| The moment a child with learning disabilities enters | | | | can also be quite empowering. |
| the classroom, he or she is confronted with | | | | Children find neurofeedback sessions entertaining |
| numerous challenges. Children with dyslexia and | | | | because many therapists use computer games to |
| other disabilities can be made to feel stupid, in | | | | bring about the desired changes in brain function. |
| spite of the fact that they may work much | | | | During the sessions, the therapist attaches thin |
| harder than the rest of their classmates just to | | | | leads to the child's scalp using a water-based gel. |
| keep up. For these children, frustration and | | | | This is completely comfortable and pain-free. |
| discouragement are a daily part of life. | | | | Some children may have even seen this |
| For many years, no one really knew how to deal | | | | procedure on TV shows. An EEG machine then |
| with learning disabilities like dyslexia because | | | | reads the child's brain waves and responds in |
| experts were unable to pinpoint its cause. Most | | | | certain ways. |
| educators simply ended up trying different | | | | For instance, some machines are connected to |
| methods of teaching, and some would give up | | | | computer screens with games that involve getting |
| and write these children off as slow or unworthy | | | | an airplane to fly or a DVD movie to play. When |
| of the extra attention, or conclude that they | | | | child's brain is in the right mode, so to speak, the |
| weren't trying hard enough. Now, however, there | | | | game responds the way they want it to. After |
| may be a helpful tool for children with learning | | | | several neurofeedback sessions, the child's brain |
| disabilities - a therapy known as neurofeedback. | | | | may learn to operate within the normal |
| Neurofeedback therapy uses information about | | | | frequencies, and when the therapy is complete, |
| the brain's electrical energy, or brain waves, to | | | | the brain may continue to function effortlessly |
| literally change the way the brain works. Many | | | | within these frequencies. |
| children with learning disabilities are simply stuck, | | | | In addition to helping the child overcome learning |
| so to speak, in the wrong brain wavelength | | | | disabilities, the ability to play a game using only |
| patterns. But through neurofeedback, their brains | | | | their mind can give a tremendous boost to a |
| might be able to be taught to operate on an | | | | child's self-esteem. Children with learning disabilities |
| entirely new level. In fact, a 1985 study found | | | | can spend all of their school years just trying to |
| that children with learning disorders who were | | | | get things right. Now, however, they have visible |
| treated with neurofeedback therapy showed an | | | | proof that their mind can make things happen. |
| average IQ increase of nineteen points. | | | | This is especially powerful if children start to |
| Relatively few full-scale studies on neurofeedback | | | | notice real-life differences after their first 10 - 20 |
| and learning disorders have been conducted, but in | | | | neurofeedback sessions. |
| several case studies, children have shown | | | | If you know a child who struggles with a learning |
| remarkable improvement after neurofeedback | | | | disorder, you no doubt want to do everything in |
| therapy. An added benefit of neurofeedback | | | | your power to help that child operate at his or |
| treatment is that, unlike many other forms of | | | | her full potential. Neurofeedback is one therapy |
| therapy, it can actually be fun for children, and it | | | | that may do this for children. |