As the parent of a child with ADHD here are some helpful things you might want to know.
Children Are in a Bind
Children with ADHD live with the knowledge that their best is usually not good enough. They are considered failures at school, at home, and with their peers. They suffer from their original problems and from the consequences of those problems. What an uncomfortable way to live!
Parents Are in a Bind
As the parents of an ADHD child you are concerned about the well being of your child and the many reported side effects of stimulant medications that doctors often prescribe for this condition. You want guidance for handling these and other problems affecting your child’s social skills, academics, and family interactions.
To further complicate the picture, more than half of the children with ADHD have at least one other disorder, including anxiety, depression, oppositional behavior, and/or conduct problems.
Doctors Are in a Bind
The majority of doctors who prescribe stimulant medications say it is a burden for themselves and for parents. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies stimulant medications as controlled substances making writing and filling prescriptions for them more difficult, in addition to the concerns about the reported side effects of these medications.
Sorting Out the Problem
To help find the best treatments for children with ADHD, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) made a study of the problem in 1992. They found that the most successful treatments always included some individually tailored behavior therapy.
EEG Biofeedback
/ Neurofeedback Breaks the Binds
EEG biofeedback
(neurofeedback)
is a very effective behavior therapy. In 1973 we at Smarter Way selected biofeedback as a central therapy of our work because it includes so many aspects of behavior therapy. These include operant conditioning and reinforcement, behavior modification techniques, including counseling with parents; and other factors affecting behavior change. Using EEG Biofeedback therapy the children learn to direct their own body and mind processes necessary to support their self-management skills, including creating their own time-outs.
EEG Biofeedback Offers More Than Medication Can : Michael’s Story
As a baby Michael was extremely active. When he was 5 years old he was suspended from kindergarten for behavioral problems. His history from then on was filled with similar incidents. He was smart, but just couldn’t get along with other people. He was constantly in trouble with his classmates and his teachers. By the time he was 10 he had taken so much stimulant medication that his body was only the size of a 6 or 7 year old. He had to keep taking the stimulant medication for ADHD and different medications for his other problems. Still, he failed to reach the desired results and his disruptive symptoms were not reduced enough to control his troublesome behaviors. If you would like to know more see
treatment goals.
When Michael was 10 years old he was referred for EEG Biofeedback therapy by his public school Psychologist.
Michael started his EEG Biofeedback therapy (neurofeedback) with Vicki Jones, and by his eighth session Michael was beginning to show signs of better behavior at home. He started speaking to his stepfather when he came home from work rather than just ignoring him, and they began to have actual conversations. Michael’s mother wondered if this change had “just happened” or if his EEG Biofeedback
therapy was beginning to work.
By the time he had completed 30 sessions, it was obvious to everyone that he was consistently responding to his life’s events very differently than before. He seldom had outbursts of anger, but when he did, he would automatically isolate himself until his turmoil had passed. Today, 3 years later, his mother continues to report, “Michael is doing wonderfully.”
To learn more about the Professionals at Smarter Way see
About Us.
Children Enjoy EEG Biofeedback
Children really like EEG Biofeedback therapy and they like making better grades at school, too. They also feel better and are in better moods. They sleep better, and get along with their family and friends better. Parents tell us, “Getting my child up in the morning isn’t the fight it used to be.” Besides that, the children frequently report, “Mom’s doing better now.”
In our clinic some parents report important, and observable differences in their child after the very first EEG Biofeedback therapy session. Most parents report more sustained, important differences before 8 sessions have been completed. They tell us, “My child can remember where she puts things, like her glasses,” “My child is getting up ‘without a fight’ in the mornings,” “My child has stopped wetting the bed,” Teachers, too, report changes in the child’s attitudes from “I don’t care” and failing subjects, to making A’s, B’s, in reading, math, conduct, and other school subjects.
If you would like to know more see the F.A.Q.
Results That Last
In 1994 Dr.’s Harold Russell and John Carter delivered an historic report of an independent study of ADHD children to the U.S. government. The children in the study who participated in a series of EEG Biofeedback therapy sessions had improved reading scores as expected. Surprisingly, sixteen months later their scores had improved still more since the time they had finished their therapy. In other words, the effects of EEG biofeedback therapy are lasting, and improvements continue to build over time. This is very different from the results usually seen with medication: When medication is stopped, improvements end and symptoms return.
If you would like to know more see Treatment Success.
Students from the age of 7 to 13 years are particularly responsive to EEG Biofeedback therapy and to the special form of Light & Sound Instrumentation used in EEG Biofeedback therapy. It is important that these youngsters get effective treatment for ADHD during these years to set the basic foundation for the rest of their lives.
The Clinical Perspective
In 2001 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published the “Clinical Practice Guideline: Treatment of the School-Aged Child with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.” The Guideline includes a specific section on the implementation of behavior therapy.
The Guideline notes that a wide range of clinicians, including psychologists, school personnel, community mental health therapists, and primary care physicians (PCP) have the appropriate skills to do behavior training therapy. They note that most behavior therapy is time-consuming, and it takes much longer than the 7 to 8 minutes most PCP’s spend with their patients. So, only specialized healthcare professionals actually provide behavior therapy.
Behavior Therapies
The American Psychological Association (APA) lists the following topics in their heading Behavior Analysis and Therapy: Classical and operant conditioning; reinforcement; rewards and punishment; behavior modification techniques; biofeedback training; factors affecting behavior change; self-management; token economy programs; time-out strategies.
If you would like to know more see Treatment Research and Treatment Goals.
Without diagnosis and treatment these youngsters with ADHD mature into 15 to 18 year old adolescents who often begin to medicate themselves with illegal substances. Almost 30% of substance abusers have undiagnosed or untreated ADHD. So, it’s important to give ADHD children appropriate ways to manage their problems when they are young. And Smarter Way shows you how!
Caution :
People who should avoid this special LSI usually include people with serious, chronic effects of head injuries, psychiatric illness, or seizure activity. Always consult with your primary care physician (PCP) before using any of the products from this or any other website.
Disclaimer :
The professionals at Smarter Way personally use and recommend the products available on this website and offer them to their clients as deemed appropriate. You should always consult your primary care physician (PCP) to determine what treatment is right for you. All products and resources used on this site are provided for educational purposes only and are not intended as medical advise or as a substitution for treatment or consultation with your primary care physician (PCP).