Epilepsy was one of the very first therapeutic applications of Neurofeedback in 1972 when Barry Sterman eliminated seizures in a 23 year-old female epileptic, who came off medication and was able to get her drivers license. Because seizures are known to be caused by a direct misfiring in the brain, Neurofeedback can be used to reduce, if not eliminate, the symptoms of seizures.
“Our 11-year-old was diagnosed with autism and experienced frequent seizures. After neurofeedback, the seizures were reduced in frequency and duration. Our child is happier, willing to do more things, more cooperative, socially engaged, and open to learning and exploring.”
– Parent of child with autism and seizures
Partial seizures involve a part of the brain. They can be:
- Simple partial seizures — Symptoms may include involuntary twitching of the muscles or arms and legs; changes in vision; vertigo; and having unusual tastes or smells. The person does not lose consciousness.
- Complex partial seizures — Symptoms may be like those of partial seizures, but the person does lose awareness for a time. The person may do things over and over, like walking in a circle, rubbing the hands together, or staring into space.
Generalized seizures involve much more or all of the brain. They can be:
- Absence seizures (petit mal) — Symptoms may include staring and brief loss of consciousness.
- Myoclonic seizures — Symptoms may include jerking or twitching of the limbs on both sides of the body.
- Tonic-clonic seizures (grand mal) — Symptoms may include loss of consciousness, shaking or jerking of the body, and loss of bladder control. The person may have an aura or an unusual feeling before the seizure starts. These seizures can last from 5 to 20 minutes.
“From our first conversation, Nicole believed wholeheartedly that neurofeedback would help me. She is completely attentive and devoted to improving my life. This process is truly amazing and so is Nicole McGuffin.”