Neurofeedback Therapy for ADHD/ADD
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Symptoms & Types of Teen & Young Adult ADHD/ADD
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Your teen or young adult is smart, possibly a gifted teen, but they continue to struggle with their grades. They tend to day dream or lose focus when they should be doing their homework or other tasks.
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You find yourself as a parent needing to stay on top of your teen's homework assignments. Your teen struggles to remember to do the assignment or when it's due. If you weren't there to remind your teen, the assignment won't get done.
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Your teen or young adult completes the homework and then forgets to turn it in. They struggle to remain organized which is half the battle in getting good grades. Your frustration increases as you don't understand how your teen can forget to turn in the homework.
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Your teen or young adult can't seem to sit still no matter the consequence or reward offered them. It's as if they are driven by a motor that is always running. It can be exhausting for parents, teachers, church leaders, etc. to constantly remind your teen to 'behave'.
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Your teen or young adult often acts before they think resulting in conflict with others or hurting other's feelings.
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You've don't want to place your teen or young adult on ADHD medication, or you have tried without finding success. Your teen or young adult doesn't like the way it makes them feel so they stop taking it.
Teen and young adult ADHD/ADD can be a very confusing, frustrating, and heart breaking to understand. To another teen or young adult without ADHD/ADD, it is difficult to understand these teens. They wonder why the teen can't stay organized, remember simple things, or sit still and not be disruptive.
Those without ADHD/ADD end up labeling the teen or young adult, and not the behavior. Labeling the teen can cause unintended harm to the teen's and young adult's sense of worth and self-esteem. Over time, the teen will begin to believe that the labels they receive must be true. They hear it from teachers, church leaders, friends, friends, parents, etc.
Those with teen ADHD/ADD or young adult ADHD/ADD don't want to struggle in this way. Who would willingly want to bring on themselves the consequences that teens with teen ADHD/ADD receive? Believe me, those with teen or young adult ADHD/ADD have the will, or the desire to do well, they simply lack the skill.
So, what are the symptoms of teen ADHD/ADD? The DSM-V, the manual therapists use to diagnose mental health struggles, list the following as symptoms of teen ADHD/ADD:
Inattention
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Six or more symptoms of inattention for children up to age 16 years, or
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five or more for adolescents age 17 years and older and adults;
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symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months, and
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they are inappropriate for developmental level:
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Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or with other activities.
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Often has trouble holding attention on tasks or play activities.
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Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
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Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (e.g., loses focus, side-tracked).
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Often has trouble organizing tasks and activities.
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Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
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Often loses things necessary for tasks and activities (e.g. school materials, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile telephones).
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Is often easily distracted.
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Is often forgetful in daily activities.
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Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
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Six or more symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity for children up to age 16 years, or
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five or more for adolescents age 17 years and older and adults; symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for the person’s developmental level:
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Often fidgets with or taps hands or feet, or squirms in seat.
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Often leaves seat in situations when remaining seated is expected.
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Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may be limited to feeling restless).
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Often unable to play or take part in leisure activities quietly.
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Is often “on the go” acting as if “driven by a motor”.
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Often talks excessively.
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Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed.
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Often has trouble waiting their turn.
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Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games)
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Teen & Young AdultADHD/ADD Subtypes
Within the cluster of symptoms related to teen ADHD are 3 subtypes of teen ADHD. These subtypes are below and are:
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation
If symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity but not symptoms of inattention have been shown for at least 6 months.
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
If symptoms of inattention but not symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been shown for at least 6 months.
Combined Presentation
If symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity have been shown for at least 6 months.
Neurofeedback Therapy can Help With Teen & Young Adult ADHD/ADD
One of the more frustrating things for parents as well as the teen or young adult who struggles with ADHD/ADD is knowing the limiting affect ADHD/ADD can have. There is so much more to your teen or young adult than the impulsivity, the lack of organization, the distractibility, etc.
Because of teen ADHD/ADD, emotional and behavioral problems can develop that otherwise would not have. Teen depression, teen anxiety, and substance abuse are among the extra struggles ADHD/ADD can create.
If you are a teen or young adult reading this know that you are not your ADHD/ADD. We know it feels that way sometimes as it impacts your life on so many levels.
