As
seen on
Eye to Eye with Connie Chung, The Home Show, and reported in the Los
Angeles Times,
Orange County Register, Women’s Day Magazine, Psychology
Today and Parade Magazine |
|
|
|
ADD/ADHD Testing & Treatment
"...We are very pleased with the
results of Dr. Linden’s Neurofeedback treatment program and hope that
other children and their families can enjoy the successes we have."
 Full Testimonial
|
|
~Stacey Jones |
|
|
|
|
Take Behavior
Rating Scales Test Online |
|
|
|
Downloadable Documents |
|
Forms
(Please print, complete & fax / mail ) |
|
|
|
ADD
Treatment Centers |
|
|
|
The Evolution of Testing
There has been a significant improvement in the diagnosis of ADD/LD
using QEEG Mapping (see slide below). Recent research has proven it to
be the most accurate test for diagnosing ADD. Until QEEG Mapping, ADD
and LD have been “rule-out” diagnoses which are prone to error, and
heavily reliant upon the doctor’s skills. We are still finding 30% of
children wrongly diagnosed with ADD and often unnecessarily treated with
stimulant medications.
|
 During
the past two decades, much has been learned about the nature of ADHD and
Autistic Spectrum Disorders, and the types of treatment that can help
children, teens and adults succeed. At the forefront of such clinical
efforts are psychologists like Dr. Michael Linden,
Director of the Original ADD Treatment Centers.
Recognized internationally for this groundbreaking research on the
efforts of EEG biofeedback (Neurofeedback) on ADHD, Dr. Linden’s
pioneering efforts have greatly contributed to the development of the
treatment protocols used throughout the world. His treatment centers
provide a comprehensive range of research-based treatments for patients
with ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Disorders, including Neurofeedback,
parent counseling, school interventions, social skills training,
medication and marital/family / individual therapy. It is this type of
comprehensive care that provides the foundation for success in the
treatment of patients with ADHD, Autistic Spectrum Disorders and other
neuropsychiatric disorders. |
|
Vincent Monastra, Ph.D.
Developer of the QEEG Scan for ADHD
Author of Parenting Children with ADHD |
The QEEG Map (below) is a 19 channel EEG which looks for abnormal brain wave
patterns (i.e. slow waves) over the part of the brain called the
cerebral cortex (frontal, central, parietal, temporal & occipital). The
slow wave brain activity is the tell-tale marker that distinguishes the
ADD & LD child from children who do not have this condition. (The slow
wave activity is also why stimulant medications are used.) These highly
sensitive measurements are taken under several testing conditions such
as while the eyes are closed, eyes open & reading tasks. These
measurements produce the map above. Once the data is collected during
testing it is sent to a Neurologist who reviews the EEG findings for
additional neurological problems and suggests cortical areas for
treatment focus.
The QEEG Map’s normative data for ADHD were developed by Dr. Linden and
others in several multi-site studies (Neurology 1999 & 2001). Dr. Linden
combines the neurological report with several other tests that results
in the discriminate ability to distinguish 5 subtypes of ADD, 5 subtypes
of Autism/Aspergers, the presence of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive
disorder, depression, neurological deficits and learning disabilities.
This state of the art method is a significant advance over how we did
this in the past. The Original ADD Treatment Centers has always led this
field in the latest innovations in treatment technology, and we will
continue to make available only what we believe is credible and best for
our patients.
|
QEEG MAP OF ADOLESCENT WITH ADHD & ANXIETY
This test profile shows that stimulant meds
would worsen the child’s condition because of the presence of so much
anxiety |
Treatment
If the EEG map reveals the slow wave activity, the patient may be a
candidate for Neurofeedback Therapy. In brief, NeuroFeedback therapy
alters the underlying abnormal brainwave patterns that ADD patient’s
have with a safe, computerized biofeedback procedure. How does this
work? The patient is taught to recognize when they are producing slow
wave activity (theta) and to switch from this inattentive style to the
fast wave activity (beta) that occurs when they are paying attention.
This is done via a sophisticated computer program that can measure
weather the child is focusing or day dreaming. The child watches a
computer image, such as a jet flying, a puzzle being completed, or
listens to their favorite CD. What happens is that the jet flies, the
puzzle gets made or the music plays only while they are paying attention
and producing the desired brain wave pattern. Once they improve at early
levels the difficulty increases. This makes the improvements in
attention more robust and long lasting. The long term and often
permanent results are that the child is conditioning their brain to pay
attention.
The QEEG map helps target the specific areas of the cerebral cortex that
are producing the undesirable brainwave patterns. This has improved the
success rate of treatment outcome over how we did this treatment in the
early days of it’s discovery. Finally, progress in this treatment is
measured every 10 sessions with the CPT tests to make sure it’s working.
If it’s not working we will recommend discontinuing this treatment,
reformulate an alternate treatment plan, and of course, will refund any
unused treatment fees.
Trust
NeuroFeedback Therapy can be a vital component of the ADD patient’s
treatment plan but it isn’t for everyone. This is very important to your
child and family given the complex nature of this condition. Unlike some
of our local competitors, we will only recommend Neurofeedback Therapy
if we think the outcome will be positive and if other things in the
family are not pressing. For example, a family may be in crisis because
a child is extremely depressed, out of control at home, or on the verge
of being dismissed from school. In these instances, we are uniquely
equipped to handle these crises with family therapy and medication to
quickly stabilize the situation. (We have experienced psychiatrists with
a practice philosophy that utilizes medication as a temporary aide, not
a permanent solution) Many of the schools, churches and pediatrician
offices in Orange County are familiar with our ability to handle crises
and refer these patients consistently. If your are located in Orange
County, your pediatrician knows us. We are honored by their trust. Child
and family counseling, social skills training, behavioral therapy,
support groups , school consultation and medication are available from
experienced Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists. Be careful of
treatment centers or doctors that only use medication, Neurofeedback
therapy, or who rely only upon talk therapy because they do not believe
ADD is a real condition! We feel these are substandard practices for a
complex and potentially devastating disorder.
|
|
