Since video games are captivating for most children, why not use them to teach developmentally delayed kids how to learn? Video games are now being used in connection with EEG neurofeedback, which has shown tremendous promise for children with ADHD, Asperger’s Syndrome, and Sensory Integration Dysfunction.
Fox News Reported yesterday about the benefits of EEG (electroencephalogram) neurofeedback, where special electrodes are attached to a child’s head (it’s painless) to monitor brainwaves while he plays a stimulating video game. As long as the child remains tranquil and focused, the game will function properly. If the child’s brainwaves become erratic, the game will malfunction by either causing a disturbance in game play, beeping, or freezing, etc. The video game provides a built-in motivator because the child wants to continue playing the game, and must maintain a sense of inner-calm in order to do so. In this way, the brain is literally trained to focus properly. When the brain has an improper or exaggerated response to stimuli, it is rewarded for moving toward more appropriate patterns. The child is then able to “learn” how to focus in the same way that he or she learns that the red button means jump and the blue button means run.
The good news: EEG neurofeedback has had an 80% success rate with children of all kinds of developmental delays. Various kinds of conditions including ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, bed wetting, seizures, and migraines can all be treated using different techniques. Many children have shown a marked improvement in their ability to concentrate in school, and have even improved their social skills. Parents have reported that their children’s hyperactivity, impulsive behaviors, and tantrums have greatly decreased or been eliminated.
The bad news: Sessions are expensive, and often 24-45 sessions will cost over two thousand dollars. Few insurance plans will cover EEG neurofeedback. However, you can contact the foundation for your child’s disorder, or special education personnel in your child’s school district to ask about support in pursuing the treatment for your child.
If your child has difficulty with concentration, impulsivity, hyperactivity, seizure disorder, or has other problems, investing in and researching neurofeedback may be well-worth it. For more information, visit www.eeginfo.com.
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here. Some links on this blog may have been generated by outside sources are not necessarily endorsed by Kristyn Crow.