A Teacher’s Guide to ADHD and Neurofeedback

What is Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

ADHD is typically associated with problems such as lack of concentration, difficulty focusing on a specific task for an extended period of time, restlessness, difficulty organizing, forgetfulness, inability to follow through, and low self-esteem. All children and adults have behaviors in common with ADHD at times. However, ADHD is a chronic condition that limits a person from accomplishing the daily necessary tasks of life such as school, home, and career.

What is neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback is direct training of brain function, by which the brain learns to function more efficiently. In simpler terms, it is an exercise of the brain where we strengthen brain wave patterns that create positive behaviors and inhibit brain wave patterns that promote undesired behaviors.

What should a teacher expect from a student who does neurofeedback?

1. Teachers should expect to see gradual improvements, not instant disappearance, in their student’s ADHD symptoms. For example, your student may still get hyper when playing with other students but can calm down easier when asked to do so. In addition, you might notice that the student does not get distracted as often and can refocus faster after being asked.
2. A teacher should expect to see some improvement soon after beginning neurofeedback. Progress may be more noticeable in some weeks compared to others; however, the student’s symptoms should improve overall during the course of training.
3. There may be some weeks where it feels like or appears that the client has returned to pre-treatment level behaviors.  We refer to this as a “rebound” period. This is common, not serious, and should resolve itself either within a couple days or within the next couple neurofeedback sessions.

What can a teacher do to help facilitate change as their student does neurofeedback?

1. The most important thing a teacher can do is regularly report to parents any changes they see during the day. A good report would sound like this, “Today I noticed Taylor didn’t get as distracted as usual so he was able to get most of his work done. I had to tell him to stop bugging his neighbor twice today which is a big improvement.” Or, “I noticed Cathy answering more questions in class. I think her listening skills are improving.” An ineffective report would sound like this, “Tommy was good today.” Or, “Tommy didn’t do well today.”
2. Children with ADHD often struggle with their self-esteem because they are constantly getting in trouble for not being able to meet the daily demands of life. Students who are praised for their change in behavior, even its minor and not perfect, will have a better outcome.  So love, praise, and praise some more.

How can I get more information about neurofeedback?

If you would like more information about neurofeedback please feel free to call IntraLife Performance Center at 801.451.0054 to speak with one of our staff members or visit our website at www.IntralifePerformance.com.

 

 

Neurofeedback Testimonials from ADHD Clients

“I am less impulsive and think things out. I am less angry and am in more control of my emotions. The medications I was previously prescribed never worked and it wasn’t the answer to my problems long term. NF works! My life has improved and my relationships are much better.”

Female, age 28

“Since starting NF I have better reading comprehension, I’m staying focused while reading.  I am calmer in communication with people and more aware of voice levels.”

Male, age 57

“Since starting Neurofeedback I am more organized in my daily life and have a better time paying attention.  I dont seem to get upset about little things that would make me go crazy before. I’m learning to accept and the importance of accepting. Not only does Neurofeedback make you relaxed, it also helps you focus. In past counseling, I was only taught how to relax which would only last a short amount of time.  I would definitely recommend it. I find Neurofeedback being important in any person’s life.”

Female, age 18

“My son was struggling with missing assignments and what his teacher referred to as brain blocks.  He had a difficult time in 5th and 6th grade with thinking outside of the box in a creative manner and I was constantly on him about his missing work.  We started NF during the summer prior to his 7th grade year.  I don’t know if the drastic change in his 7th grade school year can be completely contributed to NF, but he’s now a straight A student.  When I went to parent teacher conference I was pleasantly surprised by the accolades he received.  Plus, his self confidence has taken a boost.”

Mother of 12 year old.

“The most noticeable improvement has been in my daughter’s improvement at home. She went from angry, depressed occasionally, and combative to cheerful and cooperative. Her ability to stay on task with schoolwork is significantly improved as well.  Medication seemed to temporarily help her symptoms of ADHD. Neurofeedback feels like a permanent cure. After 20 sessions we saw amazing, permanent changes. We began a new set of sessions to seek further improvements in grades and motivation, but we have seen no sign of “back-sliding” from first set of 20 sessions.”

Mother of 14 year old.

“My son received legos for Christmas and for the first time ever sat and put the whole thing together without asking for help, or getting upset when he couldn’t figure it out.  He stayed with it until it was finished.  It was a first!  A relative who came in to town recently commented on how my son had changed.  I don’t notice it as much anymore because it’s becoming the norm.”

Mother of son.

 

What is General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)?

