NEUROFEEDBACK

WHAT IS NEUROFEEDBACK TRAINING?
Neurofeedback helps people change their brain waves. When information about a person’s own brain wave patterns are made available, he/she can change them with neurofeedback training. Think of it as exercise for the brain or retraining the way the brain organizes itself.
It has been observed that if the brain is not well trained, people may experience problems with learning, moods, sleep, and behavior. With neurofeedback training, these problems are gradually brought under control. The training has also shown itself to be effective with pain management.

HOW IS IT DONE?
Your initial session includes a discussion of symptoms, health history, and family history. Some testing may be done, as well as an initial recording and assessment of the brain waves also known as a brain map or QEEG. This initial intake takes between two to three hours. Subsequent training sessions last 45-60 minutes, and are held three to five times a week. Changes in symptoms generally begin to occur within 10 sessions. Once learning is consolidated (between 20-40 sessions) benefits, in most cases, appear to be permanent.
Neurofeedback training is a painless, non-invasive procedure (nothing is “done to you.”) One or more sensors are placed on your scalp and one on each ear. These sensors record your brain wave frequencies which are displayed on a computer screen (no electricity goes into the brain). Your recorded brain waves are displayed to you by means of a video game or other video display, along with audio signals. As your brain wave activity in the desirable frequency band increases, you score higher points and the video game moves faster. As your brain wave activity in the adverse band increases, you stop scoring points and the video game slows down or stops. Gradually, your brain learns new brain wave patterns. In this way, you learn how to change your brain wave patterns by focusing your attention on the video game while your body stays relaxed.

WHY DOES NEUROFEEDBACK WORK?
The brain is amazingly adaptable and capable of learning. The brain can learn to improve its own performance if it is given cues about what to change. By making information available to the brain about how it is functioning, it can make adjustments to improve functioning. When the brain is doing a good job regulating itself, and the person is alert and attentive, brain waves (EEG) show a particular pattern. We challenge the person to maintain this “high-performance,” alert and attentive state. Gradually, after 20 or more training sessions, the brain learns to remain alert for longer periods and to retain these new skills.

HOW LONG DOES THE TRAINING NORMALLY TAKE?
Results from neurofeedback training are seen gradually over time. For most conditions, initial progress can be seen within about 10 sessions. Entire treatment programs take from 20 to 60 sessions, depending upon the condition being addressed. Plan on 45 to 50 minutes for Beta training and 60 minutes for Alpha/Theta training.

HOW FREQUENT SHOULD THE TRAINING SESSIONS BE?
In the initial stages of learning, the sessions should be regular and frequent at two, three, or even more sessions per week. Daily sessions can be beneficial as well. As learning begins to consolidate, the pace can be reduced.

IS NEUROFEEDBACK COVERED BY INSURANCE?
Many medical and psychological insurance plans now cover neurofeedback for various conditions. Some require co-payments. Other plans have annual caps. A referral for the training, along with a diagnosis, may be required from a physician under the medical part of the plan. Check with your insurance carrier.

CAN A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME BE PREDICTED?
It is not possible to predict with certainty that training will be successful for a particular condition. But for more common conditions, a reasonable prediction of outcomes is usually possible. More importantly, the effectiveness of training can usually be assessed early in the course of training. For most conditions there are no known adverse side effects of the training when conducted under professional guidance.

DOES THE TRAINING CHANGE PERSONALITY?
No. Neurofeedback training does not change underlying personality. However, once adverse behavior problems, such as hyperactivity are remediated, the intrinsic personality will be more in evidence. For example, in the beginning it may be difficult to dissociate irritability, hot-headedness, or cruelty from a child’s personality. After that behavior disappears, however, it is easy to believe that it was never a part of the child’s intrinsic personality.

WHO WOULD USE NEUROFEEDBACK?
Neurofeedback is currently being used for AD/HD, Addictions, Anxiety, Depression, PMS, Pain Management, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Peak Performance, Stoke, Closed Head Injury, Autism, Learning Disabilities and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.