Neurofeedback Therapy

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Are the results or improvements in symptoms permanent?

Our studies in the literature, as well as our own work, suggest that the positive effects of Neurofeedback last over time. However, on occasion, patients have sought a few “tune-up sessions” months and years later, which appear to be helpful. You may find you need a few “tune-up sessions” after a physical or mental health trauma. Those who have had head injuries after treatment appear to lose some of the benefits.

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How is progress or symptom improvement tracked? 

We regularly monitor progress and reassess as needed to determine whether training should continue. You will be asked to complete frequent evaluations measuring the symptoms we are addressing. Your ability to be as consistent as possible with these evaluations is essential as it provides information about how the training is affecting you.

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Can mental health or medical conditions be diagnosed with Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback EEG is not the same as a “clinical EEG” which is used in medical diagnosis to evaluate epilepsy or to determine if there is serious brain pathology, such as a tumor or dementia. It is not designed or applied for the purpose of diagnosing tumors, epilepsy, or other medical conditions in a manner like an MRI or CAT scan.

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What are the possible side effects?

It is possible you may experience some unwanted effects during training such as fatigue, irritability, difficulty sleeping, or a headache. These can show up during the session or they may show up later in the day. Research and experience tells us that many of the unwanted effects are related to the instabilities in your nervous system  that brought you into training in the first place. These changes  are not serious and can be corrected by shifting the brain wave target range and electrode locations. Typically, these problems resolve quickly and on their own. It is very important that you keep us informed of any changes or negative effects, even if they seem unrelated to the Neurofeedback, so that training can be modified for you and your best benefit.

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Are electrical currents being sent into my brain?

Neurofeedback is noninvasive, and no electrical current is put into the brain.  We do NOT introduce any information into the brain AT ANY TIME. There is NO risk of electric shock from this procedure.

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Should I continue taking prescription medication while undergoing Neurofeedback?

If you are taking medication (e.g., for migraines or headaches, seizures, emotions, hyperactivity, attention, perception, movement, spasticity, etc.) it is important to remain in close communication with your physician. Some patients have a tendency to want to decrease medications without consulting with their physician. Any and all changes of medication must be done with the consultation of the prescribing physician, as decreasing or stopping some medications may be life threatening, cause withdrawal effects, or be detrimental to your health. Please, consult your physician. Also, realize that Neurofeedback is not a substitute for effective standard medical treatment.

 

How long does Neurofeedback treatment take?

You should also be aware that Neurofeedback training, depending on the type  of problem, often requires an average of 40 to 60 sessions (and sometimes more, particularly with the presence of head injury, stroke, PTSD, or complicated/chronic conditions).  Although neurofeedback often produces very beneficial and lasting change, some cases where damage to the brain is too severe and only partial improvement is possible.

If you have any questions about neurofeedback, our team would be happy to assist you! Please reach out today for your consultation.

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Neurofeedback as a method of treatment has been around for over 30 years, although it has gained attention mostly in the past few years.  Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback training which uses EEG as the primary instrument to control visual, auditory, or tactile feedback. This feedback is used to produce learning in the brain. This learning can result in better brain adaptation and self-regulation. Research support exists for efficacy in the treatment of many disorders such as ADD/ADHD, anxiety, panic, depression, autism, mild traumatic brain injury, obsessive-compulsive disorder, behavioral disorders, sleep problems, chronic pain, and others.  While most people benefit from neurofeedback to some extent in the research, it is important to note that every case is different and not every client will improve from training.  We are happy to provide information about the research done to date; you are also encouraged to consult www.isnr.org (the website of the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research) for a comprehensive neurofeedback bibliography.

Neurofeedback training is done through the use of a sensitive electronic instrument called an electroencephalograph (EEG) that measures the frequency and strength of your brain’s electrical activity and immediately sends this information to a high-speed computer. Almost instantly, these brainwave signals are processed by the computer and presented to you  in the form of visual, auditory and sometimes tactile feedback. At first, the changes in brainwave activity are brief and transitory, however, within a relatively short period of time, new patterns within the brain become more firmly conditioned which are associated with better performance and overall improved health.