When we hear the term ADHD, most of us associate it with children. You picture the “hyperactive” child who can’t sit still and disrupts the classroom. However, did you know that ADHD also affect adults? Around 5% of adults in the U.S. suffer from ADHD and it can greatly affect their job, family and other personal relationships.
The frustrating thing for those who suffer from ADHD is the lack of options that traditional medicine has to offer them. Medication is really their only choice, and sadly medication for ADHD often has many unwanted effects, no to mention the dangers associated with drugging the brain, especially in children.
Did you know that ADHD is actually a brain disorder? The good news is that there are other options out there for managing ADHD without the use of drugs, and functional neurology is a great place to start. These practitioners have extensive training in functional neurologyand brain function and they focus on helping patients with ADHD and other brain disorders restore their normal brain function.
A functional neurologist begins care with a thorough physical and neurological evaluation and this includes creating a “brain map.” This is specific information that your provider will record about your brain and it tells your practitioner exactly where imbalances are occurring. Your provider can then recommend the appropriate brain-based therapies and lifestyle changes based on your individual needs. The brain map is used to direct computer-assisted therapies such as Neurofeedback, which works by gently balancing and improving the brain’s communication pathways within itself through light and sound stimulation.
With an understanding that brain disorders often cause imbalances in other body systems, your provider may also recommend comprehensive laboratory testing in order to get the complete picture of your health. It may be necessary to balance other body systems in order to improve brain function and vice versa, and a functional neurologist takes all of these factors into consideration when customizing care that is specific to each patient’s individual needs.
ADHD can greatly affect the quality of your life whether you’re an adult or child. Don’t settle for taking medication that may not be right for you. Contact a functional neurologist to learn how brain mapping and other brain based therapies may help you improve your brain function and reclaim your life.