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Post by HooDunnit on Oct 6, 2004 17:35:58 GMT -5
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Post by catatonic on Oct 6, 2004 20:38:16 GMT -5
Hey, Barry, I'm reading that exact book right now! I ordered it a while back, but got sidetracked, and picked it up again this week. I think neurofeedback shows some potential for being helpful with ADHD, and there are a number of clinical studies that have demonstrated its positive effects. Unfortunately, most of them have been conducted by centers that also sell neurofeedback services, which makes them difficult to evaluate objectively. Still, it's interesting and looks promising. Have you read the book yet?
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Post by HooDunnit on Oct 6, 2004 20:51:13 GMT -5
Hi cat. I ordered it today for a nursing office of an insurance company that is beside my bookstore. I hadn't heard of that book or approach before. I will be interested to see what you can say about it (you're so bright!) and I will look at the book when it arrives. As a bookseller, I can always digest a new book with a 30 second scan of a book of course. lol
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Post by catatonic on Oct 9, 2004 9:41:55 GMT -5
Well, I'm about 2/3 of the way done with the book, and it's extremely interesting. I have to admit, though, that I find it baffling. You basically look at your brainwave patterns on a screen (although for kids these patterns are translated into a game type format) and change the patterns to more desirable ones. Apparently this is something you learn to do experientially without really understanding how you are doing it, at least at first. That's the part I find baffling. How on earth do you learn to do this? I guess we learn a lot of new skills without really knowing how we learn them, but it sounds awfully difficult to me. According to the book, it takes about 40 half-hour sessions to become trained enough that you'll have lasting results in reducing (or eliminating) ADHD symptoms. That won't be cheap, thousands of dollars. I hope somebody who's actually tried neurofeedback can chime in, because I'd love to hear first-hand how this whole process works. I really don't know what to think yet. Maybe by the end of the book...  |
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SKay
Member Emeritus
Posts: 1,126
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Post by SKay on Oct 10, 2004 13:37:27 GMT -5
Have you seen the thread by Weskie about biofeedback (is there a difference between biofeedback and neurofeedback--maybe neurofeedback is a type of biofeedback?)? There is also a thread about Play Attention--a home version of biofeedback. I'll see if I can find these for you.
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SKay
Member Emeritus
Posts: 1,126
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Post by SKay on Oct 10, 2004 13:39:32 GMT -5
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Post by catatonic on Oct 10, 2004 20:03:51 GMT -5
So what do you think about it, Skay? Have you tried it at all? I'm hesitant because even though it can't harm you, it is terribly expensive and a major time commitment. I'm trying to find more information in the medical journals, and I'll post what I find so others can take a look too.
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SKay
Member Emeritus
Posts: 1,126
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Post by SKay on Oct 10, 2004 20:57:35 GMT -5
I haven't tried Play Attention or any other biofeedback, but I'm interested in the possibility. DS's pediatrician switched his practice in August and started a center for diagnosing and treating ADHD in children. Although I don't think they use many alternative treatments, they do use biofeedback. Fortunately, DS is doing well right now so I'm hoping we won't need anything, but I'm definitely keeping the biofeedback in mind.
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Post by weskie on Oct 31, 2004 19:54:11 GMT -5
Hi, my DS, 21, tried neuro/biofeedback last summer. He had an interview, then an EEG, then about 22 biofeedback sessions. The doctor identified "areas of the brain that were not communicating with each other". Electrodes (wrong word??) were attached to his scalp and he watched a computer screen for an hour while the proper brain waves created pictures out of jig saw puzzle pieces. He didn't have to "learn" to do it. His brain just did it. The pictures were the rewards for the proper brain waves. Unfortunately, I can't report on the success/failure of the treatment because my poor DS went back to college and had a bad reaction to Adderall (he didn't feel he could adequately concentrate with just the biofeedback) which put him in the hospital with depression and psychosis. Now he's back in college and NOT able to get his work done. He's on Risperdal, Lexapro, and Strattera. I am hoping that somewhere under all this distress, he did make some progress with the biofeedback. I have decided to put him back on a natural alternatives regimen which we followed for a long time when he was in grade school. I just went and bought all the stuff today. Pycnogenol, magnesium, GLM, EFAs, even an electrolyte powder which can be mixed up. I remember when he first started on Efalex it was amazing how he could pay attention. I figure that adding this regimen onto the pills he's on now couldn't hurt and might really help. I feel so bad for him. He started the biofeedback because he was totally sick of pills. I'm still hoping he'll be feeling better as the Adderall gets out of his system (apparently it takes a while). He's also had psychological testing and we should hear the results in a week or so. He may be bipolar. DH and I are very worried. Right now it looks like he may have to take a medical leave from college and I wonder if he will ever be able to go back. He can't take any stims now.  |
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Post by catatonic on Nov 1, 2004 9:09:51 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been a very frightening experience for you. If he is bipolar, give him plenty of Omega-3, more even than you woud for ADHD. THere is good clinical evidence that this will help reduce the severity and frequency of the depressive phase of bipolar.
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Post by weskie on Nov 1, 2004 9:40:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the advice, catatonic. I'm sending off the supplements today. He used to take 8 fish oil capsules a day when we were using it, and that's what he'll be taking when he gets the package. I'm hoping for good results! Yes, the whole thing has been very scary. He's such a good kid, he doesn't deserve so many obstacles in his life!  |
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