Neurofeedback

[Nishu]

Anyone familiar with this at all? Anyone used it?

[elphie]

This field has been used most to rehabilitate those with brain injuries but it has been found to be successful in other areas. We looked into this to treat ds's ADHD and we were actually impressed with the research we found but decided to go another route for various reasons. With ADHD most studies suggested that this would not eliminate a need for medication but greatly reduce it.

Basically what it does is provide positive reinforcement for using your brain in the desired manner. You are hooked up to an EEG monitor and your brain waves control the video game on the screen. When your brain waves are functioning in the desired way your player advances, when they aren't your player loses. It is designed to help you learn to regonize the signs within you (breath patterns, slowed heartrate, etc.) that match the desired outcome. When you learn to recognize these signs then you can replicate the outcome in your everyday life.

It can be expensive... for us the initial EEG was not covered by insurance, we had a high copay to see the specialist AND we were only covered for the first six visits. We had been payed for meds and homeopathic therapies without good results so we felt it would have been worth the money.

In the end we decided to homeschool and let him be himself for right now instead of trying to force him to fit the mold but this isn't the right choice for everyone. If he were going back to public school we definately would have done the neurofeedback.

[Nishu]

Thanks for the input!

The person that practices with my psychiatrist doesn't use a video game, she uses music. The music skips when your brain produces those 'unproductive' patterns, but I'm consciously not supposed to be doing anything. I also didn't get an EEG to begin with, but they took a baseline using the same equipment they use to get the brain waves.

I don't know, it all just sounds so hokey to me. I was given a referral because of my history of bpd and ppd, and the fact that I'm breastfeeding. I can't safely take any medication because I don't want to stop breastfeeding.

I'm so suspicious right now, but at this point I figure it can't hurt, right? If I'm totally blown away by the results, I'm going to take my 7 year old in. Our insurance apparently covers it and we don't need a referral for it, and since it's not medicine and it's not invasive at all I figure there's no reason not to. (If it works, that is.) She's so much like I was at that age I'm worried about her developing some of the same issues.

[elphie]

I think you should try it... as you said what can it hurt especially if your insurance is helping pay for it. I know what you mean about it sounding "hokey". I was hesitant at first but there have actually been double blind clinical trials that show this to be an effective treatment option.

If you decide to do it let me know how it goes!