ADHD--Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
They used to differentiate between ADD and ADHD. Now it is all ADHD, but there are 3 types: the Inattentive Type, the Hyperactive Type, and the Combined Type. There are 9 characteristics of the Inattentive type and 9 characteristics of the Hyperactive/Impulsive type. To receive a diagnosis of ADHD a person must have at least 6 of one of them. If he/she has 6 of both, he/she would have the Combined type. The Inattentive type is characterized by poor concentration, being easily distracted, poor organization, not completing tasks, forgetful, and avoiding things that require concentration. The Hyperactive type is characterized by difficulty sitting still, feeling restless, impatience, very talkative, and poor impulse control. The Combined type has both.
ADHD is a neurological, central nervous system problem, specifically the frontal lobes of the brain. They are not being stimulated enough. A computer has to have electricity just to be on, even when it isn't doing anything. The physical brain is the same way, it has to have electricity just to be on. It is supposed to produce it's own. There is at least one stimulation center in the back part of the brain, and one in the front, right behind the forehead. That is the one that causes ADHD. If it is damaged or underdeveloped it can't produce all of the stimulation that the frontal lobes need to function, so the physical brain hijacks the attention and shifts it from one stimulus source to another to try to soak up enough stimulation to function properly.
You have probably seen a video or pictures of a scan of a brain at rest. When a sound is made or light flashed or the person is touched, different parts of the brain light up. That is stimulation being created in the brain by outside stimuli. The problem isn't that Johnny can't pay attention in class. The problem is that he has to pay attention to everything all at the same time. His attention shifts to whatever is causing the greatest amount of stimulation at the moment. He can try to control it and force himself to focus on one thing at a time, but it is very tiring. After a day in school he is exhausted.
The most common treatment for ADHD is a stimulant type of medication. Most of them are amphedimines. They raise the level of stimulation in the physical brain up to a normal level, the brain calms down and the person can concentrate on one thing at a time. It treats only the symptoms, though. As long as it is in the body it is working but once it is gone the symptoms come back.
Neurofeedback training has gained some popularity. They put little electrodes on the person's head, run wires over to a computer (like and EEG) and he plays video games with his brain. They teach him how to access a particular brain wave and when he does the little race car or space ship on the screen moves. He is literally playing a video game with his brain. Kids love it. After 20 to 40 sessions of about 30 minutes each he shows anywhere from a little to a lot of improvement, and it seems to last. I believe the brain wave he is accessing is stimulating the development of the stimulation center on the frontal lobes and increasing it's output of stimulation for the brain.
I use the subconscious mind to do the same thing. Over the last 9 years or so I have had great results in reducing and sometimes eliminating the symptoms of ADHD. It is like doing neurofeedback training without the equipment.
Other learning disabilities like visual and auditory processing delays and dyslexia are also due to those parts of the brain being underdeveloped. Neurofeedback targets those parts and stimulates their development. Once they are fully developed they can do their job and the learning disability goes away. I use the same technique with them and have gotten similar results with most clients.
They used to differentiate between ADD and ADHD. Now it is all ADHD, but there are 3 types: the Inattentive Type, the Hyperactive Type, and the Combined Type. There are 9 characteristics of the Inattentive type and 9 characteristics of the Hyperactive/Impulsive type. To receive a diagnosis of ADHD a person must have at least 6 of one of them. If he/she has 6 of both, he/she would have the Combined type. The Inattentive type is characterized by poor concentration, being easily distracted, poor organization, not completing tasks, forgetful, and avoiding things that require concentration. The Hyperactive type is characterized by difficulty sitting still, feeling restless, impatience, very talkative, and poor impulse control. The Combined type has both.
ADHD is a neurological, central nervous system problem, specifically the frontal lobes of the brain. They are not being stimulated enough. A computer has to have electricity just to be on, even when it isn't doing anything. The physical brain is the same way, it has to have electricity just to be on. It is supposed to produce it's own. There is at least one stimulation center in the back part of the brain, and one in the front, right behind the forehead. That is the one that causes ADHD. If it is damaged or underdeveloped it can't produce all of the stimulation that the frontal lobes need to function, so the physical brain hijacks the attention and shifts it from one stimulus source to another to try to soak up enough stimulation to function properly.
You have probably seen a video or pictures of a scan of a brain at rest. When a sound is made or light flashed or the person is touched, different parts of the brain light up. That is stimulation being created in the brain by outside stimuli. The problem isn't that Johnny can't pay attention in class. The problem is that he has to pay attention to everything all at the same time. His attention shifts to whatever is causing the greatest amount of stimulation at the moment. He can try to control it and force himself to focus on one thing at a time, but it is very tiring. After a day in school he is exhausted.
The most common treatment for ADHD is a stimulant type of medication. Most of them are amphedimines. They raise the level of stimulation in the physical brain up to a normal level, the brain calms down and the person can concentrate on one thing at a time. It treats only the symptoms, though. As long as it is in the body it is working but once it is gone the symptoms come back.
Neurofeedback training has gained some popularity. They put little electrodes on the person's head, run wires over to a computer (like and EEG) and he plays video games with his brain. They teach him how to access a particular brain wave and when he does the little race car or space ship on the screen moves. He is literally playing a video game with his brain. Kids love it. After 20 to 40 sessions of about 30 minutes each he shows anywhere from a little to a lot of improvement, and it seems to last. I believe the brain wave he is accessing is stimulating the development of the stimulation center on the frontal lobes and increasing it's output of stimulation for the brain.
I use the subconscious mind to do the same thing. Over the last 9 years or so I have had great results in reducing and sometimes eliminating the symptoms of ADHD. It is like doing neurofeedback training without the equipment.
Other learning disabilities like visual and auditory processing delays and dyslexia are also due to those parts of the brain being underdeveloped. Neurofeedback targets those parts and stimulates their development. Once they are fully developed they can do their job and the learning disability goes away. I use the same technique with them and have gotten similar results with most clients.