WHAT IS EDUCATIONAL THERAPY?
Educational therapy is a one-on-one, individualized
instructional process designed to discover the pathology of
learning that is interfering with the client’s successful
achievement. An educational therapist is not a tutor. A tutor
specializes in providing intensive instruction in a specific
subject area. An educational therapist addresses a wide
variety of issues that affect academic and work-related
performance, as well as academic remediation.
Educational therapy focuses on understanding processing
difficulties and/or disabilities which interfere with learning and
attempts to assist the client in developing learning strategies
designed to help cope and/or overcome learning differences.
Educational therapy addresses academic remediation, low
academic self-esteem, poor social skills, and organizational
and study skills. At Offstein Educational Therapy,
Incorporated, a variety of services are available to the client,
including EEG Neurofeedback Training, academic
assessment, and remedial instruction in reading, written
language, and basic arithmetic concepts.
WHAT IS AN EEG?
The human brain is like a complex mini computer. It sends
messages to the body and receives messages from the body
by using electricity. The brain does this using a complex
network of specialized cells called neurons, combined with
specific hormones and chemicals produced by the body and
the brain for this purpose.
Your brain produces four distinct types of rhythmic electrical
impulses known as brain waves, labeled with the Greek letters
Alpha, Beta, Theta, and Delta. Brain waves are measured in
electrical units known as Hertz. Hertz is a standard unit of
measurement equal to a frequency of one cycle per second.
Each brain wave has it’s own unique frequency range. Beta
measures 15 Hertz and above. Alpha is 8-14 Hertz. Theta is
4-7 Hertz. Delta is less than 4 Hertz.
People usually produce a mixture of brain waves
frequencies at any given time. An electroencephalogram, or
EEG, is a recording of brain wave activity. Brain waves are
measured and recorded using an instrument known as an
EEG machine. Normal focused waking state consists primarily
of Beta. When you close your eyes and relax the brain, Alpha
waves tend to be produced. The slower Theta and Delta are
normally dominant during sleep.
When there is a brain injury or irregularity, the brain tends
to produce too much Theta frequency while the brain is
supposed to be awake and alert. All-Digital, Real-Time EEG
Neurofeedback uses a special computer and amplifier to
display the brain waves in less than one-thousandth of a
second delay. All-Digital, Real-Time EEG Neurofeedback
provides immediate feedback for retraining of the brain.
During All-Digital, Real-Time EEG Neurofeedback training, a
person learns to inhibit this abnormal amount of Theta and
bring the brain back into balance.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING A SESSION?
In All-Digital, Real-Time EEG Neurofeedback training, non-
invasive, painless sensors—called electrodes—are placed on
the surface of the head. The electrodes do not have needles
and do not produce any electrical current. The electrodes
enable the brain wave patterns to be amplified and displayed
on the computer screen. There are two colored columns to
the left of the brain wave patterns. One is green and the other
is yellow. These columns give information about the brain
wave activity and move up and down as the brain waves are
being produced.
WHAT DO I DO DURING THE SESSION?
Your job is to keep your brain’s attention on the task. You
do that by simply relaxing and watching the yellow column.
The process of changing the brain’s activity is unconscious.
Your brain knows what to do and you can help the very most
by relaxing, observing, and encouraging your brain.
HOW DO I MAKE THE YELLOW COLUMN STAY DOWN?
It is not possible to “make” it happen. As your brain attends
to the information on the screen, it will make this happen
without you trying. The process of changing your brain’s
activity is unconscious, just like other brain functions such as
controlling breathing, blood pressure, body temperature or
healing a cut finger.
HOW LONG IS A SESSION?
The actual time spent on the machine is usually 30
minutes. Extra time is required to place the electrodes, set up
the machine and discuss progress. Each session lasts about
40-45 minutes.
HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL IT TAKE?
Individuals are different and learn at different rates.
Conditions vary in the amount of time needed for correction.
The more complicated or severe the condition, the more
sessions are needed. Uncomplicated attention deficit
disorder usually takes 30-40 sessions. Migraine headaches
usually need 15-20. Most conditions require 40-60 sessions.
Some conditions, such as epilepsy, severe head injury, or
coma recovery may need many more sessions.
WHEN WILL I SEE SOME CHANGES?
Some change is usually seen within the first 10-12
sessions. However, there are individual variations and some
people experience changes in 3 sessions and others after 30
sessions. Because there is such a wide variation, it is helpful
to keep track of your progress with short notes or a brief diary
of what you are experiencing. Include what your symptoms or
concerns are just before you begin treatment and note
changes you or your family, friends, and/or teachers notice as
you go through the sessions. You can also receive a copy of
the summary of each session to see changes in brain wave
patterns.
WHAT KINDS OF CONDITIONS CAN BE HELPED BY ALL-
DIGITAL, REAL-TIME EEG NEUROFEEDBACK?
No claims are being made to cure or diagnose any illness,
disease, or condition using All-Digital, Real-Time EEG
Neurofeedback. However, many people have reported
experiencing improvement after being diagnosed with one or
more of the following conditions:
Anoxia (oxygen deprivation)
Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Autism
Birth injuries
Cerebral palsy
Closed head injury
Cluster headaches
Coma
Concussion
Dyslexia
Epilepsy
Fibromyalgia
Learning Disabilities
Migraine headaches
Near drowning
Open head injury
Parkinson’s Disease
Pervasive developmental disability
Post-neurosurgical trauma
Post-viral brain injury
Stroke
Unipolar depression
Whiplash
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP IMPROVE MY TRAINING
SESSIONS?
Eat a well-balanced, high-protein, low-sugar diet that
includes fresh fruit and vegetables, and whole grains. It is
important to include high quality animal protein in your diet to
help heal the brain, therefore eat lean meats, chicken, and
fish. If you are a vegetarian it is especially important to
include eggs and cheese. Drink 6-10 glasses of water daily,
(soft drinks, tea, and coffee don’t count). As much as
possible, avoid refined sugars, caffeine, chocolate, cola
drinks, artificial sweeteners, artificial preservatives, and
chemical additives. Do light exercise, walk or swim as often
as possible. Be sure to get plenty of sleep, especially before
and after your sessions. Take balanced nutritional
vitamin/mineral supplements to maintain a healthy body and
brain.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT SOME PARTS OF THE BRAIN
CONTROL?
The brain is divided into two halves, known as the right and
left hemisphere. Each hemisphere is also divided into
sections called lobes. Many parts of the brain are
interconnected and control similar functions, but each part
also has unique functions. The following provides a limited
explanation of some brain functions.
Frontal Lobes:
Ability to feel and express emotions
Ability to understand feelings of others
Anxiety and panic attacks
Attention span
Balance
Control distractibility
Control hyperactivity
Control rage/anger
Control time management
Feelings of self-worth
Impulse control
Judgment
Learning from experience
Maintaining focus
Organization
Problem solving
Procrastination and initiation of action
Social anxiety
Visual perception
Right Temporal Lobe
Creativity
Emotional control
Fine Motor Control
Memory
Social skills
Visual learning
Visualization
Left Temporal Lobe
Auditory learning
Control of aggression
Language skills
Logical functioning
Math skills
Reading skills
Short-term memory
Speech
