Concussions are an accepted hazard in contact sports. In years past athletes would just get back in the game and continue to play. As a result, some of these athletes are now suffering with depression, uncontrolled anger, inability to concentrate or problem-solve.
28 year-old professional hockey player, Derek Boogard was known for being the toughest fighter on his team. He had 206 documented fights on the ice since he was 17 years-old. His last fight took him out of the game in December, 2010 and he died 5 months later. The autopsy report showed his cause of death to be from a mixture of alcohol and pain medication. This tragedy may have been avoided if he had not had so many head injuries.
Short-term memory loss is one of the most common side effects of brain injury. People can have trouble remembering names, phone numbers and other previously familiar information. Concussions also make it harder to pass a test. Often the brain will improve on its own over a couple weeks to months. The danger is the cumulative effect of multiple concussions.
Concussions can also happen in any type of accident where the head impacts a hard surface. Even with wearing a helmet the brain could still be injured. Clues are when someone has trouble forming their sentences. They could have trouble reading or comprehending what they read. They can’t do simple math calculations. They have delayed reaction time. Their balance and coordination are off.
Even mild concussions can have lasting effects. The brain has communication highways called neuropathways. The brain signals traveling these pathways are like a multi-lane freeway that carries thousands of cars. When there is an accident – the freeway lanes get blocked and cars can’t move. The same kind of thing happens to the brain signals.
Research shows that the brain has the ability to re-wire itself. There is a technology called neurofeedback (NFB) that is a strategic exercise the brain does with a computer so it can re-wire itself and regain function. Neurofeedback has been around for over 30 years. This training helps the brain create new pathways that can act like a commuter traffic lane around the blocked freeway lanes so the signals can speed past the traffic jam.
Sue was in a terrible car accident 8 years ago where she hit her head so hard that it caused her to see double for years. She had trouble concentrating and doing her job. She went to many doctors – some helped, but she still struggled. She came into my office for a brain exam which showed she had abnormal EEG signals in the left front and right rear of her brain. She did neurofeedback (NFB) brain training exercises and after 10 hours of training started noticing an improvement in her awareness of her surroundings. She described that before the NFB she felt like she was in a tunnel, using lots of energy to just keep focused. After 20 hours of training she laughed more and was surprised at how much more was going on around her that she had noticed.
If you or someone you know has had a concussion or an even more serious brain injury, they could be helped with neurofeedback. The initial brain evaluation measures the brain signals in the areas that were either injured or the areas where function has been lost. The brain has brainwave signals just like the heart does. These brainwaves have distinct patterns that can be recognized as abnormal injury signals. The computer has a neurofeedback training exercise that can help the brain re-wire itself.
Information about memory loss, the EEG brain analysis and neurofeedback. If you have any questions please give me a call at 408-526-9423 and I’m happy to listen to your concerns and tell you if neurofeedback could help you.
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