Neurofeedback: An Effective Therapy for ADD, ADHD and Anxiety
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eurofeedback is an important tool for any integrative psychological treatment
program. It is especially helpful for children on the autism spectrum, and those who have been diagnosed with ADD, ADHD or anxiety. Neurofeedback helps balance children (and adults) without drugs. It helps them focus, change behavior, and calm anxiety. As a functional-integrative pediatric clinic, it is always our goal to effectively treat the root cause of illness in the least invasive way possible. Neurofeedback is one tool we recommend that fi ts these criteria.
What is Neurofeedback? Neurofeedback is a science that goes back 40 years. It is a form of biofeedback. You’re probably already familiar with biofeedback. A thermometer and an EKG machine measure biofeedback (your body’s temperature and heart rate). The gadgets you wear to the gym to measure your “zone” and to bed to measure the quality of your sleep are biofeedback instruments.
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Neurofeedback, formerly called
“brainwave biofeedback”, measures brain waves. Why is this important? After years of study, we know that the brain operates between certain frequencies when sleeping, concentrating, and while under stress. The brain has neurons that create impulses which can be picked up by an EEG machine. An EEG (an electroencephalogram) is like an EKG for the brain and measures brain waves. It can tell us whether a person’s brain is exhibiting the appropriate frequencies. This is a simplifi cation of all the data we can gather about the brain using an EEG. There are about 256 variables that can be measured at about 19 sites in the brain—that’s a lot of brain data! If brain frequencies in certain areas in the brain are chronically too high or too low, this inhibits or over-activates parts of the brain, causing brain wave patterns that we associate with the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and ADD/ADHD.
Does Neurofeedback Work? Short answer: Yes! Neurofeedback
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therapy is a way to retrain the brain to function in an appropriate way and do its job correctly. This is how it works: A neurofeedback technician places sensors on the patient’s scalp. These sensors amplify brain waves and communicate through wires to a computer with a program that interprets the brain wave data. The patient sits in a chair and watches a movie on a computer screen. When the brain exhibits the correct frequencies (those associated with focus and attention) the screen brightens. This is, in effect, rewarding the brain for operating at the correct frequencies. If focus and concentration is lost, indicated by other brain wave patterns, the screen dims, prompting the brain to shift back into the proper frequency so that the person can continue to enjoy the movie. Now you may be wondering: Does the person consciously shift her brain frequency? No. Your brain processes about 400 billion bits of information per second. Most of this goes on subconsciously. You don’t have to be aware of processes that oxygenate your blood or release hormones. Your brain instantly self-corrects every second of your life. Your brain is constantly signaling electrochemically through neurotransmitters to carry on the business of keeping your body alive and functioning. This is why neurofeedback can train the brain to respond properly—it speaks to the brain in its own language.
Neurofeedback Therapy
Programs Neurofeedback therapy is the process of putting together a program for an individual in order to correct his or her specifi c brain frequency ineffi ciencies. A brain map is created, which is a sort of roadmap indicating the under- and over-activated parts of the brain. A program is then created to correct the brain waves for the individual, thus alleviating his or her symptoms. The purpose of this is to improve or stop the ineffi ciencies, thereby diminishing or clearing the symptoms of ADD, anxiety and other neurological disorders. Neurofeedback reviews have been very positive. Clinical fi ndings have reported a
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