Learning Disabilities St. Louis: What Happens Without Treatment?

Dr. Collins is a board-certified neurotherapist and expert at solving kid’s problems typically related to children with learning disabilities or dealing with adults with learning disabilities. Dr. Collins is also successful handling common challenges related to children with ADHD or ADD symptoms, sensory integration dysfunction disorder, and he works to create a parent support system for dealing with child discipline issues.

Some of the more common questions people ask Dr. Collins are related to whether learning disabilities will go away over time without treatment. Will my child grow out of their learning disability? Why do adults still have learning disabilities? When a person understands how the brain works in adults and children with learning disabilities, it is easier to see why some treatment is necessary to help the brain.

Dr. Collins says it is not likely that learning disabilities will subside without some treatment. Most adults and children with learning disabilities also have a sensory disorder. This means that when too much sensory information is received by the human brain at one time, it becomes overwhelmed.

In a child or an adult with a learning disability, the brain is not processing information fast enough or in the most efficient manner. This means that all of the sensory information is being delivered to the brain but the brain is having a hard time making sense of the information. This overload shows in the person’s face as they struggle to understand what is being said or attempt to follow directions. No matter how many times someone repeats the directions or information, the brain is not translating the words into something understandable and everyone becomes frustrated. The brain will continue in this pattern unless it is shown a more efficient way of operating, ultimately the brain cannot independently fix itself.

The good news is that there are therapies that address how the human brain works and helps to produce better outcomes. These brain exercises or neurofeedback therapy are much like physical exercises, which enhance the way the mind works and helps adults and children with learning disabilities, who are also struggling with work, school or social situations. After neurofeedback, children and adults with learning disabilities no longer need to struggle. They find that school, work and social situations are no longer a problem.

ADHD Treatment in St. Louis, MO: Typical Neurofeedback Session – What to Expect

After Brain Mapping or QEEG: Typical Session of Neurotherapy or Neurofeedback Therapy for Adults and Children with Learning Disabilities or ADHD – ADHD Treatment in St. Louis, MO

There are many questions parents have related to a typical session of neurotherapy or neurofeedback therapy. What do you do during the appointment? How does it work? How can it help children with learning disabilities?

Understanding what happens during a typical neurotherapy or neurofeedback therapy session will help eliminate some of the fear and angst a parent has about the treatment. Neurotherapy does not involve needles or any pain to the child, it is a safe environment for the child to learn how to utilize their brain potential.

Neurotherapy or neurofeedback therapy is often suggested for children with learning disabilities. Neurofeedback therapy and training typically involves using three sensors, some types of neurotherapy use a full mesh cap and nineteen sensors on various locations on the head and ears. For neurotherapy or neurofeedback therapy which is using three sensors, one sensor is placed on the ear and the other two are positioned on the scalp at specific locations determined by the information from the brain map or QEEG.

The client sits at a computer station with two monitors and a technician or neurotherapist assisting in the neurotherapy or neurofeedback therapy. After taking an initial brain map reading of the client’s brainwaves, goals are set to increase or decrease a particular frequency. These goals pertain to something the brain needs to work on, for example relaxing or focusing.

When the goals are met, positive reinforcement or feedback occurs. This is usually through visual cue, such as an airplane flying and an auditory signal, such as a bell ringing. For example, if a client has increased certain brainwave frequencies and lowered other brainwave frequencies, then the plane on the screen starts to fly and a bell will ring. It is through this process that brainwave patterns shift over time. Many times the technician or neurotherapist can also use movies or video games to help engage children with learning disabilities.

These brain exercises or neurofeedback therapy are much like physical exercises, which enhance the way the mind works and helps children with learning disabilities, who are also struggling with school or social situations.

Costs for Brain Mapping or QEEG and Neurofeedback Therapy for ADHD and Learning Disabilities

What is the cost for brain mapping or QEEG and neurofeedback therapy for children with learning disabilities or ADHD?

There are many questions a parent may have are related to the cost of testing for learning disabilities or ADHD. What does brain mapping or a QEEG assessment cost? What is the fee for the neurofeedback therapy or neurotherapy for children with learning disabilities?

Working with a professional to obtain testing for learning disabilities, brain mapping, QEEG or an academic assessment will help the parent understand if there are any issues with how the child’s brain functions.

Brain mapping or QEEG (quantitative electroencephalograph) is a measurement of the human brain and its electrical activity.  It typically takes a neurotherapist or trained technician about 2 hours to complete the assessment. The cost will depend on the experience of the provider, if they are board-certified, if they compare the QEEG data with a comprehensive database, as well as the hours involved in analyzing the data and presenting the report. The cost for a brain mapping or QEEG will range from $800 to $1,000. The QEEG results in a collection of brain maps and detailed information summarizing how the human brain functions and helps determine the underlying deficits in the brain that may be contributing to the issues of children with learning disabilities. Once these deficits are determined neurofeedback therapy may be an option for treatment. The costs per treatment session range from $175 to $200. Sometimes children with learning disabilities could require 20 to 40 sessions over the course of 3 to 6 months.

The good news is that some insurance plans are paying for a portion of these services. Call the brain mapping or neurofeedback therapy provider and work with them to contact your insurance company and understand your benefits. Knowing how much of the costs will be covered up-front or reimbursed to you at a later date will help you determine how to move forward with therapy for your child.

How Do Adults and Children Get Learning Disabilities?

How do adults and children get learning disabilities?

There are many questions a parent may have related to what causes adults and children to get learning disabilities. Are learning disabilities hereditary? What did I do to cause the learning disability in myself or my child?

There may be factors of heredity may be involved in children with learning disabilities. Problems during pregnancy and birth can contribute to various learning disabilities as well.

Then there are problems after birth such as head injuries, poor nutrition and exposure to various toxic substances (lead, mold, etc.) that can increase the chance of a child having a learning disability.

Just because a child has a learning disability does not mean that they are not smart or are slower than other kids. Quite the contrary, they usually have an average or above average intelligence. There are many famous people who had learning disabilities such as Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Thomas Jefferson, and many others.

The good news is that there are therapies that address issues in the human brain which contribute to the symptoms of learning disabilities. These brain exercises or neurofeedback therapy are much like physical exercises, which enhance the way the mind works and helps adults and children with learning disabilities, who are also struggling with work, school or social situations. After neurofeedback, children and adults with learning disabilities no longer need to struggle. They find that school, work and social situations are no longer a problem.