Many children struggle withchallenges such as difficulties with attention, impulsivity, mood regulation, anxiety, development, and learning. Sometimes medications don’t work, side effects are problematic, or parents prefer non pharmacological approaches to treatment. Neurofeedbackin our clinic is part of an integrated approach to the treatment of such challenges. Neurofeedback, also known as EEG biofeedback, directly trains brain function by providing the user with real-time feedback on brainwave activity through a specially constructed program with video games and movies. This way the brain is trained to function more efficiently and self-regulation improves, through the more optimal function of the nervous system.
 
Typically, children and adolescents enjoy the experience of going through the feedback treatment. Often we see indications of improvement in self regulationwithin 1 or 2 sessions. Improvements deepen, broaden,and become more constant as sessions continue. We closely follow a child’s progress through a .weekly parent symptom checklist.

What You Can Expect

In some cases, parents come in initially to learn what neurofeedback is all about, and may have a brief neurofeedback session to experience neurofeedback firsthand. Other families prefer to start treatment immediately, and after an introduction to neurofeedback in terms understandable to the child, an initial brief session takes place.

In the second session a computerized test of attention is administered as a baseline measure, and parents fill out a symptom checklist to help identify specific treatment goals, followed by an additional relatively brief neurofeedback treatment session.

The length of actual treatment time is increased over sessions. The first session’s neurofeedback time is usually 20 minutes. The second session is usually 25-30 minutes. For the next few sessions treatment time is held at 30 minutes. Once it is clear that progress is being made, the actual neurofeedback time increases to 40-50 minutes per session.

Neurofeedback sessions typically occur on a once a week basis. Parents are usually consulted at the beginning of each session as to their observations of the effect of the neurofeedback session over the last week. This consultation may include filling in a symptom checklist on a weekly basis, or the parent giving a narrative description of what they have seen over the week. Changes in the treatment protocol are made based on parental reports.

Benefits

Changes that occur vary from person to person depending on the individual’s symptoms

The following improvements have been noted with neurofeedback:

  • Improved sleep.
  • Extremes in mood even out.
  • Reduced irritability and explosiveness.
  • Less distracted.
  • Becoming more goal-oriented and motivated.
  • Feelings of depression and anxiety are resolved.
  • Impulsivity is reduced.
  • Children become more redirectable and more in sync with the family

Frequently Asked Questions

Neurofeedback Center Professional Team

Dan Dinsmoor, Ph.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Dinsmoor received his B.A. in psychology from Oberlin College, and his Ph. D. from the American University in Washington D.C. During the early 70s, Dr. Dinsmoor created an outpatient program for young autistic children at the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents in...
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