Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Twice Exceptional Neurofeedback for ADD - week 2 and hopeful

Update:
For a couple weeks dd said she really didn’t notice any big changes beyond the improved sleep, this was while the therapist was working on the “racing thoughts and general anxiety” but she kept going to her sessions. I asked the therapist if he thought it would be a good time to go ahead and try different ADD meds since we weren’t seeing any more results. He suggested waiting until we had finished 35 sessions to make the decision about trying meds.

She has now had 35 sessions and WOWIE WOW WOW!!! Here are some of the things she has /we have noticed:

She noticed she is suddenly no longer afraid to sing along to the radio in the car (fear of other people seeing her in traffic and laughing at her previously prevented her from enjoying this activity).

She said her internal monologue is much more pleasant (?)

She can think more clearly and hold on to thoughts much longer.

She just knows the correct answers to things off the top of her head whereas before she would have to work through and really think about how to arrive at the correct answer i.e. quick math, situational analysis etc.

She said she is having spontaneous thoughts like “if I do my laundry now, I won’t have to get up early tomorrow to do it”. She said this one had her a bit concerned because she has always despised people who plan ahead and are organized and this was such a foreign type of thought for her coming from her own brain that she started to think she might have been brainwashed. But then she realized this really isn’t such a terrible way to be and she was quite pleased about it.

I have noticed DD consciously catching herself and redirecting her energy in situations where she would previously have shut down or had an outburst of anger. For example, I was driving and needed to make a call, I picked up my cell at a red light and she started to huff, previously she would have just gone into a silent angry rigid mode and expected me to know what was wrong, but she instead took a breath and calmly vocalized that it made her uncomfortable when I used the phone while driving. (This was a real win-win because I was able to get her to enable my blue tooth which I hadn’t gotten around to figuring out how to do yet)

I have noticed that she is now willing to put her appointments into the calendar on her phone.

I have also noticed a bounce in her step and a lot more smiling and laughing, voluntarily hanging out and chatting with us, more willingness to hug/be hugged and just an all around much happier nature.

This is all snowballing in very positive way because all of these little changes are so noticeable, there are constant opportunities to praise and reinforce the positive behaviors and we don’t even have to think about the fact that we are doing this, it’s just happening because it is so awesome to see these changes, we can’t help but to comment on them.

DD has only a few more sessions to go. I mentioned to her therapist that I had read that for some people it could take 60 to 100 sessions to see complete results and he said no, with most people 40 is enough unless the therapist is just unskilled.



I don’t really know about the writing because she hasn’t had any required writing over the summer. I don’t want to treat her like a guinea-pig by demanding that she produce something just to see if she can…But I have suggested that she try out her new “super powers” and see what else besides math is easier now. That said, (and I don’t want to jinx anything here) she actually bought herself a notebook last week and she was happily showing me how she had a little bag packed with the new notebook, a pen and a book to read. She explained that she had some ideas for songs and poems and wanted to write them down; she also said that by carrying this bag with her, she would no longer fear arriving at appointments early because she would have something to do in the waiting room. This in turn would help her to not be late anymore. I asked “so you’re planning ahead?” She sheepishly grinned and said “well, yeah, maybe”. (She has always vehemently rebuked any attempts on our part to teach her organization or planning skills, so this is huge).


This is my understanding too. For my DD, the first 10 sessions worked on the part of the brain that regulates EFs and sleep (front of the head), then she worked on racing thoughts/general anxiety for about 10 sessions (top of the head), then social anxiety (right side of the head I think).

Yes, this can’t be emphasized enough!


Wow, how difficult for you and how brave. Your DS is very lucky that you are not just accepting traditional recommendations. My brother was diagnosed with severe scoliosis as a child and the doctors wanted to put him in a painful back brace for years. My mom researched it and chose to instead work with a chiropractor, in the 70’s, this was unheard of. My mom was frowned upon for her choice, but my brother did the exercises, took the supplements and had the adjustments, he turned out fine and was able to avoid the brace entirely.


From what I understand, it would absolutely make a difference even at her age (as long as she isn’t in the 20% that it doesn’t work for).


I look forward to hearing about your experience; I sincerely hope you have great results like we have had.