EXPERT SERIES 2

NeurofeedbackIn the evolving field of psychol-ogy, education, and medicine,Dr. Lynda Thompson andMichael Thompson M.D. intro-duce the techniques and Infinititechnology they use at the ADDclinic in Toronto to provideneurofeedback for the treatmentof A.D.D./A.D.H.D. as well asother conditions. The methodsthey describe in this article havearisen from thousands of hoursusing biofeedback andneurofeedback with clients from4 to 65 years of age. TheThompsons also describe the3rd Edition of “Setting Up forClinical Success” available onCD, and a new CD that containsscripts. These CD softwaresuites arise from their experi-ence with a wide variety ofclients at the ADD Centre andBiofeedback Institute in Toronto,Canada. Their clients rangefrom top executives and ath-letes just wanting to optimizetheir performance to childrenwith A.D.H.D., learning disabili-ties, Asperger’s, Autism,Tourette’s, to adults with anxi-ety, depression, head injuries,and so on. This experience ledthe Thompsons to developdisplay screens that combinethe neurofeedback with biofeed-back in a manner that clientsfind useful and helpful fordifferent purposes. The Bio-feedback Foundation of Europeis a non-profit organizationlocated in the Netherlands. Formore information on the BFEplease visit our websitewww.bfe.org.

Lynda Thompson, Ph.D., Psychologist, hasbeen a teacher, clinical and school psycholo-gist, and has owned learning centres. She hasgiven invited workshops and lectures on fivecontinents on Neurofeedback and Biofeedback.Lynda became Executive Director of The ADDCentre/Biofeedback Institute in Toronto in 1993.Her doctoral dissertation (1979) dealt withhyperactive children treated with methylpheni-date. She is co-author with William Sears ofThe A.D.D. Book: New Understandings, NewApproaches to Parenting Your Child. She isalso the co-autor of Setting up for ClinicalSuccess and The Neurofeedback Book withMichael Thompson, M.D.

Michael Thompson, M.D. administrates theADD Centre/Biofeedback Institute and teaches.When formerly practicing medicine he wasAssociate Professor and head of post-graduateeducation in Psychiatry, University of WesternOntario, examiner Royal College of Physicians,chairman examinations committee in psychia-try. While Associate Professor, University ofToronto, he was psychiatric consultant to TheHospital for Sick Children’s neurology depart-ment. Numerous professional publicationsinclude; A Resident’s Guide to PsychiatricEducation, and The Neurofeedback Book: AnIntroduction to Basic Concepts in Applied

Psychophysiology. He is also the co-autor of Setting up for Clinical Successwith Lynda Thompson, Ph.D.

Do you both believe that EEG Biofeedback (neurofeedback) is useful forA.D.D./A.D.H.D.?Absolutely! Neurofeedback (another name for EEG biofeedback) gives theindividual the ability to recognise for themselves, what their brain is doing,and learn specific skills to improve their performance at school and at work.While working with A.D.H.D. children and adults, we both had an increasingrealization that other therapies for children and adults diagnosed with A.D.D./A.D.H.D. are only a partial solution. The simple use of Ritalin and otherpharmaceuticals, even combined with behavioural approaches are limited,because the changes they produce are temporary. It is very clear now thatA.D.D. is a neurologically based disorder. We know, with certainty, that it isnot caused by bad parenting or a lack of opportunities. It is, first of all,strongly genetic in nature, definitely brain-based and very definitely neurologi-cal. Moreover a Quantitative EEG (QEEG) assessment helps determine what

Lynda Thompson, Ph.D.

Michael Thompson, M.D.

part of the brain exactly has to betrained and subsequent in-clinicassessments make it possible tocarefully monitor progress. Neuro-feedback software includes usefulmeasurements for trackingprogress during a session and forlooking at trends over time. Theseinclude: average microvolt ampli-tude values (magnitude), % time-over-threshold scores and points.

Lynda, would you say that EEGbiofeedback is sufficient as asingle therapeutic approach totreat A.D.D. and A.D.H.D.?Well, that's a very important point.Neither Michael, nor I look atneurofeedback, as powerful as itis, as a totally stand-alone proce-

dure. In the ADD Centre/Biofeed-back Institute, we’ve alwayslooked at it as part of a multi-component treatment process. Inthe ADD Centre/BiofeedbackInstitute we see Children or Adultsdiagnosed with A.D.H.D. (+Asperger’s or + Seizure Disorder);AND, A.D.D. (+ LD) as well asAdolescents & Adults withruminations, tension, anxiety, +secondary inattention; AND, whowish to Optimize Performance inacademics, business and sports.Our clients all require cognitivestrategies to assure that training‘generalizes’ to their every-dayenvironment. Thought Technolo-gy’s Infiniti neurofeedback system,

which we use, has taken into ac-count the goals for training andmatched them to the most commonbandwidths and BIOFEEDBACKmodalities that are used for feedback(training). Adjunctive techniquesmay involve behavioral work,parenting information, advice on diet,working with the family and, whenappropriate, medication. We do,though, build the entire procedurearound the neurofeedback therapy.

