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.

Children with Learning Disabilities or ADHD – What is Neurofeedback Treatment?

Expected Results from using Neurotherapy or Neurofeedback Treatment with Children with Learning Disabilities or ADHD

Parents have many questions related to the expected results from neurotherapy or neurofeedback treatment when treating children with learning disabilities or ADHD. What changes can a family expect when using neurofeedback therapy? How quickly will children with learning disabilities or ADHD change from neurotherapy?

Understanding the expected results up-front will help you determine the type of treatment plan you choose for your child. Typically each child is different and will respond differently to various treatments, but you will at least understand the time and money involved in the process.

Asking for results is wise when considering neurotherapy or neurofeedback therapy for children with learning disabilities. Typically families see the child’s “symptoms” subside within 20 to 40 sessions of neurotherapy or neurofeedback therapy, with treatments scheduled 1 to 2 times per week. Those “symptoms” could include temper tantrums, problems with homework, the ability to study or work independently, socialization issues, gaining and retaining friendships, integration of sensory information or difficulties responding to an adult’s requests in a reasonable manner.

The good news is that neurotherapy or neurofeedback therapy can create long lasting effects and help the family start to rebuild relationships. Most people are surprised with the positive results when the human brain is trained to work more efficiently. The brain exercises involved in neurotherapy 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 in school and social situations.

Testing for Learning Disabilities: Brain Mapping or qEEG

The Human Brain: What is brain mapping or qEEG testing? How can it help children with learning disabilities?

There are many questions a parent may have related to testing for learning disabilities. What is brain mapping or a qEEG assessment? How can it help children with learning disabilities?

Contacting 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. Then the parent can make an informed decision on how to move forward and help their child.

Brain mapping or qEEG (quantitative electroencephalograph) is a measurement of the human brain and its electrical activity.  The brain map is a view of how the human brain functions. To get this information, a mesh cap with 19-21 sensors is placed on the head. By means of  digital computer technology, brain functions are recorded while the person uses different parts of the brain. For example, first the person is sitting with their eyes open for a short time, then sitting with their eyes closed, reading an article and finally working on simple mathematical tasks.

This mind map presents a picture of the brain or a series of mind maps of each brainwave frequency and the average level of activity for each frequency. Brainwave frequencies are different depending on whether the person is sleeping, relaxing or working. The human brain map is then compared to a database of people similar in age and gender to the client in order to determine where the human brain activity is too high or too low. Finally the qEEG results in a collection of brain maps and detailed information summarizing how the human brain functions in each of the different frequencies or brain states. This information helps to determine the underlying deficiencies in the brain that may be contributing to the issues of children with learning disabilities.

The good news is that there are therapies that address the human brain activity when it is too high or too low. 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 in school or in social situations.

Children with Learning Disabilities or ADHD: What is the Definition of Learning Disability?

Many people have questions related to what is the definition of learning disability? Does my child have a learning disability or why does he have behavioral issues? What can be done to help my child?

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 issues with how the child’s brain functions or if there are learning disabilities present. The parent can then make an informed decision on how to move forward and help their child.

Approximately 30 percent of all children have some form of learning disability. Learning disabilities are a complex set of problems that are sometimes difficult to diagnose because they only happen occasionally at first but compound over time. Some adults and children with learning disabilities have brains which do not process information in an efficient manner. Typically learning disabilities, if not caught early, will create sizeable problems for children in school beginning around age five. Then the learning disabilities could start to manifest into behavioral issues in children as well.

Approximately 85 percent of children with learning disabilities have difficulty reading, speaking, writing and/or listening. Many children with learning disabilities don’t remember things well, which means learning math, science and other subjects in school may be harder for them than other children.  About 33 percent of children with disabilities also have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). It then becomes a problem with multiple complexities.

There is no standard definition for learning disabilities; however, many times the learning disability might show that there is a problem called dyslexia; which means it takes the child more time than the average child to read, spell and comprehend. Sometimes the learning disability may be associated with dyscalculia; difficulty with math problems, using math to get to solutions, and problems with sequencing or timeframe management. At other times the child may have a problem with dysgraphia; writing, being able to write and think at the same time, unfinished words or sentences.

These learning disabilities can be made more complex if there is also a sensory disorder involved – such as sensory integration dysfunction disorder or sensory integration processing disorder. Many times children with disabilities also have problems with the integration of sensory information. For example: the child might say that lights are too bright, sounds are too loud, clothing tags itch or certain foods feel funny in their mouth. The child may have balance issues or be “clumsy” and sometimes will experience motion sickness when in a car or bus.

The good news is that there are therapies that address areas where the human brain has problems. 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.

Temper Tantrums in Children with Learning Disabilities or ADHD

Dealing with temper tantrums in children is always a struggle – but could there be more going on than just behavior issues? Does your child have a learning disability or ADHD? Are you at the point that you don’t know what else to do?

Your child may be overwhelmed by the situation and so many things happening at one time. If the child’s brain is having difficulties integrating all of the sensory information – then temper tantrums could be the result. Check out this video for more details!