| In this article we're going to discuss some alternative | | | | This way he can learn to slow down or speed up |
| treatments for someone suffering from | | | | brain waves.Another thing that can be done is to hook |
| ADD.Unfortunately some people suffering from ADD | | | | up an interactive metronome to the patient. This |
| cannot handle taking medication, either for | | | | metronome will assist the person suffering from ADD |
| psychological or physical reasons. For these people | | | | in focusing his attention through sound and movement |
| their only recourse is taking an alternative path.There | | | | patterns. This is supposed to also have a calming |
| are many alternative treatments for ADD. We'll be | | | | effect on the patient.Then there is EFT, or Emotional |
| going over the most common.One way to treat a | | | | Freedom Technique. This involves stimulating specific |
| person who has ADD is through what is called | | | | acupressure points while speaking certain words that |
| behavioral modification or intervention. This is a direct | | | | reinforce behavior. This seems to trigger changes in |
| negative or positive reinforcement of the behavioral | | | | the neurological system.Another form of therapy is |
| changes we want to have take hold in the child. For | | | | what they call "Animal Assisted Therapy" or AAT. |
| example, a child in class who never raises his hand | | | | This is the practice of getting a pet for the child to pet |
| before asking a question might be given a small | | | | and even to take care of. This teaches the child |
| reward by the teacher for restraining himself enough | | | | responsibility and keeps his mind occupied. Many |
| to raise his hand before asking the question. This is | | | | children who care for pets become more self |
| reinforced over and over until it becomes second | | | | regulated and calmer.A very effective form of |
| nature to the child. In other words, the child learns to | | | | treatment is the small specialized classroom. These |
| raise his hand in class before asking a question. Even if | | | | classrooms fill in gaps in learning that the child may |
| the child still blurts out the question after raising his hand | | | | have missed in his regular classroom, because of |
| he is still rewarded for raising his hand to begin with. It's | | | | frequent outbursts. These classrooms incorporate |
| a small step but an important one. The theory behind | | | | learning with periods of vigorous physical activity, |
| this is that rewarding the struggle towards changing | | | | opportunities for success, and attention and reward for |
| the child's behavior encourages the new full | | | | every accomplishment. These classrooms also provide |
| behavior.Another alternative treatment for ADD is the | | | | naps for proper sleep and good food for proper |
| use of neurofeedback. This is where electrodes are | | | | nutrition.In the final article in this series we are going to |
| attached to the scalp so the patient can actually see | | | | discuss how parents can cope with a child suffering |
| the brainwaves working. By doing this he can see the | | | | from ADD and what support groups they have |
| effect on his brain of staying calm in a given situation. | | | | available to them. |