Michael, how does the latestcomputer technology help you?The ability to combineneurofeedback and biofeedback withone instrument allows great flexibilityin individualizing the feedback. Weuse many different systems in ourclinic, but our clients and staff havecome to rely on the Infiniti system forits wonderful display screens forassessment and treatment. Thevariety of multimedia feedback withDVDs, animations, and music offerjust the right type of neurofeedbackfrom simple line graphs and relaxingmusic to the latest DVDs. The Infinitiis used on many of the computersand flat-panel monitors in our center.This technology helps our clientsfocus their attention on the screen,

while the Infiniti system measuresthe different brain wave frequencyranges and also other physiologi-cal measures, like respiration andheart rate.

Lynda, can you tell me a littleabout the “Setting up for Clini-cal Success Suite”?The Setting up for Clinical SuccessSuite has been designed forprofessionals who want to workwith various conditions includingA.D.D./A.D.H.D. as well as ath-letes, executives or performers inthe arts for improved performance.In this suite, Michael and I intro-duce some of the key techniquesbeing used in neurofeedback usingthe Infiniti. The CD providesclinicians a range of displaysapplicable to young children,adolescents and adults. It alsohas a Universal screen that theclinician can modify to meet veryspecific requirements for individualclients. The CD also offers train-ers, who are beginning aneurofeedback practice, a suffi-cient variety of display screens tocover the most common trainingneeds of their clients, and a 150page book that covers clinicallyrelevant material and detailed

“Neurofeedback gives

useful measurements

for defining progress

during a session and

for looking at trends

over time"

Demonstration at a BFE workshop

EXPERT SERIES 2instructions about using the 80screens provided on the CD.

Michael, I understand that youwere the one behind many ofthe assessment and trainingdisplay screens on the “Settingup for Clinical Success Suite(CD)”. Is that right?Yes, I have to admit to spendinghundrends of hours as there ismore than one set of displayscreens in order to give the practi-tioner the maximum degrees offreedom in choosing bandwidthsfor neurofeedback in conjunctionwith measurements of othervariables. It has the five basiccomponents of biofeedback thatcan be combined withneurofeedback including: periph-eral skin temperature, EDR,SEMG, Respiration, Heart Rateand even heart rate variabiliity forbiofeedback. These displays areclearly ordered into functionalgroups that allow the practitionerto do both assessments andfeedback for a wide range ofclients. We have attempted to takeinto consideration the commonuses for neurofeedback andbiofeedback that have beendemonstrated by both researchand experience. The self-installingCD includes over 40 specializedscreens for clinical assessment,stress profiling and to motivateand train clients. A 150-page guidegives practitioners a basic start sothat they can begin using theInfiniti system with a range ofclients.

Lynda, what are some of theimprovements in the 3rd Editionof “Setting Up for ClinicalSuccess” that you are mostpleased with?The Suite has been designed tohelp newcomers to the field to

apply what has been demonstratedby both research and experience.We were very pleased when wereceived the following message froma clinician who recently purchasedthe suite, Dr. Thompson's “SettingUp for Clinical Success, 3rd Ed” isnothing short of brilliant and is veryuser friendly with a manual that Iprinted and keep on my desk rightnext to a worn copy of TheNeurofeedback Book. The single andtwo channel assessments andtraining screens work very well andprovide useful statistics to guidetraining direction and progress. Myfinal comment as someone stilllearning more about neurofeedbackis that we should be sure to train andassess within our level of compe-tence, so as to promote our fieldwell, and of course to “do no harm”to our clients. Quoting a guidingpearl of wisdom from Dr. LyndaThompson, “Promise less and delivermore.”

A second CD containing 12 scriptsfor different symptoms or syndromes

including A.D.H.D. (& Tourette’s),Asperger’s, Dyslexia, Anxiety,Depression, Seizures, and OptimalPerformance has been produced tooffer professionals a method forentering this field rapidly . Theinstruction screens at the beginningof each script describe the goal forfeedback, common electrodeplacements and enhance andinhibit frequencies, biofeedbackvariables and briefly give reasonsfor each suggested feedbackapproach. The screens used ineach script are those found mostuseful by the staff at our centre.

“Setting Up for ClinicalSuccess, 3rd Ed is noth-ing short of brilliant andis very user friendly witha manual that I printedand keep on my desk.”

During the European Biofeedback Confer-

ence on February 19 to February 23, 2008,

in Salzburg, Austria. Dr. Lynda Thompson

and Michael Thompson M.D., will instruct a

workshop on Neurofeedback. Doctors and

other Health Professionals are invited to join

the workshop. Further information available

at www.bfe.org/meeting.htm.

Improve YourImprove YourImprove YourImprove YourImprove YourHealth & PerformanceHealth & PerformanceHealth & PerformanceHealth & PerformanceHealth & Performance

The ADD Centre/Biofeedback Institute is the largest

centre in Canada using EEG Biofeedback for ADD,

with over 100 hours of training provided each week.

Clients include University professors, professionals,

and senior executives who come to optimize perform-

ance. The Centre also works with patients in the treat-

ment of epilepsy, Asperger's Syndrome, learning dis-

abilities, Tourette's syndrome, closed head injury,

autism, mood disorders, tension, and anxiety. The

approach is one of education, training, and learning.

The ADD Centre/Biofeedback Institute began in the fall

of 1992 and currently operates with a Director, CEO,

and 24 part-time staff with university degrees (many

with advanced degrees - Masters and Doctorate

levels) or professional qualifications in education and

health related fields.

The ADD Centre/Biofeedback Institute50 Village Centre Place, Mississauga, ON, L4Z 1V9(905) 803-8066 • (416) 488-2233www.addcentre.comaddcentre@gmail.com

www.bfe.org

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