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Advanced
Neurofeedback
Holistic Solutions For
Optimal Brain
Function
In Fewer Sessions
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Frequently Asked Questions
About Advanced Neurofeedback
IS IT SAFE?
Yes,
neurofeedback is completely non-intrusive and safe. In the same way
that you strengthen and build muscles after exercise, neurofeedback
strengthens neural-pathways with specifically tailored exercises. It is
training for the brain; using a learning technique that’s safe and
side-effect free.
WHAT IS IT LIKE?
Patients
usually enjoy it and relax during sessions.
You
recline comfortably in a chair while listening to music or watching a
movie, which reacts to your brain movements. The brainwave sensors are 'read
only' and simply listen to electrical impulses from your brain. When your
brain uses healthy neural pathways, your brain gets rewarded with the full
sound of the music or the movie; otherwise they fade away when you are
using your old unhealthy neural pathways.
While
you are training, we will monitor your progress and fine tune your
protocols to assure best results.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?
Advanced
Neurofeedback is highly effective in the vast majority of patients, and
provides measureable results.
While
it’s not a magic bullet, almost everyone responds to training, and the
results are long lasting when doing enough training. Our clients are
usually complicated cases. However they report significant improvement
towards their goals 75% of the time. 85% report a better quality of life.
The rates are even much higher when patients are compliant with their
recommended individualized protocol.
Like
any therapy it works best with people who are motivated and want to
improve. When the therapy does not work as planned, it is always related to
either metabolic and/or psycho-social issues that are inhibiting the
training. For example, a child or a vulnerable adult living in a physically
or psychologically toxic environment will have difficulty sustaining gains,
unless we address these underlying causes.
HOW MANY SESSIONS WILL I NEED?
Everyone
can benefit from brain training. Self-improvement is a lifelong continuum.
How much is enough is up to you.
Typically
the more severe or habitually entrenched your condition is, the more
sessions are required. It depends on your age and what features we find on
your brain map. We find that patients who don’t address the underlying
metabolic or physiological causes take longer to see changes. For example
hormonal issues can cause anxiety and depression. Toxicity can cause brain
fog, contributing to learning issues or even ADHD.
Since
the process involves learning and every person is unique, the type, order
and pace of change are also unique to the individual. You can expect
the gains to be cumulative over the course of your sessions. For a
mind 'tune up', or if you would just like to give neurofeedback a try to
see if it is right for you, we suggest 12 sessions. For a good degree of
symptom resolution, we recommend a package of 20 sessions.
For
ADHD, we usually recommend a minimum of 30 sessions. For Autistic spectrum
and severe autoimmune disorders, we usually recommend 40 sessions and then
reevaluate. For anxiety and depression, we usually recommend a minimum of
40 sessions. Again, patients who don’t address their underlying nutritional
and metabolic issues will need more sessions.
HOW SOON WILL I SEE CHANGES?
As
with learning any new skill, the effects are cumulative. Most people
experience improvements after the first few sessions; however they will
likely only last a day or two. After more training and further
reinforcement, the changes will last longer.
As
the brain improves, old habits naturally shift into healthier ones. Like
building muscle, strengthening new neural-pathways requires some
practice.
Most
clients notice their first changes within the first eight to ten sessions,
however a minimum of twenty sessions are recommended to ensure that
the changes hold. For more severe conditions, it can take longer.
ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS?
Because
the brain is doing the balancing itself, changes in people’s lives usually
take place quite seamlessly.
Occasionally
clients report an increase of old familiar emotions or past symptoms before
the difficulty passes away and the issue fades out for good. This is called
“retracing”. The brain is a non-linear dynamic network of compensatory
networks. Training the brain is like a Rubik-cube. Sometimes you go
backwards to be able to go forward.
People
often report a feeling of mental fatigue after a session, as when learning
any new skill. You can also expect vivid dreams as part of the process of
becoming healthier.
WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD OF THIS?
Since its earliest beginnings,
mainstream medicine has regarded self-regulation as dubious; hence most
psychologists and physicians have little or no knowledge of neurofeedback research or its clinical
applications.
Scientific understanding of how the
brain works has been changing rapidly. Just a decade ago, brainwave patterns were believed to be unimportant and the
brain fixed and unchangeable. Neurofeedback was deemed 'scientifically
impossible', thus subject to immediate dismissal.
These days, medical science has
realized that those long held beliefs about the brain were simply myths. Neuroplasticity (the brain’s ability to learn and
change through life) is now the focus of scientific inquiry rather than
ridicule. The brain sciences have advanced so quickly that medical
establishments have yet to integrate approaches based on this new
view.
Neurofeedback employs a sophisticated,
evidence-based approach with quantifiable results (see research). Unfortunately, old biases die hard
and mainstream acceptance of neurofeedback is slow.
Change is coming from a fundamental
shift in philosophy, and by consumer demand for simple, safe, common-sense
solutions.
DOES MY INSURANCE COVER IT?
As
discussed above, mainstream acceptance of neurofeedback is slow. This is
also the case with insurance companies. Neurofeedback coverage by HMOs and
Medicare is virtually non-existent. However PPOs may cover some or all of
the procedures.
You
can call your insurance to verify your benefits by giving them the following
information:
·
Patient name and first name
·
Your group number and ID
·
Diagnosis code e.g. F90.9 for
ADHD, F41.1 for GAD, F33.0 for depression, etc. (when not available, use
the name of the condition you seek help for)
·
Ask whether your plan covers the
CPT codes for the following EEG biofeedback procedures:
o 95816
(EEG Recording; eyes closed and eyes open)
o 95957
(Digital analysis of EEG)
o 90901
(EEG biofeedback)
·
Ask for the maximum allowed
amounts per CPT code
·
Ask whether there is a limit to
the amount of visits
·
Ask whether there are any other
limitations on the coverage for this diagnosis and the above procedures
·
Ask whether there is a deductable
that needs to satisfied, and how much has been satisfied today
·
Ask for the name of the individual
you are talking to
·
Ask for the reference number of
your call
We
encourage you to always submit your statements to your insurance company,
even when you were told that there is no coverage.
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