Kinderheilkunde

wahr

Biofeedback and neurofeedback

... for a better understanding of the body

What are biofeedback and neurofeedback?

Biofeedback and neurofeedback are intervention techniques derived from the field of behavioural health. Using various technical aids, these techniques mediate the biological signals of the human body back to the patient and help him or her to consciously understand these.

The objectives of biofeedback and neurofeedback are:

  • to reveal psycho-physiological correlates
  • to improve the perception of the body's processes
  • to learn how to take control of the body's processes

 

Our body consistently signals information on on-going biological processes. These signals include information on blood pressure, breathing, the regulation of body temperature, muscle tone, the electric conductivity of the skin, and the activity of individual brain waves. Normally, we perceive these only vaguely or not at all.

State-of-the-art technology helps to utilise the graphic representations of these processes for therapeutic purposes. This type of treatment doesn't cause any pain and can even be fun.

How does training work?

Imagine that a few sensors have been attached to your body, e.g. to your fingers, shoulder muscles or head. These sensors now measure your body signals and show them as a graphic visualisation on a computer screen. Similar to a PC game, you can now influence them by changing your body signals. So for example you can now move pictures across the screen.

Depending on what problem you would like to work on, you can train how to influence your breathing, your muscle tone, the degree of your body's tension or relaxation, or the activity levels of your brain waves.

As you receive direct feedback on successful changes to your body signals, you and your brain learn to consciously and unconsciously change your body signals. Actually, it's almost like memorising a poem.

What can biofeedback and neurofeedback be used for?

  • ADD / ADHD (attention deficit disorders)
  • behavioural disorders
  • epilepsy
  • auditory processing disorder, also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (APD/CAPD)
  • concentration deficits
  • brain function deficits
  • migraine
  • sleep disorders
  • tension headaches
  • writer's cramp
  • stress symptoms
  • Raynaud's syndrome
  • muscular tension
  • muscle pain, e.g. back strain
  • teeth grinding (bruxism)
  • anxieties
  • post-traumatic stress disorders
  • diseases of psychological origin and implications of physical illnesses or injuries
  • body perception disorders
  • neurological deficits, e.g. after strokes

 

An integrated treatment approach to ADD / ADHD including neurofeedback, behavioural training and occupational therapy

Attention deficits (ADD / ADHD) usually result in a range of multi-layered problems. To meet the needs of the individual patient, it is sometimes necessary to approach these with a range of different treatment methods. We offer our patients and their families an integrated therapy approach that combines proven treatment and therapy methods. This includes sensory integration therapy, neurofeedback, biofeedback and behavioural training based on Dr. Jansen and Streit's IntraActPlus concept®.

A practical example

Neurofeedback for ADD and ADHD

Especially in the area of attention deficit syndromes, with or without hyperactivity (ADD / ADHD), neurofeedback has achieved some remarkable successes.

Therapeutic approaches for children, adolescents and adults with attention deficits that include neurofeedback are based on the assumption that the central nervous system's activity regulation is impaired. In other words, there is too much or too little activity in certain areas of the brain.

Similar to behavioural training, neurofeedback aims at improving 'personal steering' skills, i.e. the ability to exercise inner control. Neurofeedback training can improve intrinsic regulation by helping to gain a certain degree of control over one's brain activity.

An electroencephalogram (EEG) is used to differentially and directly determine the electrical activity of the brain. Here, a distinction is drawn between two different procedures, firstly the deduction of frequencies of the spontaneous EEG and, secondly, the feedback of slow brain potential. This has become possible due to rapid advances in the fields of neuroscience and biofeedback technology. To children and patients, however, the treatment seems like a playful activity: They see an image on a screen, e.g. a snail, that moves only when certain brainwaves become stronger or weaker. The therapist assists the child or patient with instructions on how to regulate their brain activity and, in doing so, move the snail across the screen.

Further information

Biofeedback for children and adults with migraines and headaches

According to the German Migraine and Headache Society (DMKG), biofeedback is as effective as medical approaches in treating migraines. This is because it significantly reduces the frequency of the onset of pain. Internal control achieves the same objectives as medication, namely a reduction in the diameter of certain blood vessels in the brain.

The patient can see the diameter of the blood vessel on a screen and learn how to reduce it. We support this training process with behaviour therapeutic interventions and a targeted use of specific relaxation periods. This way, children who are open-minded about computer games can learn to reduce their pain by themselves.

If neurofeedback and biofeedback are such successful therapy methods, how come I have never heard of them before?

Although many clinics have been applying these therapy methods for years, they've only recently gained importance in the fields of behavioural therapy and behavioural health. While they are widespread in the United States, most faculties of medicine and psychology in Europe haven't started teaching them yet and the first major European studies on their effectiveness have only been undertaken recently (see www.dgbfb.de). Given that the required medical equipment is also very expensive, we're very pleased to be able to offer this form of treatment at our centre.

 

For the following diagnoses: