EEG and Neurofeedback for ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment

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• EEG for ADHD Diagnosis
• FDA Approval of EEG
• ADHD Brain Wave Patterns
• Neurofeedback for ADHD Treatment
• The Future of Neurofeedback
• Full Transcript

EEG for ADHD Diagnosis

Electroencephalography (EEG) provides an objective method for diagnosing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, confirms that children with ADHD show distinct brain wave patterns compared to those without the condition. This objective data can be a crucial part of a comprehensive ADHD evaluation. The test uses specialized protocols to measure specific brain wave ratios.

FDA Approval of EEG

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed the use of EEG for ADHD diagnosis in 2013. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, clarifies that this approval signifies EEG as a legitimate diagnostic tool. It is not a mandatory test but a valuable part of the clinical assessment process. This FDA endorsement has increased the credibility and use of EEG in ADHD diagnostics.

ADHD Brain Wave Patterns

ADHD is characterized by a measurable imbalance in brain wave activity. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, explains that individuals with ADHD typically have insufficient beta waves, which are associated with focused attention. They also often have an excess of theta waves, which are linked to a daydreaming or "spacing out" state. The key diagnostic measurement is the ratio of beta to theta waves, which is abnormally low in ADHD patients.

Clinical trials show a strong correlation between these EEG findings and a clinical ADHD diagnosis. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, notes that some studies report an 80% to 90% correlation. This high degree of accuracy makes EEG a powerful objective test to confirm a physician's assessment.

Neurofeedback for ADHD Treatment

Neurofeedback is a non-pharmacological treatment that directly addresses the brain wave imbalance found in ADHD. Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, describes it as a form of biofeedback where patients learn to self-regulate their brain activity. Through repeated sessions, individuals can train their brains to increase beta waves and decrease theta waves. This process can lead to significant and lasting improvements in attention and focus.

Research indicates that neurofeedback can be as effective as stimulant medications for treating ADHD. The primary barriers to its widespread adoption are the time and cost involved. A typical treatment course requires 30 to 40 sessions, which represents a significant commitment for families.

The Future of Neurofeedback

Technological advancements promise to make neurofeedback therapy more accessible and convenient. Dr. Anton Titov, MD, and Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, discuss the potential for home-based neurofeedback systems. These could function similarly to consumer EEG headsets used in computer gaming. Such devices would allow for treatment under remote physician guidance, drastically reducing cost and time.

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD, emphasizes that this area needs more research but holds great promise. The goal is to empower parents to participate actively in their child's treatment. This innovation could revolutionize ADHD therapy by making a powerful non-drug treatment available to a much wider population.

Full Transcript

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: EEG for ADHD diagnosis is approved by the US FDA. Electroencephalography shows specific changes in brain wave patterns in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. A leading expert on holistic treatment of ADHD discusses the use of EEG for ADHD diagnosis and how to use neurofeedback for ADHD treatment.

EEG for ADHD diagnosis: Dr. Anton Titov, MD. Neurofeedback for ADHD treatment. The use of EEG brain test to diagnose ADHD was approved in 2013. Electroencephalography can be used to diagnose ADHD in children and adults. Beta and theta brain waves change in ADHD.

Can neurofeedback help treat ADHD? Neurofeedback is as effective as medications to treat ADHD patients. Cost and time are problems for neurofeedback treatment. Increasing use of EEG for ADHD diagnosis is helping more kids.

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: Many doctors also use neurofeedback for ADHD treatment. How neurofeedback can become more widespread in ADHD therapy. New technologies can make neurofeedback therapy of ADHD cheaper and faster. Significant and lasting improvement is seen with neurofeedback treatment of ADHD.

EEG test in ADHD diagnosis is an objective criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Video interview with a top holistic treatment of ADHD expert. ADHD without drugs. Video interview with a top expert in pediatric attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD, ADD) and autism. Medical second opinion confirms that ADHD diagnosis is correct and complete.

Your doctors can also use EEG for ADHD diagnosis. It's getting more convenient to apply neurofeedback for ADHD treatment. Medical second opinion also confirms that ADD treatment is required. Medical second opinion helps to choose the best treatment for autism and ADHD.

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ADHD diagnosis by EEG (electroencephalography).

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Using neurofeedback to treat ADHD.

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: There is a new interesting thing that you asked about.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Can EEG help in the ADHD diagnostic process? EEG is electroencephalography.

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: The use of EEG in ADHD diagnosis is really fascinating. The kids with ADHD have different brain wave patterns than kids without ADHD. It is a general rule. ADHD kids don't have enough beta waves. These are EEG waves that reflect an ability to focus attention. We are hopefully using beta waves now.

ADHD kids have too many theta waves. These are your "spacing out" brain waves. It's all normal, but the ratio is a little too little beta to theta waves. You can measure beta and theta EEG waves.

The FDA, the US Food and Drug Administration, has just licensed a beta-theta measurement as a tool for diagnosing ADHD. The FDA hasn't said it's necessary, but they said, "Okay, this is a legitimate method." It can be a legitimate part of evaluating the child with ADHD.

Use of EEG in the ADHD diagnostic process may be something we will see more in the future.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: How to do EEG for potential diagnosis of ADHD? Does it require some special EEG protocols?

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: It's not a routine kind of EEG. It's one that is specially done to measure these types of waves. EEG also measures the ratio of beta to theta waves.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Are protocols available and published to guide those who perform EEG to do the test correctly? Can EEG results be potentially evaluated by a remote specialist?

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: Yes, absolutely. Those are published protocols, and somebody could do the EEG on a person and transmit that very easily.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: How good is the correlation between the EEG abnormalities and clinical diagnosis of ADHD? You can do EEG in somebody with ADHD.

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: The clinical trials vary. Some of the clinical trials show a correlation between EEG and clinical criteria of ADHD diagnosis to be 80% to 90%—eighty to ninety percent. That is very high! Other clinical trials show it wasn't as good. There's more research to be done on the use of EEG in the ADHD diagnostic process.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Certainly for a child who is being evaluated for ADHD, electroencephalogram could be a helpful tool in objective testing.

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: Yes.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: Neurofeedback. What is the role of neurofeedback in treating kids with ADHD?

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: This is really interesting. We talked about the fact that kids with ADHD have different brain wave patterns. It turns out using the biofeedback mechanism can help them. You can train children to change their own brain waves. They can increase their beta brain waves. They can decrease their theta waves.

There have been a number of clinical trials showing that this can be done. That could help ADHD therapy. The problem now is that it's time consuming. It takes 30 to 40 sessions, and it's pretty expensive.

But neurofeedback might be something that in the future will have great potential for treating ADHD. Because with neurofeedback, you're getting people to change the way their own brain is working. This can improve the problem with attention.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: It's known that in computer gaming there are headsets that control the game through the brain waves. Do you think that a similar device could be developed for ADHD therapy? Parents potentially can use it at home to treat ADHD, perhaps under the guidance of physicians. But nevertheless, parents would use such a device at home to reduce the cost and length of treatment.

Dr. Sanford Newmark, MD: That is a possibility. That is something that definitely needs to be researched. It might be used in the future.

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: I hope that somebody is researching that right now because that's a very large opportunity. EEG for ADHD diagnosis. Neurofeedback for ADHD treatment. Video interview with a top ADHD holistic treatment expert. EEG can diagnose ADHD. Neurofeedback ADHD treatment is effective.