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Drug-Free for ADHD
Reviewed By:
Cynthia Haines,
Credits: This Video is from the WebMD Video Archive. Medical Reference from Medstar Television. www.medstar.comAssociation for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, http://aapb.org Society for Neuronal Regulation, http://www.snr-jnt.org Children and Adults With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, http://wwww.chadd.orgNational Institute of Mental Health, http://www.nimh.nih.govLearning Disabilities Association, http://www.ldanatl.org
© 1999-2011 Medstar Television
Narrator:
The Herlihey's have an active young family of four and when their first born, Michael, had trouble in first grade, they were concerned.
Janet Herlihey:
He couldn't stay with something. He was distractible, frustration level was high and he was angry. He was very angry and he was aggressive.
Narrator:
Diagnosed with depression, Michael was put on Prozac. It helped, but he could only take it for one year.
His family then turned to e-e-g neurofeedback. This treatment has been used for a-d-h-d, learning disabilities and behavior problems.
(BOING, BOING)
Narrator:
In a series of hour long sessions, Michael played video games using only his brain to control the computer.
An electrode on his head tracked his brain activity and turned it into action on the screen.
Domenic Greco, Ph.D.:
Children with attention deficit, for instance, produce an excessive amount of what we call slow wave activity in the brain.
That slow wave activity is conducive to inattention, distractibility, daydreaming.
Narrator:
Through practice and feedback, Michael conditioned his brain to produce faster waves.
Domenic Greco, Ph.D.:
Their brains work differently and we can measure that difference and measure the actual activity level generated in the brain
and teach an individual how to change the way the brain is working.
Narrator:
Michael was in control and off drugs in less than a year.
Jim Herlihey:
It really made a believer out of me that the technique is effective, you know, started out skeptical.
Narrator:
Neurotherapy is covered by most insurance but it is *not* a cure and not right for every child.
Still, Michael and many others have seen their young lives transformed. For WebMD, I’m Sandee LaMotte.
