As a Brain-Computer Interface treatment for A.D.D., Neurofeedback may be beneficial in improving behavioral and organizational skills at home and school, handwriting, problem solving and listening skills and in increasing IQ and test scores. There’s now 40 years of research in peer reviewed journals and clinical application for Attention Deficit Disorder and Seizures; fewer years for treatment of Fibromyalgia, Sleep Disorders, Anxiety and Depression. Electrodes, placed on the scalp, measure brainwave activity. The patient is given visual and auditory feedback of brainwaves in the form of a computer video game, which advances and scores points when producing the brainwave frequencies associated with attention. The brain learns to re-regulate into that healthier synaptic pattern, creating new or enriching existing neuronal pathways. Often, medication can be lowered or completely removed.
Several school districts have begun using neurofeedback within their counseling programs teaching students to pay attention and enhance academic and athletic peak performance. The Italian soccer team that won the 2006 World Cup used Neurofeedback in training.
In the A.D.D. child’s developing brain, cells or neurons of the frontal and sensorimotor cortex, fail to take on the proper working matrix. Arousal is slower than normal and the child has difficulty integrating sensory input from the world with motor reflexes and cognitive processing. When given medications, brain cells increase in activity, but unfortunately, chemical stimulation is short lived and has side effects, which concerns many parents and which have recently been called into question by the FDA.
With Neurofeedback, most children learn to increase the efficiency of neurons naturally, facilitating stronger synapses and more brainwave activity. Learning to increase power of faster frequencies and lowering power in slower frequencies are typically the primary objectives of Neurofeedback Therapy. As with any learned task such as bicycle riding or piano playing, once these neurons begin to work properly, network together and help with the child’s behavior, test scores and attentional state, they generally will be that way throughout the life of the child and into old age.
Steven C. Kassel, MA, MFT is in private practice in Newhall as a Marriage and Family Therapist and is certified in both Biofeedback and Neurofeedback. He has been practicing in the Santa Clarita Valley since 1985 and is past-president of the Biofeedback Society of California.
For more information, please e-mail s@kassel.us or visit his website at www.kassel.us .