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Retrain the Brain: A Promising Treatment for Kids with ADHD



Health & Wellness

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The ADHD Condition

ADHD has become one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions among schoolchildren today.  A child may have trouble paying attention, remaining still, or he/she may experience both sets of challenges. 

Teachers are trained to notice this in their students, convey their impressions to concerned parents and often urge a consult with a physician in the hopes of receiving that diagnosis and the subsequent trials of medication. 

Parents are often puzzled, as well, by a child’s apparent inability to focus on everyday things like doing homework, remembering to bring assignments home or carrying out simple tasks without frequent reminders. 

General Diagnosis and Treatment

The diagnosis of ADHD, while often accompanied by paper-and-pencil assessments conducted by teachers and/or parents frequently rests on a simple test; if the prescribed medication reduces hyperactivity and improves attention, then the child has ADHD. 

Medication for this condition provides symptomatic relief, but does nothing to change the actual functioning of the brain - remove the medication and the condition returns.  There is research indicating that treatment of ADHD with medication is no better than no treatment after three years of treatment.

A Different Approach

Parents looking for another approach will be happy to know that Neurofeedback offers an effective alternative.  While many people may not have not heard about Neurofeedback, it has been available as a treatment protocol for ADHD since the 1970’s.

The basic thinking about ADHD from a Neurofeedback perspective is quite simple: if the neurons are firing too slowly, that is, the brain is under-aroused, then let’s find a way to lessen the impact of those neurons and increase the availability of the frequency used to pay attention.  Simple and effective.

Our Board Certified experts on Neurofeedback treatment, Dan Meyer, PhD, BCB-N, and his business partner Barbara L. Monaco, LCSW-R BCN of The Hudson Valley Center for Neurofeedback, located in Poughkeepsie, NY provide both Neurofeedback assessment and Neurofeedback treatment for ADHD.

What is Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback, a method that retrains the brain has been found to be helpful for a wide range of conditions including ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Traumatic Brain Injury, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sleep issues and problems with Peak Performance.

Dr. Dan and Barbara begin with a recording of the electrical activity of the brain, submit that information to a database for comparison with a normative sample, and then receive a product called a brain map. The brain map indicates those areas that are firing too slowly and firing insufficiently to promote attention.

A treatment protocol is then designed specifically for the patient to regulate the firing patterns of the neurons back to the norm.  With repeated treatments, these firing patterns regulate and the child with ADHD becomes more attentive, less hyperactive and more compliant to everyday expectations.

Roberto: A Case History

Roberto was an 11-year-old boy who had been treated for ADHD for five years with medication when he came to the Center. His parents had seen little change over that time, and were discouraged. His grades were barely acceptable, and the complaints from his teachers seemed to be never ending. He was generally unhappy with his day to day life. 

Following his assessment, known as a QEEG, they developed several treatment protocols which were applied over time. Within a fairly short period, his brain began to show the proper firing patterns. As this improved, his grades improved, and his medications were dramatically reduced. A follow up one year later revealed continued progress both in school and in his social life. 

Visit HVCNF.COM for additional information including a video.  Or call the Center at (845) 473-4939 to set up an appointment for a free informational consultation.