Epilepsy is a contraindication of the ASD training. Patients with an epilepsy diagnosis are not allowed to enroll in the Brainhero ASD therapy. The reason for this is that extensive trainings similar to a segment of the Brainhero’s ASD training (down-training) were associated with an increase in epileptiform activity in adult patients with intractable epilepsy. To make Brainhero as safe as possible, the total duration of the down-training segment of the Brainhero therapy has been kept extremely short. The training is therefore far from the duration reported to produce side effects in adult epileptic patients.

Regardless of whether they are under any therapy or not, up to 30% of children with ASD will be diagnosed with epilepsy before becoming adults. (Besag, F. M. Epilepsy in patients with autism: links, risks and treatment challenges. Neuropsy-chiatr. Dis. Treat. 14, 1–10 (2017))

Epilepsy is more likely to be diagnosed in children with autism that also suffer from severe intellectual disability. As such, both epilepsy and severe intellectual disability are contraindications of the ASD training.

Before beginning this or any other form of therapy, please consult a physician or relevant medical professional. The patient has to have a diagnosis from a licensed professional, with one of the listed disorders. We recommend that the patient stays in contact with a pediatrician, neurologist or certified neurofeedback practitioner while training with Brainhero.

List of Contraindications:

• According to ICD-11:
  
  
  • 6A02.5 Autism spectrum disorder with disorder of intellectual development and with absence of functional language
  • 6A00.2 Disorder of intellectual development, severe

• • 6A00.3 Disorder of intellectual development, profound
  • 6A00.Z Disorders of intellectual development, unspecified
  • 8A60 Epilepsy due to structural or metabolic conditions or diseases
  • 8A61 Genetic or presumed genetic syndromes primarily expressed as epilepsy
  • 8A62 Epileptic encephalopathies
  • 8A66 Status epilepticus
  • 8A67 Acute repetitive seizures
  • 8A6Y Other specified epilepsy or seizures
  • 8A6Z Epilepsy or seizures, unspecified

• According to ICD-10:

  • F72. Severe intellectual disabilities
  • F73. Profound intellectual disabilities
  • F78. Other intellectual disabilities
  • F79. Unspecified intellectual disabilities
  • G40. Epilepsy and recurrent seizures

• presence of brain tumours
• presence of any implantable medical devices or prosthesis. This includes pacemakers, intracranial electrodes, implanted defibrillators, implantable neurostimulators, deep brain stimulators, or any other prosthesis
• cranial pathologies (e.g. holes, plaques) or prosthesis. This includes cochlear implants.
• Not suitable for children under the age of 6.
• Do not use the device on skin with lesions or broken skin. 
• Use care and appropriate sanitation protocols if using the device on persons with communicable diseases including HIV.