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ADHD Brain is Sleepy Brain

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 “The Problem is Arousal, Not Attention:     Let us first look at the underlying physiological problem of ADD.  The bulk of scientific evidence accumulated since the 1940s indicates that the central feature of ADD is poor regulation of the brain’s arousal state.     The most convincing argument to explain the role of arousal (how sleepy or awake the brain is) in hyperkinetic (hyperactive) syndrome came from two articles in the early 1970s–one by Satterfield and Dawson, and the other by Satterfield, Lasser, Saul and Cantwell.  Satterfield and his colleagues proposed that hyperactive children had low states of arousal, that they habituated to sensory stimulation, and that they constantly sought new stimulation.  By the late 1970s and early 1980s, this theory, known as the “Low-Arousal Hypothesis,” was generally accepted in the medical community, and it remains so today.  This is why a stimulant such as Ritalin has an effect on hyperactive children.  It speeds up their low level of arousal.  It appears to be a paradoxical effect:  a hyperactive child is given a stimulant.  But actually, the stimulant medication is used to wake up the sleepy brain.” p.9.  Getting Rid of Ritalin by  Robert Hill, Ph.D. and Eduardo Castro, M.D.     Neurofeedback helps train the brain to regulate itself so that stimulants are not needed.

ADD’s Cluster Conditions

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From:  Getting Rid of Ritalin

By:  Robert W. Hill, Ph.D.       Eduardo Castro, M.D.


     “The time is overdue for a serious look at our current treatment regimens and for a realistic approach to the cluster of problems that fall under the large umbrella of ADD.  There is a pressing need to discuss the new treatment protocols ignored by mainstream medicine for the past two decades that frequently remedy not only ADD, but the problems commonly clustered with ADD, such as learning disabilities, depression, anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, headaches, delinquent behavior, aggression, and drug and alcohol abuse.     To achieve a clear understanding of the causes of ADD and ADD-type behavior, and to intelligently apply the best treatment methods available, we must begin by being honest about what ADD is according to evidence.  ADD is the result of brain injury.  Sometimes the injury is obvious and sometimes extremely subtle.  The dysfunction of ADD is most often a problem with the brain’s self-regulation; the injured brain is usually too slowed-down for adequate functioning.  A slowing of the brain tends to produce ADD-type symptoms.  Mainstream medicine uses a simple “solution”:  speed up the brain with stimulants.  Unfortunately this does nothing to correct the problem and often creates other problems.” p.x.

ADD, ADHD Watch Netflix to Get Well

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From:  Getting Rid of Ritalin

By:  Robert W. Hill, Ph.D.

Eduardo Castro, M.D.     

Neurofeedback For ADHD…A Modern Day Solution?

With the many cases of ADD and ADHD,  “there were no medications, no major dietary changes, no endless behavior modification or psychotherapy—-just neurofeedback.  A simple treatment that involves two treatments a week, in which the patient is connected to a specialized EEG computer with a monitor to learn to speed up slow brainwave patterns while watching a movie of their choice.  The treatment is easy, quick, and not costly.  It involves no pain or discomfort—-just watching a movie with your brain.      

ADD is certainly the disorder of public note in recent decades.  Every child  who misbehaves, is rambunctious, acts bored, or underachieves in school is at risk of being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, with or without hyperactivity.  The vast majority of these children are placed on Ritalin by well-meaning clinicians.  Adults who procrastinate, who are disorganized,  or become restless with routine promptly label themselves as ADD and frequently request stimulant medications from their physicians.” p. ix.

ADHD Stories of Recovery

From:  Getting Rid of Ritalin

By:  Robert W. Hill, Ph.D.       Eduardo Castro, M. D.
     

“Seth was a nine-year old.  He was failing every third-grade subject and he had no friends.  His mother gave him a birthday party and only two children showed up.  Seth had been on Ritalin, but it did not seem to make any difference.  We started neurofeedback treatment in the late spring and continued it through the summer.  Although Seth had to repeat third grade, his grades are in the “B” range and he has “lots of friends” even four years later.”   

Here is another neurofeedback case. 

“Carolyn was a quiet, shy, sad-looking child.  She was failing the sixth grade, oppositional at home, and had only one close friend.  She was not diagnosed with ADD but should have been.  In just twelve weeks of neurofeedback, Carolyn’s sad personality began to brighten, her grades improved, she stopped writing gloomy poetry and started developing new friends.” pg. ix.   

The benefits of neurofeedback include no side effects; It is natural; The improvement tends to be permanent. 

ADD, ADHD Natural Pathways

  “There is hope for people with ADD as well as its companions, hyperactivity, aggressiveness, violent behavior, and substance abuse:  neurofeedback. 

Neurofeedback is a sophisticated form of biofeedback that actually trains the brain to speed up.  It can do on a permanent basis what Ritalin can only do for a few hours, and there are no lasting side effects.     This is at least a quick, non-invasive, cost-effective treatment for attention deficit disorder and its cluster of companion disorders.  So, without years of medical treatment, taking pills, or managing difficult diets, or without months of behavior modification, we can successfully treat ADD, reduce aggressive and violent tendencies, and effectively treat drug and alcohol abuse.”

Ritalin and ADHD

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From Biofeedback for the Brain by Paul G. Swingle, Ph.D.   

 “Nora Volkow, a psychiatrist with the Brookhaven National Laboratories, points out that Ritalin is a more potent dopamine transport inhibitor than cocaine.  The inhibitors increase dopamine in the brain, which, in turn, has a stimulating and energizing effect.  The typical dose of Ritalin for children, Volkow  continues, blocks more than 70 percent of the transporters, so the notion that Ritalin and the other similar drugs are weak stimulants is clearly wrong.  When the medication is stopped, the neurological condition returns, usually exaggerated on withdrawal, so the medications are, at best, interim aids.  In short, stimulants sedate children, and except in serious cases of hyperactivity, such medications are inappropriate.  After a series of neurotherapeutic (neurofeedback) treatments, the child should be able to function without stimulants.”

“ADD” Patterns Can Look Worse While Actually Improving

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From Biofeedback for the Brain by Paul G. Swingle, Ph.D.

“FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:     

Q:  My husband thinks that neurotherapy is BS because our daughter’s brainwave ratios became worse after we started treatment, even though her teacher felt she was improving.  Is the treatment working, even though the numbers got worse?     

A:  Successfully treated children with ADD often show brainwave ratios that seem to be shifting the wrong direction early in treatment.  After several neurotherapy sessions, these ratios start to move in a positive direction.”