Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is unique about the Neuro-Therapy Clinic, Inc?
The Neuro-Therapy Clinic, Inc. is a full-service psychiatric clinic that offers advanced testing and treatment of neuropsychiatric problems, including AD/HD, learning, attentional, and behavioral challenges, and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, as well as depression, anxiety, bipolar and other common psychiatric disorders. Using current technological developments such as QEEGs enable our clinicians to “see” into the brain and assess how an individual’s brain activity is impacting their mental health. By understanding how our patients’ neurophysiology relates to the symptoms they experience, we can guide treatment in ways that are personalized, rather than relying on diagnostic criteria that do not take brain differences into account. The Neuro-Therapy Clinic uses this personalized understanding of an individual’s neurophysiology both to better diagnose and to better treat patients. Our use of neurofeedback, Quantitative EEG and PEER Online™, along with traditional psychotherapy, makes the Neuro-Therapy Clinic unique, and leads to better results for patients.

2. Does the clinic do neuropsychological testing?
Our clinic does not perform traditional neuropsychological test batteries. Occasionally we will conduct a computerized neuropsychological screening battery for purposes of diagnosis and treatment; however a full 8-hour battery by a neuropsychologist is needed for legal cases that anticipate using the results in court.

3. What is the philosophy for psychiatric medication use at Neuro-Therapy Clinic, Inc.?
The Neuro-Therapy Clinic, Inc. believes that medications are a valuable tool in helping to correct biological and chemical imbalances impacting patients.  Providers regularly are required to prescribe medications that alter the chemistry and functioning of the brain.  We believe that to do so successfully, we need to first understand and take into account the existing, current makeup and unique signature of each patient’s brain.
 
There are a lot of reasons why we approach medications so judiciously. Most medications have side effects – and some side effects impact daily quality of life. In addition, medications typically need some time to build up in your system in order to have the desired effect; they also take a while to leave your system.  Medications also impact people differently depending on your starting chemistry or physiology.
 
The Neuro-Therapy Clinic has sought new methods of testing to more accurately and objectively diagnose and treat patients. We utilize the brain’s unique electrical patterns to help guide us.
 
New technology has allowed us to “see” into the brain and assess brainwave patterns and brain imagery which were previously invisible. We find that many patients are incorrectly diagnosed based on symptoms or behaviors of a similar problem.

By accurately and objectively evaluating the brain's neurophysiology, we are more precise in our interventions and obtain better results. And, when medications are necessary, we can use a Referenced-EEG® to help us learn which medication has been successful with brains that look similar to yours.  
 
By using advanced technology and highly qualified professionals, we not only can help identify and treat many frustrating and persistent behavior disorders, we can also prescribe medications that are customized for your individual needs, with less trial and error. 

4. What is a neurophysiological assessment?
A neurophysiological assessment varies depending upon the history and needs of each person. The first step in the assessment process is obtaining a detailed history in order to understand the patient’s issues. Based on the history and current issues facing patients, various tests may be required. The tests could include: 1) standardized questionnaires for attention, learning styles, learning modalities, sub-typing of problems based on the latest research in brain blood flow studies, assessment of symptoms of behavior or mood disorders, evaluation of medical conditions and medication responses. 2) Testing how the brain recognizes and tracks a visual and auditory signal to determine if the root cause of the symptom relates to how the brain processes different types of input, 3) a Quantitative EEG (Electroencephalogram), which measures the brain’s electrical activity and how it changes under different conditions, such as resting, reading, or listening. The QEEG can then be compared to a database of normal control subjects the same age, 4) PEER Online™ which allows us to learn which medication has been successful with brains that look similar to yours.

5. What is a QEEG?
One of the analytical methods that sets the Neuro-Therapy Clinic, Inc. apart from other practices is the use of Quantitative EEG, or QEEG technology to help us learn the unique manner in which each brain functions. 

Through the use of one of the most advanced tools developed in psychiatry over the last 50 years, treatment is no longer a guessing game. We are now able to accurately evaluate and understand in an objective fashion both the structure and function of each brain, and to see how behaviors are affected. This allows us to be more precise in our interventions and to obtain better results.

