EEG: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD / ADHD)
Links: ADD & ADHD Case Studies / Technical Papers ADD/ADHD Testing (Diagnosing)
What is ADD / ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -- also referred to ADD or ADHD -- is a biological, brain based condition that is characterized by poor attention and distractibility and/or hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. It is one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. Symptoms can continue into adolescence and adulthood. If left untreated, ADHD can lead to poor school/work performance, poor social relationships and a general feeling of low self esteem. It is estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of preschool and school age children have ADHD or approximately two million children in the United States.
What is the difference between ADD & ADHD?
Wondering about the differences between ADD and ADHD? ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder is a general term frequently used to describe individuals that have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder without the hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. The terms are often used interchangeably for both those who do and those who do not have symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Diagnosing ADD / ADHD...
ADD and ADHD as defined is a behavioral condition that generally starts in childhood and often continues into adulthood. It can affect a person in a number of different ways; yet will usually have an influence over a person's social interactions, relationships, self-esteem, and even overall lifestyle.
I would caution you not to be too quick to adopt or accept an ADD or ADHD classification without the proper medical diagnosis. There have been several cases inwhich individuals have been improperly labeled with ADD or ADHD which in fact was nothing more than an unidentified learning disability (LDs), alcohol or drug problems in the home, or simply reacting to an unhealthy environment. For this very reason, unless properly diangosed, the Neurofeedback Wellness Center takes time to test individuals using an objective and subjective approach.
All of our testing is conducted by
Dr. John Garlock who has been performing Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder evaluations for over twenty years. He has evaluated individuals of all ages starting from 5 to 60 years old. Dr. John Garlock has a Doctoral degree in Psychology and has been evaluating individuals for all types of psychological conditions while working in public schools, business, in psychiatric facilities, and in his own private practice. To set up an appointment to be tested with Dr. John Garlock you can give him a call at
281-444-2678 or at our office at
281-787-8999. To learn more about Dr. John Garlock's and his services, you can visit him on the web at
A New Day Now website.
How do you treat an individual with ADD or ADHD?
There are three approaches to treating ADD and/or ADHD which are currently in use.
1. The most common of these is pharmacological and medications.
2. The second is social-behavioral and employs behavior modification and cognitive-behavioral therapies as well as self-management and skills training.
3. The third is neuroregulatory and utilizes computerized instrumentation, training, and coaching to regulate brain function through
neurofeedback; it is also known as neurotherapy or EEG-biofeedback.
The Neurofeedback Wellness Center offers Neurofeedback as its primary means to assist our clients to a drug-free, non-invasive path to self-regulation.
What is the most common used Medication with ADD / ADHD?:
The most commonly-employed method of treating ADHD is for a physician to prescribe a stimulant, such as methylphenidate (better known by the trade name of Ritalin), which is intended to rectify chemical deficiencies or imbalances of the brain. These stimulants address themselves to reducing symptoms and impairments in the child without causing
too many disturbing side effects from the medication. A number of patients do tolerate these medications well, but others experience troubling and uncomfortable side effects to varying degrees. Some (the proportion is not well-documented) experience intolerable side effects. Presently there is no reliable method of predicting which individuals will react negatively to medication. The effects of long-term medication on growth and development are under study, but results will take some years to acquire.
Of course, with any medication there is always some risk of side effects. Unfortunately, if medication is discontinued, symptoms often return. And it is important to remember that medication does not "cure" ADD or ADHD; it merely helps to manage it.
How does Behavior Modivation work?
Traditional behavior modification approaches are external. They study the behavior in which the child engages and the results of this behavior, then arrange changes in the child's external environment to bring about desired behavior changes. Currently, however, many psychologists also use cognitive-behavioral techniques, which involve the child in bringing about changes in his/her "internal" environment. Using this approach, the psychologist works one-on-one with the child, teaching self-management techniques, having the child change his/her present ways of thinking, teaching relaxation techniques, and rehearsing and practicing organizational, social, and study skills. This method requires hard work on the part of the professional and patient.
