Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is ADD/ADHD?
- What are the causes of ADD/ADHD?
- What is EEG Neurofeedback?
- What results can I expect from EEG Neurofeedback Treatment of ADD/ADHD, Autism and other disorders?
- How effective is EEG Neurofeedback Treatment for ADD/ADHD?
- Will my or my child's condition improve as a result of the Attention and Achievement Center's treatments for ADD/ADHD, Autism or other disorders?
- What scientific research is available on EEG Neurofeedback Treatment?
- Is EEG Neurofeedback Treatment painful?
- How do I get started?
- How long does the Initial Consult appointment take?
- How long are the sessions and how many sessions are recommended?
- Do you treat adults with ADD/ADHD?
- Do you accept insurance?
- How much do you charge?
- What is your refund policy?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Do I need a medical diagnosis to come to see you?
- Do you accept credit cards?
- Does your Center offer other services?
Attention deficit disorder (ADD)/ Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed disorder in children and teens. The symptoms include inattentiveness, over-activity, impulsivity, or a combination. For these problems to be diagnosed as ADD/ADHD, they must be out of the normal range for a child's age and development. Children may have difficulty concentrating, following instructions, sitting still and interacting with others. Some may call out answers without waiting their turn and make inappropriate comments. Others might be quiet and keep to themselves, daydreaming away at their desks. Some children with ADHD primarily have the inattentive type. Others may have a combination of types. Those with the inattentive type are less disruptive and are more likely to not be diagnosed with ADHD.
Inattentive symptoms
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Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork
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Has difficulty keeping attention during tasks or play
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Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
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Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace
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Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
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Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork)
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Often loses toys, assignments, pencils, books, or tools needed for tasks or activities
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Is easily distracted
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Is often forgetful in daily activities
Hyperactivity symptoms:
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Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
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Leaves seat when remaining seated is expected
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Runs about or climbs in inappropriate situations
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Has difficulty playing quietly
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Is often "on the go," acts as if "driven by a motor," talks excessively
Impulsivity symptoms:
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Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
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Has a tough time awaiting his or her turn
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Interrupts others (e.g., disrupts a conversation or game)
ADD/ADHD can be diagnosed by a trained professional at the Attention and Achievement Center. This is done with a face-to-face evaluation. We will take a comprehensive history, including current and past symptoms, medical conditions, co-existing psychological disorders and family history. When diagnosing children, we will gather information from parents and teachers. One way that ADD/ADHD can be identified is through EEG (electroencephalographic) analysis, which enables us to record and understand brainwaves. For example, slow brainwaves are associated with “unfocused" behaviors. In contrast, fast brainwaves are normally produced when a person focuses and concentrates. People with ADD or ADHD often show an excess of slow brainwaves or insufficient fast brainwaves, or both. Typically, this results in impulsive and hyperactive behavior.
Persons with ADD/ADHD frequently have difficulty concentrating and processing regardless of intelligence level. In fact, the I.Q. of persons with ADD/ADHD is often above average, but ADD/ADHD blocks this potential. This gap between potential and actual performance throughout the lives of ADD/ADHD sufferers often leads to low self-esteem, psychological/emotional problems and underachievement at school and work.
Doctors prescribe drugs for ADD/ADHD because they are presumed to stimulate the brain and increase brain functioning. While taking such stimulants, patients are temporarily able to focus, stay on task and filter out distractions. Unfortunately, once the medicine leaves the person's system, so do the positive effects, thus resulting in a dependency upon such medications.
What are the causes of ADD/ADHD?
The most common possible causes include a combination of the following:
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Genetics: Studies show that ADD/ADHD runs in families with greater frequency than in the general population. Researchers also have explored the contribution of specific genes. A recent large-scale study demonstrated that many genes are involved in ADD/ADHD. Since many symptoms make up the disorder, that would seem to make sense.
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Environment: The maternal environment might increase the risk for ADD/ADHD, including smoking during pregnancy (in an already genetically susceptible child), low birth weight, premature birth, pre-natal exposure to alcohol and/or drugs, head injuries, high fevers (over 105 degrees) for longer than 24 hours, brain infections and possibly chronic/severe ear infections at early ages. Some research has found that preschool children exposed to high levels of lead might be vulnerable to ADD/ADHD. Also, ADHD seems to be associated with traumatic events, such as emotional or physical abuse.
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Food additives: The hypothesis that food additives increase ADHD risk has been a controversial one. A recent study found that drinking beverages with food additives increased hyperactivity in children without ADHD.
What is EEG Neurofeedback?
EEG Neurofeedback, also known as EEG (Electroencephalogram) Biofeedback, is a safe, non-invasive, painless learning procedure during which sensors called electrodes are placed on the surface of the patient's head. The sensors record brain activation level and enable participants to learn to improve mental performance, normalize behavior, and stabilize mood. The information is displayed on a computer screen, together with sounds which change according to the brain's activity levels. Therefore, the patient can read, understand and influence his or her brainwave activity. Once the patient learns to access and activate the brain more effectively, all the symptoms in the cluster of problems begin to improve.
