ADHD

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can cause children and adults severe difficulties with behavior, attention, and social skills. If you or your child has symptoms of ADHD, visit Steven Zimmerman, DC, of Zimmerman Chiropractic in Charleston, South Carolina. Dr. Zimmerman uses the safe, painless, drug-free BrainCore™ neurofeedback system to improve brain function in the areas affected by ADHD. To learn more about this innovative ADHD treatment, call Zimmerman Chiropractic today or book an appointment online.

What is ADHD?

ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) starts in childhood, usually around the time a child starts school. It can cause ongoing problems with unwanted behaviors and emotional difficulties, with symptoms that might include:

• Being unable to concentrate
• Becoming easily overwhelmed or frustrated
• Angry outbursts
• Difficulty completing tasks
• Restlessness
• Inability to engage appropriately with others

Some children have mostly attention problems; others struggle more with hyperactivity issues. Many children have a mixture of symptoms. As children enter adulthood, these problems rarely go away and often continue to cause difficulties with work and relationships.

How is ADHD treated?

The standard treatment for ADHD is behavioral treatment and medication.

Behavioral treatment shows you how to moderate your reactions so you don’t encounter so many difficulties in day-to-day life. Medication stimulates the neurotransmitter dopamine, a brain chemical associated with attention, pleasure, and movement.

Stimulant medication treats the symptoms of ADHD but doesn’t tackle the cause and isn’t a cure. Some people find medication very helpful; others don’t experience many benefits. Dr. Zimmerman offers a long-term solution using neurofeedback.

How does neurofeedback help with ADHD?

Neurofeedback transforms abnormal brainwaves into a healthy, more organized pattern. Your brain stabilizes and can operate more efficiently.

Neurofeedback, or EEG biofeedback, is a non-invasive, drug-free way of teaching your brain to function better. It involves engaging with simple, pleasant learning exercises that alter how your brain generates and disperses electrical energy. 

The brain produces electrical impulses called alpha, beta, delta, and theta frequency bands. During everyday activities, certain areas of the brain need to be active, using the faster beta frequency. When you want to relax, you need the slower alpha frequency.

Neurofeedback improves your brain’s ability to shift smoothly between relaxation and arousal. This also encourages normal functioning of emotional, attention, and affect regulation, enabling your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to function regularly.

What happens when I have neurofeedback for ADHD?

Dr. Zimmerman uses the state-of-the-art BrainCore neurofeedback system. He connects you to a computer using wires with sensors on them, which enables the BrainCore technology to monitor your brainwave activity. BrainCore automatically identifies properly ordered brainwaves and feeds the information back to you in real time.

Feedback appears as a sound or game that indicates your brainwaves are adopting healthier patterns. Your brainwaves control the game, so watching how this works helps your brain learn to regulate itself more effectively.

To find out how BrainCore neurofeedback could help with your ADHD, call Zimmerman Chiropractic today or book an appointment online.