To bring about change in behavior, it is not sufficient-as is often thought-for a child to simply understand what has to be done. Instead, a great deal of practice and rehearsal are required, attractive rewards must be established, and consequences must follow for not following through with the desired behaviors. These methods are useful, help many, and avoid the side effects often associated with medication. While medication brings about short-term alleviation of symptoms, the goal of behavioral and cognitive-behavioral techniques is to reduce the behavioral impairments associated with ADHD/ADD, without directly addressing the underlying biology. Psychologists, in contrast with most physicians, are trained and skilled in the use of behavioral and cognitive-behavioral methods in the treatment of ADD and ADHD.
But with traditional behavior modification, improvement is maintained only so long as the treatment procedures remain in place. Once the rewards, punishments, and cues maintaining a child's behavior are discontinued, the old behaviors return. However, where cognitive techniques (restructuring of thinking, self-talk, positive self-attributions and affirmations) are added to the behavior modification techniques, longer-term improvements can be brought about.
What is Neuroregulation?
The third and final approach seeks to change the internal functional state of the organism, and in so doing to bring about behavioral change. This method of treating ADHD children is called
neurofeedback, neurotherapy, or EEG-biofeedback; the names are interchangeable. EEG-biofeedback demands serious commitment on the part of both the professional and the clients. It usually, but not always, requires about two-three sessions per week for a total of 30-40 sessions or even more. Some professionals offer more intensive interventions, especially for those children who seek the services but live in distant regions. EEG-biofeedback is safe, Drug-Free, Non-Invasive, long lasting, and does not result in adverse or negative side effects. Sometimes results are achieved where other methods have been unsuccessful.
One downside of Neurofeedback, is that not every health insurance company will cover Neruofeedback training. Only in rare instances will health insurance companies reimburse for neurofeedback or neurotherapy treatment. Medication-based treatments are most preferred (not most effective) by health insurance companies since it quick, and requires less man hours to impliment. In fact, many insurance companies do not even pay for medication.
Ever-growing numbers of parents, however, are not deterred by an impediment of out-of-pocket costs for neurofeedback treatment, especially when they learn of and personally see the results obtained in children when a full course of treatment has been completed. Although the treatment period may be fairly lengthy, most children who complete the full program obtain long-term or permanent improvement, making it possible to discontinue neurofeedback once the desired results are obtained. Neurofeedback also appears to facilitate the development of relatively stable healthy brain function, and there are no documented adverse side effects from it.
It must be restated, however, that for a number of patients, more than one approach to ADHD or ADD may be required. A partial explanation for this is that, although neurofeedback does address the underlying biology, changing already learned and ingrained behaviors requires instruction and practice. In addition, use of medication-at least on a temporary basis-can in some cases facilitate the neurotherapy treatment. No single "magic bullet" or pill for ADHD presently exists.
Case Studies
•
David: a 13-year-old ADHD boy in a dysfunctional family
•
Paige: a 15-year-old ADHD girl, inattentive subtype
•
KW: ADHD, 9yM with stammering
•
SH: ADHD, Oppositional, 9yM
Technical Papers
Efficacy
of SMR-Beta Neurofeedback on Attentional Processes
David A. Kaiser & Siegfried Othmer November 1997
EEG
Biofeedback Training for Attention Deficit Disorder, Specific Learning Disabilities,
and Associated Conduct Problems
Siegfried Othmer, Susan F. Othmer, & Clifford S. Marks September 1991
EEG
Biofeedback Training for Attention Deficit Disorder: A Review of Recent
Controlled Studies and Clinical Findings
Siegfried Othmer, Ph.D., David Kaiser, Ph.D.,
and Susan F. Othmer, B.A. June, 1995
EEG
Biofeedback for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Siegfried Othmer, Ph.D., and Susan F. Othmer, B.A. October, 1992
Evaluation
and Remediation of Attentional Deficits
Susan F. Othmer and Siegfried Othmer, Ph.D.December, 1992
EEG
Biofeedback Training for Hyperactivity, Attention Deficit Disorder, Specific
Learning Disabilities, and Other Disorders
Siegfried Othmer, Ph.D., and Susan F. Othmer March, 1989
ADD/ADHD Source(s):
EEGSpectrum.com /
About.com
