The use of neurofeedback therapy to alleviate and treat the symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has evolved significantly, becoming a promising option for the treatment of this condition. This process works by measuring patterns and outputs of your brain and then comparing it to ideal brain function and cognitive states.
What Is A TBI?
TBI pertains to a sudden injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. It is known to cause problems with behavior, cognition, attention, and emotional sensitivity. According to an analysis by Jacobson (2015), two million cases of brain injuries occur every year in the United States. Some of the patients recover entirely, but around 50% continue to endure symptoms for six months or more after the injury.
When a brain injury occurs, the damage is usually focused on the frontal lobe. Frontal lobe damage can cause changes in a person’s personality and mood and affect one’s ability to plan, concentrate, control their emotions, sustain attention, and form memories. In some cases, the loss of the sense of self occurs. However, most of the brain injury patients remember themselves and how they use to function.
What Are The Symptoms of a TBI?
The symptoms that come with TBI ranges from mild to severe. While it is possible for the symptoms to be serious, most patients experience only mild symptoms such as concussions. TBI’s more severe symptoms sometimes lead to severe psychological and physical problems, coma, and death, in some cases.
How Does Neurofeedback Therapy Help TBI?
In cases of TBI, neurofeedback is probably better than any medication or supplement. – Richard Brown, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
Neurofeedback therapy is one of the most common methods used to treat and alleviate TBI’s symptoms. By utilizing Quantitative Electroencephalogram (qEEG) and specialized computer software, the neural functions are regulated, training the brain’s self-regulating activities through the process of operant conditioning. If you want to find out more about neurofeedback check out this article- What Is Neurofeedback?
What Does The Research Say About Neurofeedback Therapy and TBI?
From a systematic review conducted by Wang, Mantini, and Gilbert (2017), the outputs demonstrated that training promotes learned brain signal modulations, varying at both behavioral and neural levels. Furthermore, the review showed that this technique is also a useful option for stroke rehabilitation.
A review of Foster and Thatcher’s (2014) research verified the efficiency of using neurofeedback therapy in treating mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The studies established that it only takes around ten neurofeedback sessions before starting to see improvements in patients. As the neurofeedback methods improve, the number of sessions needed to see gains are reduced.
Zorcec (2011) studied the utilization of neurofeedback training and its effects on 6 TBI patients, all of them sustaining car accident injuries. Cognitive difficulties were considered the primary concern after conducting a QEEG assessment on the patients. After 20 neurofeedback sessions, 5 out of 6 patients were able to resume their education, all reported improved quality of sleep, mood, and cognitive abilities.
Moreover, neurofeedback was used to treat brain injury patients in a study performed by Ayers (1987). Two groups were involved throughout the process. One received psychotherapy while the other received neurofeedback. The neurofeedback group reported reduced symptoms of anger, outbursts, anxiety, and mood issues. On the other hand, the other group showed no improvement with these symptoms.
Conclusion-
Neurofeedback therapy is a research-proven method to improve brain function through the use of intensive brain-training exercises. As a patient, you can expect the process to be simple, non-invasive, and painless. The program is generally developed to help you alter your brain activity, just like how you learn other skills through practice and feedback.
If you are looking for a safe, effective, and drug-free way of relieving symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, you need to check out neurofeedback therapy. At our wellness center in Littleton, CO, we help people daily improve and heal from TBIs. Find out if neurofeedback therapy will work for you we offer a free, no-obligation, evaluation to see if this is the right treatment for you. Schedule online today or call our office to find out more information.
With over 20 years in the field, Dr. Dody is a seasoned chiropractor specializing in Functional Nutrition, Neurofeedback, and the Koren Specific Technique (KST). His unique ‘whole person approach’ identifies the root causes of health issues, offering patients not just relief but lasting wellness. Recognized for his expertise, Dr. Dody’s treatments often yield dramatic improvements from the very first visit.