Diagnostic Features:

The essential feature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities, occurring more days than not for a period of at least 6 months. The anxiety and worry are accompanied by at least three additional symptoms from a list that includes:

• Restlessness
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Muscle Tension
• Disturbed sleep

Although individuals experiencing GAD may not always recognize that their worries are “excessive,” they report distress due to constant worry, have difficulty controlling the worry, or experience related impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of life.  Adults with GAD commonly worry about about everyday, routine life circumstances such as job security, finances, health, and children. Children dealing with GAD tend to worry excessively about their competence or the quality of their performance. For example, a child may redo their cursive homework because they worry it is less than perfect.

Secondary Symptoms

Many individuals with GAD may experience muscle tension, trembling, twitching, and muscle aches. They may also experience somatic symptoms as well as exaggerated startle response. In addition, depressive symptoms are common.

Projected Course Over a Lifetime

A majority of individuals with GAD report that they have felt anxious and nervous since childhood or adolescence, although onset occurring after age 20 is not unusual. The course is chronic, meaning it continues throughout life, and it can intensify during times of stress.

Get help now to overcome your Generalized Anxiety by visiting www.IntralifePerformance.com.

 

Information from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM IV.

*This post is not intended to diagnose a mental illness. To receive a diagnoses please contact your family physician or mental health professional.

 

 

Depression: A Classified Serial Happiness Killer

Depression. It’s more than a bad day. If you have experienced it then you know how painful and debilitating it is. Most would agree that they would not even wish it upon their worst enemy. The things you use to love, such as work, sports, and family, now hold little or no meaning to you. If  you could give depression a criminal classification, you would say it’s a serial happiness killer with women as the target. Why is it such a prevalent health disorder and why can’t women get a break? Let’s explore the criminal mind behind depression.

1. Stress

Oh stress… the cause of so many ailments in our lives. Studies show that women are more likely than men to respond to a stressful event by becoming depressed. In addition, women are more likely to engage or be involved in certain situations that promote high stress. For instance, woman are more likely to be involved in domestic and sexual abuse. Woman are also more often than men caregivers for family members. This can cause chronic stress that leads to depression. Another kind of stress that leads to high risk for depression is poverty. Women are on average poorer than men, especially women with young children.

2. Genes

Darn those genetics. Studies of identical twins, who share the same genes, indicates that heredity may account for 40% of the risk for developing depression. Certain genetic mutations linked to the development of severe depression are only found in women.

3. Hormones

Can’t live with them and can’t live without them… although we wish we could. Gender difference in depression becomes apparent with puberty onset. Studies show that there is a higher prevalence of girls than boys starting at age 11 that develop depression. In addition, fluctuations in hormones that accompany menstruation can have a huge impact on mood each month. Women after giving birth can also develop depression due to the change in hormones. Researchers speculate that the change in female hormones such as estrogen may be the underlying reasons for woman’s greater vulnerability to depression.

4. Additional Factors

Some research indicates that women may be more likely than men to stew over events. These psychological traits may make women more vulnerable to depression. Health and activity level may contribute as well.

So just when you think depression is about to kill you, just remember that there are real reasons why you may be feeling the way you do. Others have been the victims before too so seek out help to gain your life again.

Citation:”Woman and depression.” 2011. Harvard Mental Health Letter Volume 27 (Issue 11).

How to Receive School Support for Your ADHD Child through a 504 Plan

What is a 504 Plan?

A 504 plan is part of a federal law called the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, also known simply as “Section 504.” The goal of a 504 is to ensure protection against discrimination towards individuals, which includes students, whom have disabilities. The law defines the rights of individuals who have disabilities to participate in, and have access to, program benefits and services.

Students who qualify for a 504 Plan are required to have a plan that determines any accommodations that will be made in the classroom. Accommodations made for students with ADHD and ADD may include extra time to complete assignments, supplemental services in the mainstream classroom, and an accountability system with teachers to assure students are turning in assignments.

Who is eligible for a 504 Plan?

Section 504 is intended for students who require accommodations but do not fall under the special education category. Theses students must:

1. Be determined to have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities including learning and behavior.
2. Have a record of having such an impairment OR
3. Be regarded as having such impairment.

How do I obtain a 504 Plan for my child?

