Healing Young Brains
Now we have a really exciting story to tell you. It is a story of heartbreak and hope, of people devastated by a multitude of disorders finding happiness and success, a story of brave and dedicated professionals swimming against the tide of conventional wisdom.
In this book, we address the basics of neurofeedback and approach a wide variety of disorders being treated with this non-pharmaceutical training program. Autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and emotional disorders are discussed in many different contexts. Practically everyone in America has heard of most of these childhood disorders and they are often the topic of conversation among concerned moms and dads. What most people know about these disorders, however, they learned from ninety-second TV reports and hearsay. There are even professionals who know only a minimal amount of scientific information about many of these disorders. It is not that they are disinterested or uncaring, but there is a whole different body of literature about each disorder, and with everything else they have to know, it gets overwhelming. For many very busy physicians, the SIMPLE solution is to place the child on a medication that is reported to help. For example, Ritalin stimulates the disinterested, lethargic child, and through what appears to be a paradoxical process, slows down the hyperactive child. So, the problem is solved and everyone is happy. It is just not that easy. Drugs have side effects and they generally focus on only one symptom.
Autism is not only a problem of social engagement, just as ADHD is not only a problem of inattention in the classroom. Depression is not only a problem of feeling a little down, just as sleep disturbance is not only a nighttime problem. These are all problems that fall in clusters of problems that can only be described as serious, and they may well be the first manifestation of lifelong problems of disengagement with the world around them and children with ADHD have a higher probability of developing aggressive, violent, and antisocial behavior. ADHD children are more likely to use drugs and alcohol when compared to children without ADHD. In all the disorders we cover in this book, the children affected have a higher likelihood of exhibiting poor school performance, thereby ending up with less education than nonaffected children. In dealing with childhood disorders, we can now project the consequences in later life. When these disorders are carried into adulthood, we see more failed marriages, less job success, more auto accidents, rockier personal relationships, and trouble with the legal system. We know scientifically that most of our medications do not fix these childhood disorders.
Inappropriate brainwave activity is at the core of most of these problems. In ADHD, for example, the dominant brainwave is a slow-frequency brainwave. Ritalin is a stimulant medication that speeds up the brain. It is, however, only a temporary treatment. Remove the stimulant and the brain slows down again. Not only does Ritalin not fix the problem, it also has side effects, and we do not know the consequences of long-term use. The same is true of most medications prescribed for these childhood disorders. As long as the patient is on the medication, some improvement is noticed; but if the medication is discontinued, there is a high probability of a return to the former state.
There is, however, a different kind of hope for children with these pervasive and destructive disorders. It is neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is a sophisticated form of biofeedback that actually trains the brain to normalize the brainwaves and make them flexible and adaptable to situational needs. It can do on a more permanent basis what most medications can only do for a few hours, and there are no lasting negative side effects as there are with medications.
Drs. Kelsey are trained in recognizing different brain patterns and in how to help the brain regulate itself in a normal, healthy way. Limited appointments are available. Call to reserve your time.