Yet, we see time after time the innate inner strengths that rise to the surface once teens and young adults address their ADHD/ADD through neurofeedback. Teen and young adult ADHD/ADD has a way of blocking some of those inner strengths from developing.
We want to help you overcome ADHD/ADD and free a path for those strengths to emerge. They are there. Don't you doubt it!
Neurofeedback Targets Root Causes of Symptoms of Teen & Young Adult ADHD/ADD
Dr. Daniel Amen, a neuropsychiatrist, neurologist, and founder of the Amen Clinics observed that:
"Psychiatrists are the only medical specialist who virtually NEVER look at the organ they treat. Cardiologists look, neurologists look, orthopedists look but psychiatrists guess. There is a better way."
With teen depression and teen anxiety on the rise, psychiatrists are on the front lines of helping teens overcome the symptoms of teen depression, teen anxiety and other struggles. Their work has not only helped teens overcome their struggles but have saved lives in the process.
Child and adolescent psychiatrists explore the symptoms to help them provide the best treatment for the teen struggle. Neurofeedback takes into account the symptoms and can identify specifically what network or region in the brain is the cause of the symptoms of teen ADHD/ADD. Neurofeedback helps regulate the brain which can reduce symptoms of teen ADHD/ADD. Neurofeedback addresses ADHD at the roots of the struggle -- the brain where the ADHD/ADD originates.
Neurofeedback and Brain Performance Training for Teen & Young Adult ADHD/ADD
Before we start neurofeedback training, the first thing we do is create a map of the teen or young adult's brain. We use a cap that has 19 sensors embedded in the cap and have the teen wear the cap. Amplitude training does not require a teen or young adult to wear a cap. (Amplitude training uses individual sensors, usually 1-6).
These sensors in the cap read the brain activity, or performance, and send the information to sophisticated software used with the cap. The recorded results are then digitized and we display the result in a topographical, 3-D map of the teens brain.
This brain map is then compared to a 'normative database' of other teen or young adult's brains without ADHD/ADD from teen or young adult's the same age and gender as your teen or young adult. With this comparison, we can identify where your teen's brain may be under or over performing leading to teen or young adult ADHD/ADD.
Now that we have a baseline, 3-D brain map of how your teen's brain is performing, we can start neurofeedback training for teen ADHD/ADD.
Neurofeedback training is a safe, fun, enjoyable way to help reduce the symptoms of ADHD/ADD. We use the same cap with the 19 sensors and place the cap on your teen or young adult. We use sophisticated software that utilizes T.V. shows or movies.
We have neurofeedback software that resembles a video game as well. But this video game is not played with hand controllers rather, it is played by the way the brain performs. We also are able to utilize T.V. shows or movies in much the same way.
When the brain performs in a way that would increase focus, concentration, impulse control, etc., your teen or young adult can control the character on the screen. This reinforces and trains the brain to perform without the symptoms of ADHD/ADD.
For T.V. shows or movies, when your teen or young adult's brain is performing like the normative group while watching a show, they can see and hear what is on the screen. When their brain reverts back to functioning like an ADHD/ADD brain, the screen and sound fade.
Over time, the brain will shift its performance from a teen or young adult ADHD/ADD way of functioning to performing without the symptoms of teen ADHD/ADD.
Neurofeedback Studies with ADHD/ADD
Neurofeedback has been helping clients with a wide variety of struggles for approximately since the 1970's. It has come to prominence since over the last couple of decades with the advances in neuroscience and neuropsychology.
We are recognizing more and more that to provide help that results in lasting and enduring changes, we have to treat the problem at the source -- brain performance.
There are over 50 peer reviewed journal articles published over the years on neurofeedback and the treatment of ADHD/ADD. These peer reviewed journal articles identified that treating ADHD/ADD with neurofeedback was as effective as treating ADHD/ADD with stimulant medication.
Below are some articles for your reference:
Meta-Analysis: Neurofeedback Drives Enduring ADHD Symptom Improvement
Results from 10 randomized, controlled trials found that neurofeedback significantly reduced inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity for 2 to 12 months after treatment ended for children with ADHD.
