There are three basic varieties of ADHD:
Although it can be challenging raising children with ADHD, it's important to recognise that they are not "bad", "acting up" or being difficult, on purpose. Traditionally, children - and adults - have been prescribed amphetamine style drug treatment (Ritalin etc.) and/or behavioural therapy. If the treatment is not kept up, then they will have difficultly controlling their behaviour.
ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, too much sugar, or vaccines. It is believed to have biological origins although they are not clearly understood. No single cause has been identified and researchers are exploring a number of genetic and environmental links, however it does appear that a significant proportion of people with ADHD have relatives who also have the condition.
Research has found links between smoking in pregnancy and ADHD in a child and other risk factors may include premature delivery, low birth weight and injuries to the brain at birth. Some studies have found a correlation between excessive television watching and future attention problems and there are now guidelines about the amount of time a child should sit in front a screen a day.
Children with ADHD may also have a range of other related problems which create difficulties in diagnosing the condition including:
The current view is that ADHD cannot be cured, but it can be managed successfully. The aim of treatment is to construct a long-term plan to control the child's behaviour and help families to create an appropriate home environment which encourages the child. Traditionally (for the last 50 years or so), ADHD has been treated with stimulants such as Ritalin, usually several doses a day each lasting 4 hours. However there are side effects to this therapy including decreased appetite, stomach ache, irritability and insomnia. The evidence, however, does not show any long term side effects. Other medication such as Antidepressants and non-stimulant drugs have also been tried.
Everyone has five types of brain pattern and these patterns occur simultaneously all the time (although they change in intensity according to the circumstances).
The brain waves are:
All these wave forms are present together and it is the proportion of each that we look at in EEG biofeedback therapy.
When a "normal" person tries to read or concentrate, the amount of beta activity in the brain is increased. People with ADHD don't do this; instead of increasing BETA, they increase THETA which, put means that where other children, for example, are concentrating harder to complete a task, ADHD are drifting off, looking out of the window or just sitting and daydreaming.
Bear in mind that we are looking at THETA and BETA waves. What we are really interested in the ratio between the two. This is known as the Theta/Beta ratio and, using neurofeedback, we seek to train people with ADHD to increase that ratio.
How does it work?. Well, over a series of neurofeedback sessions in our clinic or at home, children - or adults - are gradually taught to inhibit the production of theta waves and to increase beta wave activity. It's been shown that most children - or adults - can do this. As people learn to adjust their brain wave patterns, there is usually an improvement in cognition, a reduction in ADHD symptoms and improved behaviour.
This improvement mirrors the improvement that can be seen when clients take regular stimulation. There is, however, one significant difference.
When stimulants are taken, they can wear off after four or so hours; when people learn to control their brain waves using neurofeedback, the improvements in symptoms does not disappear as quickly. As said above, there is no cure for ADHD but there is a non-stimulant, longer-lasting treatment which has no side effects.
In summary, EEG biofeedback is not a cure for ADHD. However, there is an increasing body of evidence that shows that it leads to a
normalisation of behaviour and can enhance long-term academic performance, social functioning and overall life adjustment.
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