EEG Neurofeedback is a natural, self-regulating approach that helps restore the brain's ability to function in the manner in which it was designed to function. And EEG Neurofeedback is perhaps the biggest breakthrough in non-invasive medicine in the last 50 years.
What results can I expect from EEG Neurofeedback Treatment of ADD/ADHD, Autism and other disorders?
EEG Neurofeedback is a very effective treatment for ADD/ADHD, Autism and other disorders. It can provide substantial improvement for many patients by improving/strengthening brain function. These patients are able to learn more effectively and, thus, work up to their full potential at school or work, achieving higher tests scores and improved job performance. In addition, the treatment helps the patient learn to curb impulsive behavior and reduce hyperactivity. The patient's behavior becomes more appropriate, which results in an improvement of social skills, and an increase in self-esteem and confidence.
How effective is EEG Neurofeedback Treatment for ADD/ADHD?
We have been effective in helping the majority of our patient population achieve a reduction or resolution of ADD/ADHD symptoms and no longer require medication.
Will my or my child's condition improve as a result of the Attention and Achievement Center's treatments for ADD/ADHD, Autism or other disorders?
Most patients treated with EEG Neurofeedback achieve mild to profound improvement.
What scientific research is available on EEG Neurofeedback Treatment?
Scientists have been researching EEG Neurofeedback for the last thirty years. Treatment applications now include epilepsy, ADD/ADHD, Autism, sleep disorders, alcohol and/or chemical dependency and depression and anxiety disorders. Please see our Downloads/Articles section for articles on the scientific research into the effectiveness of EEG Neurofeedback.
Is EEG Neurofeedback Treatment painful?
No. There is no pain involved. The treatment is completely non-invasive. Tiny electrodes are placed on the surface of the head and ear lobes with a gel.
How do I get started?
The first step is to either call the Attention and Achievement Center at 866-881-8820 or complete an Appointment Request Form to schedule an initial consultation/evaluation appointment.
How long does the Initial Consult appointment take?
The Initial Consult appointment usually lasts about one to one and half hour and is designed to be a positive experience for the client. Usually you will all fist meet with our Center Director. During this time, provided the client is over 5 years old and capable of normal functions, s/he will be administered an Assessment of Mental Concentration Ability will be done to evaluate Focus, Stamina, Impulsivity, Transition Ability, and processing speed. These results are then compared to normal same age, gender and population. Additional developmental history is also gathered from parents in order to better understand your concerns. During this meeting, our Center director will make recommendations which are designed to insure accurate assessment of difficulties and selection of the right tools.
How long are the sessions and how many sessions are recommended?
This will entirely depend on the outcome of the assessments and varies significantly for each client. For example, clients with Auditory Processing Difficulties will benefit from 10 to 90 hours of training, much of which can now be done at home. For EEG Neurofeedback, our treatment plans require a minimum of 40 one-hour sessions, while Autistic patients require many more. The specific number of sessions will be discussed after the evaluation. The frequency of sessions is two to three times per week. The more frequent the treatment sessions are at the beginning, the more potent each treatment is in enabling the brain to develop healthier patterns. Once treatment is complete, most patients will not have to come back for further sessions. The brain will have learned to work efficiently by itself and will continue to be stimulated by everyday interactions.
Do you treat adults with ADD/ADHD?
Yes. We treat anyone over the age of 5. In fact, some of our patients did not know that they had ADD/ADHD until adulthood and have found great relief in finally understanding and strengthening a weakened attention system that made work or home life difficult.
We accept most PPO health plans or we can provide you with receipts to submit to your own insurance company for possible payment.
ADD is considered a disability, and although persons with ADD are protected against discrimination by the Americans With Disabilities Act, being diagnosed with ADD can cause a person to lose their job (for example, if you are in the Army, or if you are a pilot). A national database of your health records is maintained in Boston, which is shared by most insurance companies, the government, and potential employers.
The initial consult is $95 and typically takes 60-90 minutes. Assessments range from $650 to $4,800 depending on a range of factors, and your needs. Therapeutic services packages range from $2,000 to over $10,000, with a majority of cases being from $4,500 to $7,500. We do offer payment plans which can reduce the monthly payment to as low as $95.00 a month.
What is your refund policy?
Initial Consult fees are non-refundable, but with 48 hours notice we will be happy to re-schedule the appointment for another time.
What is your cancellation policy?
To avoid being charged for a missed appointment, you will need to advise us of any changes no later than 24 hours prior to your appointment time for regular appointments, and 48 hours for PACE, psychotherapy and Initial Consults.
Initial Consult fees are non-refundable, but with 48 hours notice we will be happy to re-schedule the appointment for another time.
Do I need a medical diagnosis to come to see you?
Generally no, but it mostly depends on the nature of services you are seeking. If a medical referral is required, we can obtain it after your initial consult.
Do you accept credit cards?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card and American Express.
Does your Center offer other services?
Yes, we offer full neuropsychological evaluation, including IQ and cognitive (memory, processing speed, retrieval speed, etc.) testing which not only helps pinpoint the core causes of difficulties but also checks to see if the client meets IEP or 504 (special educational accommodations) from the school district. We also can attend school meetings to support your request for additional services.