A QEEG (also called a Digital EEG) is a computerized data collection of the electricity the brain produces (brainwaves). The testing is non-invasive and only collects brainwaves—no electricity is ever put into the brain. This data can be helpful in finding the nature of attentional or learning problems since many patients are misdiagnosed based only on their symptoms.

Not only is this test helpful diagnostically, it can also help direct treatment decisions—whether through correct medication choices or other non-pharmacological treatments.  

6. What is PEER Online™?

The Psychiatric EEG Evaluation Registry, or PEER Online™, is based on a transformative idea used to help treat pediatric cancer. In the 1970's, oncologists treating pediatric cancer developed a registry that helped them network and compare treatment regimens and patient outcomes, in order to advance knowledge of pediatric cancer. The system, which is still in place, enables physicians to learn what works and what does not for treating pediatric cancer, and has significantly improved children's cancer survival and recovery rates. 

PEER Online provides the same kind of vital exchange of information between medical professionals who are treating patients with mental health issues. It starts with a digital EEG which records a patient’s brainwaves, much like an EKG does for the heart. And, just like an EKG, the digital EEG is safe and non-invasive. You simply sit comfortably while your brainwave patterns are recorded.

Once we have completed your digital EEG, the Neuro-Therapy Clinic uses PEER Online and the PEER Outcome Report™ to compare which medication treatments have been effective, and which have not been effective for treating patients with similar brain patterns. PEER Online builds on the earlier physician-developed database called Referenced-EEG® (rEEG®). 

7. What is a SPECT Scan and does the Neuro-Therapy Clinic, Inc. perform them?
A SPECT Scan is a form of neuro-imaging which looks at brain blood flow. Usually there are two different scans done on separate days with injection of a radioisotope. These studies have produced significant advancement in understanding the sub-typing of different disorders, like AD/HD.

Although we do not perform SPECT Scans, our evaluations use questionnaires developed to correlate with the results of the SPECT Scan work to predict what the results would be if one were to have been performed. If a SPECT Scan were indicated, we would make an appropriate referral to a clinic providing this service.

8. My child does not have AD/HD but has difficulty in school. Can Neuro-Therapy Clinic, Inc. help?
Our goal is to understand all the factors contributing to the symptoms our patients’ experience. By looking at the underlying brain physiology, via a QEEG, we attempt to ascertain differences in brain processing that may be related to the experienced symptoms.

9. What is neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback starts with a Quantitative EEG (QEEG) which records a patient’s brainwaves, much like an EKG does for the heart. If it is clinically appropriate a QEEG will be collected and our clinical staff will review your test results with you to determine if neurofeedback is a possible treatment option for you.
 
Neurofeedback involves retraining irregular brainwaves into a more normal pattern, with treatment based on the results of the QEEG testing. The retraining process involves placing sensors on the scalp that give both auditory and visual feedback to you while you look at a computer display with colorful images which are paired with sounds. Controlling the computer display with your brain teaches you to produce the brainwaves that are associated with being attentive and still. As your brain masters the game, the training parameters are made more difficult.  
 
By completing repeated and higher levels of difficulty, you can successfully reshape your brainwaves over time and, with enough practice, you can learn to do this without the computer feedback. This process is similar to what the brain does when a person learns to walk, run or ride a bicycle.
 
Retraining the brain using neurofeedback is a natural, low risk, highly effective treatment option that has successfully improved patients’ symptoms.

10. Will the QEEG show such conditions as bipolar disorder? Research is still being conducted, but while there are more established patterns, such as for AD/HD, depression, and anxiety, there is not enough research to support an agreed upon definitive pattern for bipolar disorder. However, given that many symptoms vary across diagnostic categories, it is our experience that QEEG can often help in the differential diagnosis and rule out other disorders that often get confused with bipolar disorder or which co-exist with bipolar disorder, such as AD/HD.

11. Must I have a QEEG to get treatment?
It depends on the purpose of the visit. Having seen and treated hundreds of patients with and without these results, our providers feel that before they prescribe medication for AD/HD, they need to see the results of more objective testing. In other disorders, a QEEG, if recommended, is purely the choice of the patient.

12. What costs will my insurance cover?
Insurance will usually cover the time with our providers or therapists that are on the insurance panel and some of our testing. Insurance does not cover QEEG, PEER Online™ or Neurofeedback. We are happy to discuss all costs before you make any commitment to testing or treatment.