In order to receive services under Section 504, a child must first be determined to have a disability that is deemed to substantially limit one or more major life functions, including education, learning, and behavior.  Many schools have qualified professionals available to do an evaluation. You may also go to a mental health profession or medical doctor of your choice to run tests. Whomever you decide to go to keep in mind that only the school can determine if  whatever your child is diagnosed with qualifies for accommodations.  Parents seeking to have their child receive services under Section 504 should take the following additional steps:

1. Set up a time to meet with a school counselor to discuss your concerns and goals.
2. With your counselor fill out a 504 request form.
3. Request a copy of your School District’s Policies and Procedures on Section 504.  This document will inform you of your and the school’s rights and responsibilities in helping your child receive the accommodations she or he needs.
4. Set up meetings for your child to meet with a school psychologist and school board.
5. Bring all the paper work you have received from teachers and doctors to your meetings. There is never too much information. Have all the paperwork with you to help the process go more smoothly.
6. Once the 504 Plan is discussed and approved by all parties it becomes a legal binding document. It will be dispersed to all involved parties and should be implemented immediately.

If you have had any experience obtaining a 504 Plan please let us know about it below to help other parents through the process.

Excerpts from: Study may show whether neurofeedback helps people with ADHD and other disorders

Lynn Gibbons, mother of fourth grade son Brent, was struggling with his little “monster.” Brent was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which gave some insight as to why he was failing the fourth grade. That was seven years ago. Today Brent is taking advanced-placement high school classes and helping with chores. She’s convinced that neurofeedback is what made the difference.

Neurofeedback is a mind-over-brain training in which a person uses electronic equipment to monitor involuntary responses. Proponents claim neurofeedback can help alleviate a broad range of problems, including not only ADHD but anxiety, depression, autism and brain injuries. Yet the costly, time-consuming therapy has long been dogged by skeptics who call it a placebo at best, a rip-off at worst.

A lack of data

Both sides may soon get some clarity. The National Institute of Mental Health is sponsoring the first government-funding study. Ohio State University child psychiatrist L. Eugene Arnold, the NIMH project’s director, says the institute agreed to fund the study as a result of new interest by the influential national advocacy group Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. CHADD receives about one-third of its revenues from pharmaceutical firms and historically has vigorously supported medication as a first-line treatment for ADHD. Yet in recent years the group has grown more willing to consider nondrug therapies.

Seventeen children have completed testing thus far. Arnold says he has received reports of significant changes in some of the children’s abilities, outside the lab, to pay attention, stay focused and finish tasks. Still, he can’t yet say whether the children are being helped by the treatment, since neither the participants nor the researchers will learn who was in which group until the results are analyzed.

Mainstream ADHD experts have pointed to serious flaws in many of the studies that private neurofeedback practitioners have published to date. Some dismiss the therapy altogether. The prominent ADHD researcher William Pelham of the University of Buffalo includes neurofeedback on a list of common but ineffective treatments that also includes “horse therapy.”

Even so, an increasing number of parents with children with ADHD swear by neurofeedback. Lynn Gibbons was so encouraged by the results of her son’s treatment that she’s now studying to become a neurofeedback practitioner herself, a testimonial that’s becoming increasingly common, according to Judy Crawford, director of certification at the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America, which is located outside Denver.

Alluring but expensive

Regina Casciato of San Francisco says neurofeedback treatments produced “profound” improvements in her 14-year-old daughter, Victoria, who suffered from insomnia and impaired concentration due to a disorder of the central nervous system. “Within a week, she was able to sleep through the night, and her anxiety has been cut in half.”

Undergoing neurofeedback demands an extraordinary commitment of time and money. A typical therapist will recommend at least 40 half-hour sessions to treat ADHD and charge as much as $100 per session. With so many questions about neurofeedback still unanswered by mainstream research — none of this is normally covered by insurance. (Some plans, including Kaiser Permanente, do cover biofeedback for stress relief.)

The promise nonetheless remains alluring, especially for many long-frustrated parents of children with ADHD. Advocates describe lasting improvements compared with stimulant medication, whose effects wear off as soon as the drug leaves the bloodstream and whose side effects include stunted growth, facial tics, loss of appetite and insomnia.

What are your thoughts? Is neurofeedback worth it?

What to read the whole article? Find it here.

I Have ADHD: Now What?

For many people receiving the ADHD diagnosis is a relief; it finally explains why a person is acting the way they are acting. This diagnosis can also bring on confusion. What does this diagnosis really mean and what do I do now that I know I have ADHD?

1. Understand that ADHD is not necessarily a bad thing.

Many people think that ADHD is bad because those who deal with it cannot follow traditional expectations such as sitting still, completing and following through with given tasks, and controlling impulses. Although these are challenges, many ADHD people are very creative and innovative. This ability to think outside of the box has helped many succeed in creating new products or starting new successful businesses. Read here to find out about Famous People Who have ADD.

