Neuromodulation Program uses the concept of rehabilitation of early sensory-motor reflex patterns, or units of the nervous system, to optimize the brain development of children with ASD and also with other neurological disorders. Objective: The children were evaluated for A) reflex patterns, B) brain maps and C) social-behavioral-cognitive traits (6-11 year-old children [n=30]). Methods: Evaluation methods of A) MNRI Reflex Integration Assessment, B) QEEG Quantitative Analysis, and C) the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) questionnaire for parents/guardians filled out prior to and after the MNRI training program used at intensive 8-day Family Conferences. Results: All three evaluation methods showed substantial positive changes in children with ASD in several important developmental areas after MNRI treatment, particularly in: 1. MNRI Reflex Assessment: Remarkable progress in 33.33%/10 out of 30 patterns took place on a statistical significance level (p>0.01), and in 36.67%/11 close to statistical significance, which is supported by qualitative analyses. This study shows that the neurodevelopment and overall functioning of individuals with neurodeficits such as Cerebral Palsy (CP) is not static in pathologies and could be successfully improved with the MNRI form of neuromodulation treatment. 2. Brain Wave spectrum: 76.67% (out of 30) children displayed a reorganization of spontaneous brain electrical activity observed in the increase in alpha frequency range and decrease in fast beta activity in parietal and temporal locations. This may be connected with the positive and stable therapeutic effect of the MNRI method on motor disorders originating in the central nervous system. 3. The ATEC test demonstrated changes in the following life skills: 1) Speech, language and communication-changes are noted in 31% of children (statistically significant level), of 31%-close to statistical significance; 2) Socialization-changes are noted in 48% of children (statistically significant level), of 22%-close to statistical significance. 3) Sensory Sensation and Cognitive Awareness-changes are noted in 38% of participants (statistically significant level), of 16%-close to statistical significance. 4) Health, Physical, Behavior -Sensory Sensation and Cognitive Awareness-changes are noted in 59% of participants (statistically significant level), of 10%-close to statistical significance. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the normalization effect of the MNRI Program on: a) development of reflex patterns b) brain wave spectrum (QEEG), both resulted in c) improvement of most challenging areas of life and learning of children with ASD-speech and communication, socialization, sensory and cognitive awareness, physical health and behavioral-emotional regulation proving the value of the MNRI restorative concept for dysfunctional reflex circuits. Significance of Results: The results of this study demonstrates that's the neuromodulating and normalizing effect on neurodevelopment of individuals with ASD-corrective and preventive-can be enhanced with this unique novel form of MNRI neuromodulation treatment targeting the paving and rerouting nerve pathways to bring them into a state of proper neurophysiological functioning to improve the excitation-inhibition processes of the nervous system, increasing the stress resilience and neuroplasticity.