As September heralds the start of autumn, rife with apples, pumpkins and crunchy leaves, it also brings the fresh start of the school year with new sneakers, haircuts and full packs of crayons.
Oh, and home work.
Parents are suddenly reminded of all the last year’s angst; home work sessions filled with tears, cajoling to finish just one more page. Children taking endless snack, juice, and bathroom breaks.
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Wouldn’t it be nice if parents had a magic wand to make this time of day easier, and in fact any other time of day easier, for our dear little ones? It turns out that science, not magic, may provide some help. I spoke with my colleague, Dr. Susan Repetto, PhD., a psychologist employing groundbreaking treatment for her patients.
As the parent of twin boys diagnosed with ADHD, Dr. Repetto was looking for that magic wand. “Many teachers and school staff encouraged me to put the boys on medication, which I was open to, but I was also interested in other ways to help my children with organizational skills and maintaining focus. “ Dr. Repetto continues; “My extensive research on non-pharmacological treatments for ADHD led me to neurofeedback, a subset of biofeedback. I was quite apprehensive at first as it sounded a little too good to be true. Further research led me to discover that neurofeedback is now recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a level 1 or “best support” treatment option for ADHD. So now I had the task of figuring out what exactly neurofeedback is and what it is supposed to do.”
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Neurofeedback is in essence, brain training. It trains children to become more aware of their physiological responses and to gain better control of the frontal lobe, which is the command center of the brain for executive functioning. This is the part of the brain responsible for time management, organizational skills, short term memory recall, planning and execution of tasks. Neurofeedback restores the strength of the frontal region of the brain building a better connection between the mid brain and the forebrain. This enhanced bridge allows focus, attention, impulses and emotional reactions to become more manageable.
Like muscle memory elsewhere in the body, the brain is able to remember these enhanced pathways and replicate what is learned in the neurofeedback sessions producing lasting results. Neurofeedback uses electroencephalography or EEG technology to monitor brain wave activity. By recording electrical activity within the cells of the scalp, EEG neurofeedback focuses on brain activity to give moment to moment information. This information is then interpreted to determine which brain waves are functioning in an optimal way and which need to be retrained.
Studies have shown that children with ADHD have higher rates of EEG abnormalities compared to children without ADHD, such as higher theta wave rhythms, sensorimotor rhythms and lower beta waves. This results in drowsiness, poor movement control, decreased attention and dysfunctional memory processing. With the help of a video game program, children learn to maintain low activity of the delta waves and to increase activity in beta waves, which in turn increases focus and attention. This brain exercise is done in thirty minute intervals over ten to twenty sessions, depending in severity of symptoms.
Further research into neurofeedback indicates that it is helpful not just for children but for individuals of any age. In addition, the benefits of neurofeedback are limited to ADHD but can have positive effects on a wide variety of diagnoses, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, PTSD, eating disorders, chronic pain and substance abuse. Neurofeedback should only be done by a trained mental health professional on FDA approved equipment.
In light of her research, Dr. Repetto initiated treatment for not only her children but underwent extensive training to afford her patients the same treatment. She states, “As a parent, this noninvasive, pain free treatment for ADHD is a truly exciting option as an alternative to medication. Who knew video games could actually make children smarter? As a psychologist with the ability to bring this benefit to others I thought, Sign me up!”
Dr. Genovese is President and Medical Director at Long Island Mind and Body in Garden City, New York. For more information about neurofeedback or other treatment options please call (516)747-1470 or visit www.limindbody.com
