The Brain Balance Program in Review:A Critique Through Sperry’s Eyes

Carrie LeschakPSY 405

Spring 2013

Photo courtesy of nap.edu

What is the Brain Balance Program?• “Neurobehavioral/developmental disorders”

• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)• Autism/autism spectrum disorders• Asperger’s syndrome• Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD)• Dyslexia/processing disorders• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)• Tourette syndrome• Nonverbal learning disability

• Functional Disconnect Syndrome (FDS)

FDS• “An imbalance in the connections and function between and within the hemispheres (sides) of your child’s brain”

Problem #1—Speculation

•Melillo says neurobehavioral disorders can all be “accurately grouped” into the category of Functional Disconnection Syndrome

•Mere speculation

Problem #2—Miracle Cure• Melillo calls Brain Balance a cure rather than a treatment

• Claims that symptoms “disappear” because of Brain Balance

• Cost• Claims to be a panacea• No scientific evidence (a separate problem in itself)

Problem #3—Lack of External Verification•One of the most problematic issues about Brain Balance

•Completely theoretical at this point in time•No evidence

• Website offers one pilot study• List of references on the site are unscientific, dead-links, or referencing works written by the founder of Brain Balance himself

Problem #4—Lack of Primary Sources• Melillo’s book, Disconnected Kids provides countless statements about the science, the statistics surrounding certain diagnoses, previous findings…yet he never mentions anything directly

• Uses generic labels: • “Researchers now know”• “Scientists are now finding”• “They say that”• “It’s been found that”

Problem #5—Oversimplification• Sperry recognized that the brain was made up of two independently functioning halves

• People have manifested this idea into a cut and dry list of abilities for both sides of the brain, and although there is evidence for localization of function, multiple areas of the brain are often part of a single function

Sperry’s Biggest Complaints•Lack of external verification

•Lack of primary sources

•Oversimplification

Sperry’s final say on the program:

• Further research needed to support findings

• Primary sources are needed to validate statements made in the text

• Sperry’s presumed critique turned out overwhelmingly negative