Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is the most common type of brain injury. A traumatic brain injury is caused when any external force leads to brain dysfunction. This could be the result of a concussion from a car accident, or a forceful blow to any part of the head. A TBI can result in either short-term or long-term effects depending on the severity of the injury. Some symptoms of a TBI, or post-concussive syndrome, include brain fog, reduction in cognitive ability, headache, amnesia, loss of language ability, difficulty concentrating, confusion, distorted or blurry vision, and irritability or mood swings.
Research indicates that EEG neurofeedback, which is a form of biofeedback, is an effective treatment for TBI. A brain map or QEEG analysis is generally recommended prior to treatment to illustrate the most injured parts of the brain. Our neurofeedback for traumatic brain injury in NYC helps treat the symptoms of TBI by increasing cortical gray matter and white matter, and increasing thalamo-cortical connectivity.
People who have a TBI tend to be sensitive to neurofeedback training. Brain Mapping is an essential part of our approach to TBI. We target brain regions based on the client’s symptom history. Our approach is to monitor any symptoms of discomfort (i.e., headache, dizziness) and to work slowly at first and gradually increase the challenge as brain resiliency improves. Since we are encouraging the brain to regenerate and build new connections, the beginning of treatment may feel somewhat exhausting. However, many of our clients who have TBI report improved vision and concentration immediately after their sessions. Once the client achieves symptom reduction we work to establish previous levels of stamina, focus, processing speed, and concentration
At NFSNY, we encourage all of our clients to get a QEEG, which provides us with important information about the brain’s current state and capability. While some neurofeedback centers do not offer this service, we are able to perform the QEEG in our office. You will then have the option of reviewing a written report with our director, Mark Smith. For some people, this can be an extremely illuminating and validating experience. It is one thing to “know” you have symptoms of TBI or post-concussive disorder, and it is another thing to “see” the effects of the injury with your own eyes. Individuals with TBI may be more sensitive to neurofeedback because of the vulnerability of certain brain areas. It is therefore imperative to have a trained professional in the room with you at all times during training.
If you or someone you know suffers from the effects of TBI, please do not hesitate to call and schedule a consultation at (212) 877-7929 or request an appointment online