I was diagnosed by one of the pioneers in neurofeedback. Yes, neurofeedback can help one overcome some of the symptoms of a brain injury. It does not undo the injury but just helps the brain find new ways to do the same damaged process. The brain is constantly making new neuronal connections. Neurofeedback helps it use these new connections to regain functions lost. It is focused on specific problems, not used for global brain recovery.

It does not lessen the risk of second impact. Its value in diffuse axonal injury is limited. Second, it cannot overcome the weakness a brain has after a concussion. I am not discounting its value in certain situations. It can be a life saver.

Speech therapy works on the same principle. It challenges the brain to use different parts to accomplish the same task.

Although there may be a Big Pharma smear going on to discredit it. there is a good organization that provides accreditation to practitioners in an attempt to maintain good standards of practice. BCIA.org is constantly working to update the industry.

Hi Mark,

I'm not sure how long it has been since you did neurofeedback, but they now have machines that do train the brain globally. The three that I know of are the pROSHI, LENS and Z-Scoring.

The pROSHI uses brain wave disentrainment to train the entire brain in areas of global coherence and phase synchrony. It shows the brain what a "zero point" is, and the brain tries to get to that point. A zero point is a brain totally at rest and very alert, sort of like a brain of a zen monk. I don't really understand the technology behind it since it uses stochastic processes and other engineering/statistical gobbledegook.

The LENS is a system that delivers an electromagnetic field to your brain at a very, very low intensity. The brain, for reasons I don't understand, will be nudged in the direction you want it to go in. For example, if you are training for alpha coherence all over the brain, you simply introduce the alpha frequency to your brain and it begins to produce that frequency. Again, this is done on a global basis.

The Z-Scoring system places 4 electrodes onto your scalp and trains for coherence, synchrony, etc between sites. It matches your brain up to a "normal brain (whatever that means)" and statistically measures the standard deviations in real time. I also don't understand this technology either, but I'm sure you get the gist of it.

So, there are treatment modalities out there that train the brain on a global basis. I absolutely agree with you in that with a concussed brain, you can't simply train at one site and expect to get results. Took me two years of training to figure this out. I personally use the pROSHI and it has been working quit well.

So, I would encourage you revisit neurofeedback. Make sure that you get with someone who is up to date on the technology. Unfortunately, especially the "poineers" because they are stuck on doing things the old fashioned way, a lot of therapists don't use these new techniques for whatever reason.

Thanks to all who have offered insight and advice. Mark, you certainly do your homework! The website regarding mouthguards was very helpful. No worry about drugs and alcohol. We are trying to instill a good sense of right and wrong, regardless of whether or not it'll affect his mental processes in the wake of a concussion.

My son is doing much better. He is back to school (he missed because of the headaches) and back to being sassy. It has been about a week with no headaches and his emotions have stabilized. No other symptoms have appeared but I am still keeping watch. He skated for the first time yesterday, but nothing strenuous. He is ready to resume his normal boy activities, but I'll be keeping him quiet for a while longer.

Rocks,

Glad to hear he is doing better. My biggest concern is second impact. About a year ago, my mom started telling me and others about some of my symptoms after my bad concussion at ten yo. The part that impacted me most was when she said that after my concussion, I was not her sweet little boy anymore.

I had known about the academic struggles the concussions caused. I did not know about the personality changes. It all makes sense now. I lost most of my friends after that concussion. I could not figure out why.

My wife has noticed personality changes after concussions I received as an adult too. I now depend on her to help me with response control. My SSDI attorney noticed how well we work together.

I thank God for my wife. Without her I would just be a blabbering idiot. Now I just blabber.