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MIDDLETOWN, Connecticut May 9, 2000
--- CBS News
In the second of two reports about the two to three
million American children diagnosed with hyperactivity and attention
disorders, CBS News Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Kaledin
tells about the search for ways to treat attention disorders in
children without powerful drugs.
Like average 9-year-old boys, Kristopher Shonta is
nonstop action. But when it came to school, his inability to sit
still was not average.
Karen Shonta, his mom, says, "Kristopher
was falling behind in classes. He had a problem, difficulty reading,
doing math, concentrating."
His parents, Karen and Steven, were told he had attention
deficit disorder and that the drug Ritalin could solve the problem.
Without hesitation they refused.
"I was dead against it. Karen was also."
says Steven Shonta.
"It doesn't cure the problem. It only
hides what's there," added Karen Shonta.
Parents of children with attention deficit disorder
have few treatment options. Doctors say drugs like Ritalin can have
an 80 percent success rate but it can also mean years of keeping
a child medicated. Kristopher's parents went looking for an alternative.
What they found was neurofeedback.
"What happens to children with attention
deficit disorder is that they have a disregulation of their brain
function," says Dr. Jonathan Michealis.
In the first of what will be about 30 sessions, Dr.
Michealis and his colleagues will attempt to help Kristopher re-regulate
his brain function by controlling the brain waves that disrupt his
ability to focus.
Using only his powers of concentration Kristopher
must keep a green space ship ahead of two others. If his mind wanders
or he fidgets, the other space ships gain ground meaning that the
same brainwaves distracting him in class are taking over.
"It's a skill that they learn just the
same as riding a bicycle or learning to play a sport,"
says Michealis.
Five months of neurofeedback appear to be working
wonders for 8-year-old Kyle Lapidus.
"He reads more books than I've ever seen
him read -- ever-- since he started school and his grades have improved
immensely," says Mark Lapidus.
"Michealis has treated about 400 patients
and claims an 85 to 90 percent success rate." says
Dr. Peter Jensen.
Jensen warns our understanding of the brain is not
yet sophisticated enough to prove to parents neurofeedback works.
"When there are high costs for innovative
new treatments that have fancy names or fancy technologies, it's
very easy for parents to be misled that this new hope will actually
address their child's problems," says Jensen.
At one $125, a neurofeedback is more expensive
than drugs and insurance won't cover it. But to some parents there's
a bigger price to pay subjecting their children to years of medication.
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