Does your child . . .

	have difficulty paying attention and following directions?
	have angry, uncontrollable outbursts or talk excessively?
	have problems socializing with other children?
	zone out and appear to be in a fog or not hear what is being said?
	exhibit behaviors that result in your child's school constantly calling you and complaining about her behavior?
	have difficulty with task completion and organizational skills?
	exhibit impulsive behavior and engage in physically dangerous activities?
	have difficulty staying seated and fidgets with hands and feet?

If so, your child may be struggling with a learning disorder, pervasive developmental disorder such as Asperger's or Rett's disorder, or an attention deficit or disruptive behavior disorder such as ADHD or Oppositional Defiant disorder.

Are you coping with emotional problems, learning difficulties or behavioral problems?

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), PDD (Pervasive Development Disorder), Asperger's, and OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) are behavioral problems which are most likely neurologically based. These disorders make it difficult for a person to focus his or her attention on a task and learn. Once the symptoms begin to manifest in a child's life, succeeding in school and getting along with parents, teachers, peers or siblings becomes more difficult. Naturally, the level of stress in the child's life increases which in turn intensifies the problem behaviors.

Attention Deficit Specialists provides treatment alternatives to the use of psychostimulant drugs, such as Ritalin. Although drugs can be useful in the treatment of behavioral, developmental or emotional disorders, these should only be used as a last resort because of the potential for addiction, abuse, side effects, and the unknown consequences of long-term use.

All neurological processes of the brain are conducted through an interaction of chemical and electrical processes. Thus, certain brain functions, including attention, can be measured with sophisticated, electronic instruments such as the electro-encephalograph (EEG). Depending on what processes are going on in the brain, different "brain waves" are being generated.

What Do We Do?

Children with these disorders are frequently shown to have maladaptive brain wave patterns on the EEG. They have too much slow wave activity, which is involved in daydreaming, and not enough fast wave activity, which is involved in focused attention and alertness.

EEG Neurofeedback is the most direct and effective method of positive reinforcement which can be utilized to change maladaptive brain wave patterns. Utilizing computer enhanced techniques, which allow a child to monitor their own progress using a video-game format, the child learns to manipulate his own brain waves to increase the attention-enhancing brainwaves and decrease the daydreaming brainwaves.

The Interactive Metronome is another program that offers a non-invasive method to improve attention, coordination, and timing. The system uses computer-generated auditory tones to systematically exercise and thereby improve timing and the capacity to plan actions. In addition, children can be taught to learn stress reduction strategies.

Another interactive program, HeartMath, is a behavioral psychophysiological feedback software system that we use in order to teach physiological relaxation skills. Our system measures heart rate variability, respiration and pulse while the client is experiencing either a stressed state or a relaxed state.

We Treat the Whole Client

These techniques offer effective and measurable methods to change thinking patterns and decrease the attention deficit type behaviors. We use a multimodal treatment plan to address behavioral strategies and enhance attention deficits through the use of technology and:

	assessment: objective tests and personal interviews offer baseline measures of deficit disorder symptoms
	behavioral strategies: effective methods to address your child's specific problem behavior areas
	stress reduction: relaxation training and coping strategies are offered to handle the stress of attention deficits
	diet and nutritional counseling: dietary considerations seem to increase or decrease deficit disorders. Specific patterns and areas of concerns are monitored and addressed to assess dietary and nutritional changes
	personal counseling: to address the stresses and effects of attention deficits and enhance self-esteem and confidence in the child's ability to control their own behaviors
	school interventions: assessment and strategies to enhance the learning environment and advocacy in working with the education system.

Visit ADDsolutions.com for more information about
our free monthly seminars for parents and educators:
“Attention Deficit & EEG Biofeedback—A Non-Drug Approach”