Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) used to be either known as ADD (Attention deficit Disorder or Hyperactivity.
The definition has now been changed to ADHD – Inattentive Type or ADHD- Hyperactive/Impulsive Type.
According to the National Institute of Health, ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood.
Children with hyperactivity may:
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Fidget and squirm in their seats
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Talk nonstop
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Dash around, touching or playing with anything and everything in sight
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Have trouble sitting still during dinner, school, and story time
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Be constantly in motion
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Have difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities
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Children with impulsivity may:
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Be very impatient
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Blurt out inappropriate comments, show their emotions without restraint, and act without regard for consequences
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Have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting their turns in games
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Often interrupt conversations or others’ activities
Children with inattention may:
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Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, and frequently switch from one activity to another
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Have difficulty focusing on one thing
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Become bored with a task after only a few minutes, unless they are doing something enjoyable
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Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing and completing a task or learning something new
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Have trouble completing or turning in homework assignments, often losing things (pencils, toys, assignments) needed to complete tasks or activities
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Not seem to listen when spoken to
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Daydream, become easily confused, and move slowly
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Have difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others
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Struggle to follow instructions
What does ADHD do to the brain?
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For a child who struggles with ADHD, the act of concentrating, for instance, makes the child more distracted and less likely to complete a task. They are simply not able to concentrate not because they don’t want to but because they can’t. This is due to an imbalance of neuron firing in their brain that is either too slow or too fast or a combination of both. This imbalance interferes with issues that include: focusing, concentrating, processing information, motivation/organization and control over behavior. For example, if I have too many slow neurons in my brain, that resemble getting ready for sleep, at a time when I need to be focusing and concentrating, what do I do? I might stare out the window, or I might talk, get up out of my seat, talk when I’m supposed to be quiet and be a general distraction in order for my brain to feel more awake.
How can Neurofeedback help?
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Neurofeedback can actually wake my brain up? Neurofeedback attacks the problem on a neural level. Through a brain mapping and in-depth evaluation we are able to see where the neuron firing imbalance is; and then train the brain to be more alert and awake so that when it’s time to focus and concentrate the child is able to without getting frustrated or punished for misconduct. Because the brain is learning a new firing pattern, this process may take some time and requires repetition. Our office will set up a treatment plan with you for the frequency of sessions at the initial intake and beginning sessions.
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Information from:
http://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/neurofeedback#SideEffects3