Neurofeedback FAQ 

What assessment or test are required before starting the training?

We recommend EEG assessment  to gives us the ability to view the dynamic changes taking place throughout the brain during cognitive processing tasks. We interpretation and reporting of these findings. This will provide valuable help in analyzing our findings, and in reviewing treatment protocols.  EEG assessment allows Neurotherapist to gather brainwave patterns, continuous performance results; the tests help the Neurotherapist to understand a person’s best modality for learning, need for structure, motivation level, comprehension, and possible learning, emotional or neurological problems

What results can be expected from Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is training in self-regulation. And good self-regulation is necessary for optimal brain function.

Self-regulation training enhances the function of the central nervous system and thereby improves mental performance, emotional control and physiological stability.

Trainees have also reported improvements in school or work performance, social relationships and self-esteem as well as reduction in irritability and oppositional behavior.

While you should not experience negative side-effects, you may experience additional benefits. Some individuals report increased relaxation, reduced stress, and a heightened sense of control over their bodies, thoughts, and feelings during or immediately after treatment sessions.

How Successful Is Neurofeedback?                

Some clinicians and researchers have reported remarkable success in the treatment of ADD/ADHD with Neurofeedback. Several research studies reporting successful treatment outcomes with ADD/ADHD have been published over the last 20 years. In addition, there are increasing numbers of clinical reports being added to computerized data bases that attest to the effectiveness of Neurofeedback as a treatment for ADD/ADHD.

The client should know in advance that, as with all treatments, positive results (i.e. reductions in ADD/ADHD symptoms) cannot be guaranteed.

Some major reasons why practitioners are committed to providing Neurofeedback are:

• to attempt to help individuals for whom other approaches have failed
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• to help individuals who do not want to use medications for years
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• to add to the scientific evidence related to Neurofeedback's use.                 

 What  mental health challenges can Mind-Body medicine help?

What are the potential side-effects of Mind-Body medicine (Neurofeedback)?

Unlike the use of medications, Neurofeedback rarely produces negative side-effects. In fact, lack of side-effects is a major reason for the use of Neurofeedback.

Some potential side effects are discussed below. 

• A small minority of individuals have reported brief periods of negative feelings (e.g. anxiety, or frustration) or negative physical sensations (e.g. fatigue, dizziness, tingling sensations) while undergoing treatment. These negative side-effects are very rare and usually last for only a short period of time.
• Some families experience a disruption in family roles and relationships after the family member who has received Neurofeedback training gets better. The anxiety levels of family members may increase, because they have been used to focusing on one problem and now must focus on a new one.

How long will Mind-Body Medicine training last?

During Neurotherapy, you or your family member will be learning to change and control brainwave patterns. This learning process takes time.

The length of treatment varies between individuals. Many individuals report initial progress after ten sessions, but effective treatment usually requires between 20 and 40 sessions. Clients will be asked to participate in enough sessions to ensure that treatment produces the desired changes in behavior or to make clear that the intervention does not seem to be working for a particular client.

How frequent will Neurofeedback sessions be?

For Neurofeedback , the number of sessions of treatment received per week varies, depending on the time available, transportation issues, finances, progress, and individual preferences.

In the initial stages of training, many practitioners prefer that sessions occur two to three times per week. As learning and progress take place, sessions are usually reduced to once per week and finally to one or two sessions per month. 

What Is the course of Neurofeedback ?

During the first appointment, the practitioner will conduct a background interview to ascertain the history of the person. During the first or second appointment(s), the practitioner may also conduct an evaluation of the client. The evaluation will have a number of purposes, including: 

• to determine whether there are coexisting problems which need to be addressed
• to establish a baseline of behaviors so that, during and after the course of programme, the practitioner and you can objectively determine whether progress is or has been made.

After the evaluation, the Neurofeedback sessions begin. After the Neurofeedback sessions have ended, a final evaluation will occur.

The reason for periodic evaluations of the client during the Neurofeedback process is to determine whether improvement is occurring in important areas of the client's life and to adjust the treatment programme as appropriate.

You may be asked to sign a consent form to allow the practitioner to use the data collected during the Neurofeedback process for research purposes.

The name of the client and / or parents will remain confidential. The data collected from the individual will only be reported in relationship to data collected from other individuals. No names will ever be mentioned in reporting research data.

What happens if Neurofeedback clients are taking medications?    

The correct dosage of stimulant medications (e.g. Ritalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, or Cylert) can, when effective, produce a rapid reduction in the frequency of impulsive and hyperactive behaviors. As such, many patients will start a trial of medications or be on medications when they start receiving Neurofeedback.

Over the course of treatment, individuals using medications may be able to reduce or terminate the use of these medications while maintaining control over disruptive behaviors.

However, any changes in medications must be discussed with the prescribing physician. The physician and family together will decide whether a reduction in medications is appropriate.

Will I be required to sign anything to receive Neurofeedback ?

At your first appointment, the practitioner will probably ask you to sign a number of forms which will allow her or him to provide the best possible services to you. You will have the opportunity to review these forms and the practitioner should be available to answer any questions that you might have.  

Does Neurofeedback cure symptoms or conditions?

In the case of organic brain disorders, it can only be a matter of having the brain to function better rather than curing the condition. When it comes to problems of deregulation, it is that there is not a disease to be cured. When the problem is with deregulation, self-regulation may very well be the remedy. But again the word cure would not apply.

If Neurofeedback can do so much, why have I not heard anything about it before?

Neurofeedback is not yet taught in most medical schools or psychology graduate programmes. Many professionals are therefore not aware of the power of the technique. 

Neurofeedback Contraindication

Neurofeedback training is contraindicated in individuals with the following conditions:

• Individuals who are not willing or unable to understand the general principles and goals of the feedback used. This includes individuals with excessive behavioral problems or low IQ.
• Individuals who experience anxiety or an unpleasant feeling associated with Neurofeedback training.
• In epilepsy, there may be a causal relationship between EEG training of certain EEG frequencies, and incidence of seizure.
• Certain individuals may be unable to learn to control the EEG through Neurofeedback. Therapy should be discontinued if periodic monitoring of therapeutic progress indicates that the individual is not learning despite adequate review of instructions for feedback.