A 6-Month Follow-up of an RCT on Behavioral and Neurocognitive Effect of Neurofeedback in Children with ADHD
Results from a 6 month follow up, comparative study between the long term effects of stimulant medication and neurofeedback for the treatment of teen ADHD.
Electroencephalographic Biofeedback for the Treatment of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Results from a review of treatment protocols and the scientific controlled group studies of the effectiveness of neurofeedback for the treatment of ADHD/ADD.
Begin Neurofeedback for Teen or Young Adult ADHD/ADD at Katy Teen & Family Counseling
You don't have to live with teen ADHD/ADD or young adult ADHD/ADD any longer. You also don't need to live with the labels that people attribute to your teen or young adult because of the ADHD/ADD. Your teen or young adult is more than teen ADHD/ADD and we want to help their innate strengths emerge.
At Katy Teen & Family Counseling, we have a neurotherapist who is Board Certified in Neurofeedback through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA). We also have another neurotherapist who has been practicing neurofeedback since 2013. We are waiting to help your teen and family.
To start your neurofeedback journey for teen or young adult ADHD/ADD, you can follow these three simple steps:
1. Contact Katy Teen & Family Counseling
2. Meet with one of our neurofeedback professional
3. Start your neurofeedback journey for treating teen ADHD/ADD or young adult ADHD/ADD and help your teen or young adult discover their true potential
Other Services Provided at Katy Teen & Family Counseling for the Katy and Houston Area
While we provide neurofeedback therapy and training for teen and young adult ADHD/ADD, we also provide these additional neurofeedback, therapeutic, and counseling services:
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Neurofeedback for Optimal Brain Performance (Peak Performance Training)
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Therapy for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
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Teen Therapy for Self-harm
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Teen Therapy for Self-esteem and Self-worth
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Teen Anger Management Treatment
Neurofeedback for ADHD/ADD: Current Research
ADHD/ADD in teens and young adults impacts more than just school. Self-esteem, self-worth, confidence can all erode under ADHD/ADD. There are many effective treatment approaches to ADHD/ADD with neurofeedback being a well researched and effective therapy for ADHD/ADD.
Below are findings from those who research ADHD/ADD and the effectiveness of neurofeedback:
Efficacy of Neurofeedback Treatment in ADHD: The Effects on Inattention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity: A Meta-Analysis
Summary
Since the first reports of neurofeedback treatment in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in 1976, many studies have investigated the effects of neurofeedback on different symptoms of ADHD such as inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. This technique is also used by many practitioners, but the question as to the evidence based level of this treatment is still unclear. In this study selected research on neurofeedback treatment for ADHD was collected and a meta-analysis was performed.
Martin Arns, Sabine De Ridder, Ute Strehl, Marinus, H.M. Breteler. Efficacy of Neurofeedback Treatment in ADHD: The Effects on Inattention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity: A Meta-Analysis. Clinical EEG and neuroscience. Official journal of the EEG and Clinical Neuroscience Society (ENCS) 40(3):180-9, August 2009.
Evidence-Based Information on the Clinical Use of Neurofeedback for ADHD
Summary
Neurofeedback (NF) is a training to enhance self regulatory capacity over brain activity patterns and consequently over brain mental states. Recent findings suggest that NF is a promising alternative for the treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Neurofeedback combined with other treatment modalities are reviewed here.
Moriyama TS, Polanczyk G, Caye A, Banaschewski T, Brandeis D, Rohde LA. Evidence-based information on the clinical use of neurofeedback for ADHD. Neurotherapeutics. 2012;9(3):588-598. doi:10.1007/s13311-012-0136-7.
Neurofeedback for the Treatment of Children and Adolescents with ADHD: A Randomized and Controlled Clinical Trial Using Parental Reports
Summary
A randomized and controlled clinical study was performed to evaluate the use of neurofeedback (NF) to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents. The results of the present study support the use of NF as an alternative treatment for ADHD, especially in the 20 % of children with ADHD who do not respond to medications. In addition, findings from this study support previous suggestions that medications may be reduced when given in combination with other treatments for ADHD.
Duric, N.S., Assmus, J., Gundersen, D. et al. Neurofeedback for the treatment of children and adolescents with ADHD: a randomized and controlled clinical trial using parental reports. BMC Psychiatry 12, 107 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-12-107