Neurofeedback Helps Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions

Neurofeedback Helps Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions

It is estimated that traumatic brain injuries, or TBI’s, impact 1.7 million Americans, with adolescents (ages 15 to 19) and older adults (age 65 and older) among the most likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury.  Traumatic brain injuries affect how the brain works and can cause several different types of symptoms such as memory loss, brain fog, cognitive problems, executive functioning problems, behavior changes, emotional changes, and personality changes. It can be a stressful life event not only for the person who has sustained the injury, but for loved ones. 

A concussion is a form of a traumatic brain injury that may result when a jolt or blow to the head causes the brain to strike the inside of the skull. Concussions are common in sports like football, hockey, soccer, and boxing, but also occur in day-to-day accidents such as a fall or auto accident.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2019, about 15% of all U.S high school students self-reported one or more sports or recreation-related concussion within the preceding 12 months.  Concussions are often accompanied by headache, confusion, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, memory loss, and trouble sleeping.  Often symptoms of a concussion appear immediately following an impact but may also develop after the fact.  Symptoms can last from minutes to months to years in some cases.     

Neurofeedback is a non-invasive form of therapy that uses EEG biofeedback to assist in the recovery process from traumatic brain injuries and concussions. It’s painless and doesn’t require you to do anything during your session. Neurofeedback works by retraining the brain to optimize its circuitry after an injury. It can be analogous to physical therapy for the brain, where the brain practices improving its functioning via stimuli in the form of audio and visual feedback. It is not effortful on the part of the person, but their brain is getting a workout. This technique was first used in the 1950s for patients suffering from epilepsy, but it’s now being used for a variety of conditions including anxiety, depression, sleep issues, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain and even ADHD.

EEG Biofeedback Is Non-invasive, Painless and Has No Side Risky Effects.

Neurofeedback is a form of brain training that requires little effort by the client. A typical Neurofeedback session takes between 30-45 minutes and entails sitting in a comfortable chair in a quiet environment and simply watching a specialized computer screen. Sensors are placed on the scalp to monitor brainwaves in real time. There is nothing going into the brain, so it’s painless and non-invasive.  Another benefit of Neurofeedback is that it has no risky side effects. The brain is simply learning in a similar way it gets feedback from gravity when learning to walk, ski, or ride a bicycle.

Neurofeedback Therapy Works by Retraining the Brain.

Neurofeedback therapy works by retraining the brain. It is a process that helps you break the cycle of prolonged trauma symptoms, restores balance, and increases your ability to manage stress and anxiety, your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.

Utilizing specialized equipment that measures the brains electrical activity, the brain can learn how to monitor and change dysfunctional brainwave patterns. When provided by a trained practitioner, Neurofeedback is effective in retraining the brains functioning, alleviating symptoms, and improving overall wellbeing.

Neurofeedback Can Help You Break the Cycle of Prolonged Trauma Symptoms.

Neurofeedback therapy is a non-drug intervention that helps the brain learn how to regulate itself. It’s like learning a new language or sport, but instead of teaching you how to play soccer, Neurofeedback teaches your brain how to self-regulate and balance its own chemistry, (without drugs), via teaching the brains electrical system how to function better. Studies have shown that Neurofeedback can be effective at reducing symptoms such as headaches, anxiety, depression and PTSD in both military personnel as well as civilians.

Neurofeedback Has Been Proven to Be Effective for Treating Traumatic Brain Injuries and Concussions.

Neurofeedback has been proven to be effective for treating TBIs and concussions. In fact, it is one of the few non-invasive treatments that has demonstrated positive results in treating both traumatic brain injuries and concussions. Neurofeedback is a safe and drug-free treatment that can help retrain the brain and alleviate distressing symptoms, such as headaches and brain fog. “By identifying how each person responds to specific stimuli and learning about their unique symptom clusters and goals, our Neurofeedback practitioners can tailor protocols designed for each individual client”-Pamela Downey, MS, Emerald Coast NeuroFeedback

Emerald Coast NeuroFeedback is a proud partner of Homecoming for Veterans, a national outreach program that provides free Neurofeedback training for veterans for the rehabilitation of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and issues resulting from traumatic brain injury, blast injury, and concussions.

You Don’t Have to Do Anything during a Neurofeedback Session.

During your Neurofeedback session, sensors will be attached to your scalp and forehead and EEG biofeedback software will measure brainwave activity in these areas. This information helps determine whether your brain is functioning properly. Different protocols may be used to help make changes to improve the balance of electrical signals within your brainwave patterns, so they work more efficiently together.

The Brain’s Electrical Activity Is Monitored during a Neurofeedback Session.

The electrodes placed on the scalp will measure the electrical activity of specific areas of the brain to monitor your brainwaves. The sensors are connected to specialized computer software that displays data in real time. During your training, this data is then used to help your brain learn how to get into and out of states of activity that are creating your symptoms.

Your Brain Learns How to Optimize Itself by Optimizing Your Brainwaves.

Neurofeedback works by retraining your brain. The electrical activity of your brain is monitored during a Neurofeedback session providing your brain second to second feedback in real-time. This helps your brain reorganize itself into proper balance.

The process of optimizing these brainwaves involves the use of sensors placed at specific points on your head that measure the electrical activity in different parts of your brain. Because many times there is no known cause for an imbalance in these waves, Neurofeedback is an especially useful modality as no formal diagnosis is required to train the brain effectively. This method can also be helpful when used with other treatments such as medications or psychotherapy (to address depression or other mental health concerns) or physical therapy.

Neurofeedback Therapy Is an Effective Way to Treat TBI’s, Concussions, and Their Symptoms.

Neurofeedback is an effective way to treat traumatic brain injuries and concussions along with their symptoms. Neurofeedback therapy helps break the cycle of prolonged trauma symptoms by retraining areas of the brain that are underactive, overactive, or unstable.  Unlike some other types of treatments for traumatic brain injuries and concussions, Neurofeedback is non-invasive, painless, and safe. It can be used with children and adults of all ages. 

Neurofeedback therapy can also be used in conjunction with other forms of therapy. There are several options available when it comes to traumatic brain injury treatment, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and cognitive retraining therapy (CRT). Neurofeedback offers a natural solution that not only retrains your brain for optimal functioning but can also improve your overall mental health by helping with sleep issues and enhancing emotional regulation. It is often used after other therapies have shown fewer promising results or together with these therapies for a comprehensive approach to recovery.

Neurofeedback therapy is a safe and effective option for traumatic brain injuries and concussions. It has helped the recovery process for many people who have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, as well as their loved ones who suffer from the effects of those injuries. It can be combined with other treatments or used independently when appropriate.