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Orange County: San Juan Capistrano &
Irvine |
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First in Orange and San Diego Counties |
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QEEG MAP OF ADOLESCENT WITH ADHD & ANXIETY The QEEG Map’s normative data for ADHD were developed by Dr. Linden and others in several multi-site studies (Neurology 1999 & 2001). Dr. Linden combines the neurological report with several other tests that results in the discriminate ability to distinguish 5 subtypes of ADD, 5 subtypes of Autism/Asperger's, the presence of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, neurological deficits and learning disabilities. This state of the art method is a significant advance over how we did this in the past. The Attention Learning Center has always led this field in the latest innovations in treatment technology, and we will continue to make available only what we believe is credible and best for our patients. Treatment
Trust
For example, a family may be in crisis because a child is extremely depressed, out of control at home, or on the verge of being dismissed from school. In these instances, we are uniquely equipped to handle these crises with family therapy and medication to quickly stabilize the situation. (We have experienced psychiatrists with a practice philosophy that utilizes medication as a temporary aide, not a permanent solution). Many of the schools, churches and pediatrician offices in Orange County are familiar with our ability to handle crises and refer these patients consistently. If your are located in Orange County, your pediatrician knows us. We are honored by their trust. Child and family counseling, social skills training, behavioral therapy, support groups , school consultation and medication are available from experienced Clinical Psychologists and Psychiatrists. Be careful of treatment centers or doctors that only use medication, Neurofeedback therapy, or who rely only upon talk therapy because they do not believe ADD is a real condition! We feel these are substandard practices for a complex and potentially devastating disorder. |
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During
the past two decades, much has been learned about the nature of ADHD and
Autistic Spectrum Disorders, and the types of treatment that can help
children, teens and adults succeed. At the forefront of such clinical
efforts are psychologists like 
The QEEG Map (below) is a 19 channel EEG which looks for abnormal brain wave
patterns (i.e. slow waves) over the part of the brain called the
cerebral cortex (frontal, central, parietal, temporal & occipital). The
slow wave brain activity is the tell-tale marker that distinguishes the
ADD & LD child from children who do not have this condition. (The slow
wave activity is also why stimulant medications are used.) These highly
sensitive measurements are taken under several testing conditions such
as while the eyes are closed, eyes open & reading tasks. These
measurements produce the map above. Once the data is collected during
testing it is sent to a Neurologist who reviews the EEG findings for
additional neurological problems and suggests cortical areas for
treatment focus.
If the EEG map reveals the slow wave activity, the patient may be a
candidate for Neurofeedback Therapy. In brief, NeuroFeedback therapy
alters the underlying abnormal brainwave patterns that ADD patient’s
have with a safe, computerized biofeedback procedure. How does this
work? The patient is taught to recognize when they are producing slow
wave activity (theta) and to switch from this inattentive style to the
fast wave activity (beta) that occurs when they are paying attention.
This is done via a sophisticated computer program that can measure
whether the child is focusing or day dreaming. The child watches a
computer image, such as a jet flying, a puzzle being completed, or
listens to their favorite CD. What happens is that the jet flies, the
puzzle gets made or the music plays only while they are paying attention
and producing the desired brain wave pattern. Once they improve at early
levels the difficulty increases. This makes the improvements in
attention more robust and long lasting. The long term and often
permanent results are that the child is conditioning their brain to pay
attention. 
NeuroFeedback Therapy can be a vital component of the ADD patient’s
treatment plan but it isn’t for everyone. This is very important to your
child and family given the complex nature of this condition. Unlike some
of our local competitors, we will only recommend Neurofeedback Therapy
if we think the outcome will be positive and if other things in the
family are not pressing.