2. Structure your life.

Because most people who have ADHD struggle to be organized, follow through with assignments, and stay focused, which are essential to succeeding in school and at work, it is important to structure your life in away that can help you still meet daily demands. Planners are a great way to organize what you need to do. In conjunction with your planner, set a reminder on your phone to turn in an assignment or start a project. When starting a task break it down into smaller tasks. That way whatever you are doing does not seem as overwhelming.

3. Exercise your brain.

Research has shown that ADHD is caused by under stimulated frontal lobes.  The amazing thing about the brain is that if it is under stimulated or even has brain damage it can still adapt, change, and improve. So if youbwant to advance your ability to focus, be organized, and follow through with tasks then you must exercise those parts of the brain to strengthen them. To exercise your brain try playing concentration games (you can find free games on the internet) or try neurofeedback which is a proven technology to self regulate the brain.

4. Do your part.

Life is full of challenges and it is up to us to overcome them and make ourselves better people. If you have been diagnosed with ADHD it does not mean that you can forget projects or be impulsive and excuse it because you have ADHD. You must take control of your life and do your part to make it the best it can be. If you are not structuring your life in a way that will help you get what you need to get done or working to exercise your brain then you are not doing your part.

Now that you know what to do I challenge you take action. Post below what you are going to commit to do to change your life.

5 Common Misconceptions About Depression

1. You can just get over it.

Man Who has Depression

Depression is a real thing that people cannot just “get over”. It is caused byunderlying biological, environmental, and/or genetic factors. Without addresses whatever the cause is it is quite difficult for someone to choose to feel different.

2. You are causing the depression.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions about depression. Anybody who has had depression can tell you that they would not wish it upon their worst enemy let alone them self.  Sometimes from an outside perspective it may seem like a person is bringing on their depression by their attitude and actions but these typically are not the cause for someone being depressed.

3. Drugs are the only way to fix your depression.

There are some great benefits to drugs for treating depression. First, it’s easy to pop a pill everyday and let it do the work. Second, many drugs out there give instant relief which is much appreciated when you are are not feeling well. The down side to medications is that it is a band aid that often has many side affects. It does not change the brain to mend itself and self regulate. Some alternatives to treating the underlying causes of depression without medications are meditation, natural herbs such as fish oil, and neurofeedback.  Therapy is also a great way to address the negative thought processes that typically develops and intensifies with depression.

4. Depression means I’m weak and crazy.

Many people with depression may feel crazy; however, it does not necessarily reflect one’s abilities or characteristics. Depression needs to be looked at like a broken bone not an illness for the kooky. And just like a broken bone the brain needs mending, healing and time to do so.

5. Depression only affects women and older people.

Depression can affect anyone including children, male adults, female adults, and the elderly. It is important to be aware that depression has various symptoms and everyone presents them in different ways. For example, men tend to be more angry and withdrawal from others when experiencing depression while women tend to be more emotional and sensitive.

If you or a loved one feels depressed act now and get help. There is hope that your life can be more happy and fulfilling.

Dr. Rasmussen Talks about the Symptoms and Causes of Anxiety

 

Dr. Rasmussen discusses the cause and symptoms of anxiety and what you can do to overcome it. If you have more questions you would like him to address post a comment below or email him at admin@intralifeperformance.com.

Famous People with ADD

Some of the most talented, creative, and successful people in this world have Attention Deficit Disorder also known as AD/HD.

Did you know that one of the most famous people with ADD was Albert Einstein?  Many people have asked the question, “What would our lives be like today if Einstein, one of the greatest minds of the last century, had been prescribed Ritalin?” Would he have been creative enough to come up with the theory of relativity or discover the law of the photoelectric effect? Maybe so, but who knows?
Check out this list of famous people who either have or are thought to have ADD or ADHD.

Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders
David Neeleman, Founder of JetBlue Airways
Paul Orfalea, Founder of Kinko’s
Sir Richard Branson
Malcolm Forbes
Bill Gates

Inventors
Alexander Graham Bell
Thomas Edison
Benjamin Franklin

Explorer
Christopher Columbus

Composer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

This is only a short list. So the next time you think of AD/HD as a curse, a disease or the worst thing that could have ever happened to you or your child, think again! You’re in good company with a lot of famous people.

List found at www.add-adhd-treatments.com/Famous-People.html. Thank you!