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Use the information provided on this site as an educational resource for determining your options and making your
own informed choices. It is not intended as medical advice or to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any specific illness.
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Neurofeedback is not a new treatment model and has been used for about three decades in treatment and
management of disorders such as epilepsy, ADD and ADHD. With more recent clinical and technical
advancements, the therapeutic utility of these techniques have extended to various other conditions
including mood disorders, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), post
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), developmental disorders, autism, tic disorders, and various impulse
disorders.  See "Brainwaves" to understand how the brain works.

For many years, physicians and psychiatrists have turned to stimulant medications to minimize problems
associated with ADD/ADHD.  Often, parents have had legitimate concerns regarding the effectiveness, side
effects and potential harm from long-term use of such medications.  Meanwhile many research facilities,
educators and alternate health practitioners have developed very successful drug-free treatments that go to
the core of ADD/ADHD problems.  While medication may be considered a short-term or interim strategy, it
is essential to address and remediate the underlying problems of ADD/ADHD and, therefore, provide the
child with long-lasting success in school and in life.  The National Institute of Health research provides
conclusive evidence that multiple modality treatments provide the most effective, long-term solution for
the many challenges of ADD/ADHD.  In multiple clinical studies, EEG Neurofeedback, for example, has
been shown to be equal to or more effective than medication, with results lasting beyond nine years
post-treatment while experiencing no side-effects.

Parents often report that their child is unable to attend at all or long enough to complete homework, or the
child can only hyper-focus on certain tasks but not others. Neurofeedback and Biofeedback training helps
teach self-regulation and selective attention, thus increasing the individual's ability to focus on a task
with more flexibility and less distractibility for application in various environments including school, work
and home.

Neurofeedback and Biofeedback allow a unique interface between the client and the clinician to promote
self mastery skills. The goal of neurofeedback and biofeedback training is to allow the participant to learn
how to improve attention, the ability to focus for prolonged periods of time and gain a sense of self control
over his body and mind. Neurofeedback and Biofeedback are used to complement traditional therapy plans
and help offer self awareness strategies to the individual.

Sensors record the individual's responses to the training, providing objective feedback and allowing the
individual to make adjustments accordingly. John W Steinert, PT, founder of SIRRI says "When you get the
client actively involved in the process, and when they understand what it "feels" like to pay attention or
what it "feels" like to breathe appropriately, it is a very powerful learning tool. The learning is rapid and
goals are more easily achieved.

Very informative websites:

www.oldmenewme.com-A non-drug alternative to ADHD medication

NYU Child Study Center-EEG Biofeedback for Children with ADHD

Local Neurofeedback Centers:

The Brainwave Center, Dr. Steven Padgitt (831)459-6636  

NeuroMassage of Santa Cruz County

Center for Transformational Neurophysiology, Soquel, CA

John L. Doonan, MFCC, (831) 462-8206

Mark Steinberg, Ph.D. & Associates, Los Gatos, CA
Neurofeedback