Neurofeedback

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, “ADHD affects about 4.1% of American adults age 18 years and older in a given year. The disorder affects 9.0% of American children age 13 to 18 years. Boys are four times at greater risk than girls.”

From that same source the following information on stimulant medication use; “During the 1990s, stimulant prescription use increased significantly, going from a prevalence rate among youth of 0.6 percent in 1987 to 2.7 percent in 1997, with the rate stabilizing around 2.9 percent in 2002. Recent reports, however, suggest that the prescribed use of these medications and the diagnosis of ADHD have continued to rise” (www.nimh.nih.gov).

Neurofeedback has been shown to effectively address ADHD symptoms and is potentially an excellent way to avoid using medication. Many studies, including a 2009 meta-analysis of thousands of neurofeedback patients showed neurofeedback provided excellent results for ADHD (Clinical EEG & Neuroscience Journal). That same study cited others which reported neurofeedback results are usually stable even two years’ post treatment. In addition, Practice Wise (the company that maintains the American Academy of Pediatrics ranking of research support for child and adolescent psychosocial treatments) rates biofeedback as a “Best Support” treatment for ADHD. This is the highest ranking that can be achieved for an intervention for a specific condition such as ADHD. Although results vary by participant, it is clear that neurofeedback can play a role in treating ADHD symptoms.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can actually be beneficial in some situations. For some people, however, anxiety can become excessive. The person experiencing excessive anxiety can quickly develop difficulties managing it and it can affect daily living in significant ways. There are a variety of anxiety-related conditions that can result, including Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Panic Attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, to name a few.

Scientists are making great progress in understanding how the functioning of the brain can cause feelings of being anxious. Several parts of the brain are key actors in the production of fear and anxiety. By learning more about how the brain creates fear and anxiety, we are able to devise better treatments for anxiety disorders and excessive stress. In the field of neurofeedback, we closely examine a type of brain wave called “high beta” to understand the level of hyper arousal or anxiety in the brain. Excessive and dysregulated high beta brain waves typically reflect a brain that is “parked” in an anxious state. Neurofeedback can help correct this.

Unfortunately, the use of psychotropic medications as a primary treatment for anxiety has soared in the past decade, especially for women. Neurofeedback has been shown to effectively address anxiety symptoms and is potentially an excellent way to avoid using medications (Hammond, 2005). Biofeedback and Neurofeedback together help the participant calm anxious brain wave activity, settle down an overly excited central nervous system, and program a different response to stress.

In January 2014, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released an article on their website labeling insufficient sleep a “public health epidemic.” Time Magazine reported in April 2012 that nearly 40 million working adults (about 1/3 of all working Americans) have sleep related problems. Americans currently spend 32 billion dollars a year buying devices and medicine to treat this problem.

Insufficient sleep is linked to many public hazards including events such as vehicle motor crashes and occupational-related accidents. Individuals who sleep poorly are subject to health hazards such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Studies have linked poor sleep with an increased mortality rate and overall dissatisfaction with life. Children with poor sleep patterns can demonstrate poor academic progress, emotional/behavioral difficulties, and can sometimes be misdiagnosed with conditions such as ADHD and Mood Disorders.

Dysregulated brain wave patterns are often a cause of poor sleep, resulting in issues with onset insomnia (difficulties in getting to sleep), intermittent insomnia (periodic waking during the night), and terminal insomnia (early morning awakening). Neurofeedback can help correct dysregulated brain wave patterns and restore healthy sleep.

The positive impact of neurofeedback on sleep patterns has been documented since the 1970’s. Although results vary by neurofeedback participant, improved sleep is typically one of the first improvements observed with all neurofeedback participants, and can occur early in the training process.

In 2011, a landmark study was published in the Clinical Neuroscience and EEG Journal regarding the use of EEG biofeedback for migraine headaches (Walker, 2011). This 71 patient study reviewed the impact of migraine headaches on those who suffer from them, which included the following: 28 million Americans suffer from migraines including 18% of all women and 6% of all men. Only 29% of those suffering from migraines are very satisfied with their current treatment. More than 1/3 reported the treatment they received was associated with too many side effects.

Fortunately, EEG biofeedback was found to have a significant impact on the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches. For those who used neurofeedback, the majority (54%) experienced complete cessation of their migraine headaches, and many others (39%) experienced a reduction in migraine frequency of greater than 50%. As such, it strongly appears that neurofeedback can have a significant effect in abating or stopping migraine headache frequency in patients who struggle with this condition.

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, a Learning Disorder is a neurological condition that affects the brain’s ability to receive, process, store and respond to information. The impact of Learning Disorders varies with each individual child, adolescent and adult. Children and adults can also experience learning difficulties that do not meet the criteria for a Learning Disorder, but do significantly impact the ability to perform to one’s fullest potential.

Neurofeedback can effectively address Learning Disorder symptoms as well as improve overall academic performance. Numerous studies performed over the past 20- 30 years show an increase in overall cognitive and academic performance by those who complete neurofeedback training (Boyd & Campbell, 1988, Orlando & Rivera, 2004, and Vernon, et. al, 2003). Although everyone’s response to neurofeedback will vary, it is clear that neurofeedback can be utilized successfully with those who struggle academically.