QEEG, What?!

New Year's Resolution #1-  Become a quasi-expert in my children's health issues.

I spent the morning at the University of Utah with Dr. Cory Hammond, an expert in Neuro-feedback.  This form of treatment has been around since the 70's and 80's.  Just five weeks ago I had never heard of Neuro-Feedback and now it may change two of my children's lives.

The complexity of the brain is facinating.

In my field of Child Development I often get asked the question:  "Why 'all of the sudden' are there so many ADD or ADHD or Anxiety or Mood Disorder or Austism diagnosises?"  It's good question.  We read about it in the newspaper.  Hear about it on television and radio shows.  So what it really going on inside the heads of these people.  Is it for "real" or is it just an excuse for poor parenting or poor lifestyles or totally over-diagnosed?

I professionally wonder if the diagnosises were less "subjective" would parents be so hesitant or even in denial if they could "see" what was actualy going on inside their child's head.

This morning I was offered a chance to see inside of one of my own children's brains.  It's called QEEG or Brain Mapping for those of us without medical degrees.

Brainwaves occur at various frequencies.  Some are fast and some are quite slow.

Beta- brainwaves are small, faster brainwaves linked with a state of mental intellectual activity and outwardly focused concentration.  This is basically at state of bright-eyed alertness.

Alpha- brainwaves are slower and larger.  They are associated with a state of relacation and basically represent the brain shifting into idling gear, relaxed and disengaged waiting to respond when needed.  Fascinatingly, if we close our minds and picture something beautiful and peaceful in less than 30 seconds our alpha waves increase.

Theta-  brainwaves bring a profoundly calm, serene state that occurs just before we fall asleep.

Delta- brainwaves are the slowest, highest amplitude brainwaves, and are experienced when we are asleep.

If we are drowsy there are more delta and theta brainwaves creeping in and if we are inattentive to external things and daydreamy there is more theta present.  If we are exceptionally anxious and tence, an excessive high frequency of beta waves are often present.  People with ADD or ADHD, learning disabilities, anxiety, Aspergers, autisim, depression or mood disorders, strokes or even addiction, chronic fatigue syndrome just to name a few have excessive slow waves present.  When an excessive amount of slow waves are present in the frontal parts of the brain it becomes difficult to control attention, behavior, and/or emotions.

With electrodes placed in just the right spots on the scalp these brainwaves can be measured and mapped for an individual and then run through a data base of thousands of brainscans of "normal" people of the same age to determine the special needs of that individual.

So here it is.  Proof.  These diagnosises are not just excuses for poor functioning or behavior.  There is a tangible picture to show what is actually going on inside these unique brains.  To hold a map in your hand which explains "why" is both validating and comforting, mostly because with that map a treatment can be designed and hope is given.

Tomorrow I will share more about Neuro-Feedback, which uses the brain mapping to guide treatment.