It’s difficult to quantify what the most effective ADHD treatment is. Because a child experiences more problems than hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention, it’s not uncommon for parents to use more than one method to treat ADHD.   But which of these treatments have the most impact?  According to a new survey from Consumer Reports, stimulants are the most effective ADHD treatment for kids, but parents still think it’s not enough.  In fact, the survey notes that kids who tried alternative treatments besides medication did better than kids who were on medication only. As for the most effective non-medical treatment for ADHD, it turns out that sending children to a school better equipped to deal with ADHD made all the difference.

Consumer Reports spoke to 934 parents of children with ADHD and asked them about various topics, from the impact of ADHD medications to the effects of alternative treatments like behavior therapy and diets.  It was discovered that 84% of parents medicated their children at some point, and that 67% of them reported that the stimulants were helpful.  What’s surprising is that not all of the parents were satisfied with the effects of medication, even those who reported that they reduced hyperactivity and inattention.  Only 52% of parents believed that if they could do it all over again, they would medicate their children, whereas 44% also wished there was another way to treat ADHD.  It’s likely that these findings were due to the various side effects of stimulants, which were reported by 84% of parents.

As for treatments beyond medication, 45% of parents discovered that switching their kids to a school that can handle ADHD helped their children “a lot.” Hiring a tutor also worked for the 37% of parents who did so, as did providing a structured schedule of activities.

Diet and nutrition is another approach some families had success with. 17% of families found that adding multivitamins and supplements helped “a lot”, while fish oil supplements got very satisfied marks from 12% of families that tried them.  It looks like these parents might have found validation from the recent study that demonstrates the impact of Western diet on ADHD.  Fast food and junk food not only contain high concentrations of sodium, fat, and refined sugar; they drain the body’s nutrient stores when they get converted into energy.

Although there is no single ADHD treatment that is universally effective, natural remedies and alternative treatments are always worth looking into.  Medication will make it easier for a child to behave and learn because he or she is not as distracted, but popping a pill everyday is like applying band-aid to a wound. It won’t make the disorder get any worse, but it won’t treat the root of the problem either.  At the end of the day, ADHD is a complex condition that requires various treatment methods if you want your child to overcome the disorder for good.  As to what these treatment methods are, it depends on the possible causes of the disorder, what your child needs, and what your overall treatment goals are.

As for narrowing down these treatments, Consumer Reports suggests that parents keep all copies of test results, psychological records, and other medical records related to their child’s ADHD.  It also helps to make a list of every professional who treated your child, the treatment strategies you have tried, and your child’s responses to each. That way, you’ll have an easier time figuring out the next step when you seek a new professional for your child.

When we think of possible ADHD natural treatments for children, tonsil removal is hardly the first thing that comes to mind. After all, ADHD is caused by the interaction between genetics and the environment. What does removing tonsils have to do with reducing hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention?  The answer is more surprising than you think.

Tonsils (two clumps of tissue on both sides of the throat) and adenoids (a single clump of tissue behind the nose) are made up of lymphoid tissue, the same kind of tissue found in the gastrointestinal tract and the tongue’s base. This lymphoid tissue is made up of lymphocytes, which works with the immune system to produce antibodies – a type of protein that fight against germs and bacteria.  Antibody production is normally considered a good thing, but tonsils and adenoids are not designed to handle the sheer amount of viral infections children are exposed to.    And kids get exposed to at least five kinds of germs once school starts.

Normally, tonsils and adenoids swell when they prepare to neutralize germs. Once they’ve done their job, the tissue should shrink back to their normal size. In many cases, however, tonsils and/or the adenoids fail to do so and become large enough to impede breathing. The tissue blockage can be especially problematic at bedtime, when they block the air passages during sleep and cause snoring and overall poor sleep as a result. This interruption of the air flow during sleep is called sleep apnea, which literally means “without breathing”.  This is because the trachea’s entrance is completely blocked, cutting off the air flow to the lungs.

Lack of restful sleep produces daytime sleepiness in adults, but not in children – they become more hyperactive and inattentive as a result.  A study of the sleep habits of 5- and 7-year olds discovered that children with mild ADHD are more likely to snore than the general population. They also discovered that children who snore have lower scores on tests of attention, overall intelligence, and language ability than children without.

Hyperactive and aggressive children with enlarged tonsils seemed to benefit from getting their tonsils and/or adenoids removed via surgery (also called an adenotonsillectomy). After the procedure, they became noticeably more calm and behaved, especially when other treatment options failed to achieve these results.  Researchers from the University of Michigan observed that children who had their tonsils and adenoids removed had behavioral problems and sleep problems before their surgery. When their behavioral test scores were compared to another group of children with unrelated surgery, the researchers noted very little difference between the two groups.  Of the twenty-two children with ADHD from the adenotonsillectomy group, 11 no longer met the diagnostic criteria of the disorder one year after surgery.

This is why a comprehensive physical exam is an important component of the ADHD evaluation process. Detecting enlarged tonsils and adenoids at this stage can immediately narrow down your treatment options and get to the root of your child’s hyperactive symptoms.  If you notice that your hyperactive child snores during sleep or keeps getting up in the middle of the night, this is also a good time to get him or her checked for enlarged tonsils.

Are you tired of punishing your ADHD child for impulses that he or she cannot control? Most parents who have impulsive ADHD children are often at their wits’ end. Children with ADHD hyperactive/impulsive type are not only unable to learn from past mistakes; their tendency to act before they think often gets them into trouble or places themselves and others in dangerous situations.  Besides natural ADHD treatments like neurofeedback, what else can you do to teach their child control their impulsivity?

Some parents have been able to curb their children’s impulses with a simple game called Remote Control Impulse Control.  This card game aims to reduce impulsivity in children (grades 1 to 9) by imparting skills based on remote control symbols:

STOP what you’re doing and consider alternative actions
REWIND and learn from old mistakes
FAST FORWARD and consider the possible consequences before acting

During the game, the players pick a card and read out the true-to-life situation printed on it, which is based on case studies of actual impulsive children. For instance, one card reads, “You see yourself in the bathroom mirror and notice that a few strands of hair seem unruly. You have the impulse to cut them off.” Then, every player should to choose between one of the three impulse control strategies mentioned above.  If you choose “stop”, you should say what you would do instead of the impulsive behavior (e.g. get a haircut at the barbershop). If you choose “rewind”, you should share a similar impulse you gave into in the past, what happened afterwards, and what you learned from the experience (e.g. you cut a bald spot and had to have your head shaved completely, thus teaching you never to cut unruly hairs by yourself). If the “fast forward” option is picked, you should describe what might happen if the impulse is carried out.  Every player can take turns sharing their impulse control strategy and talk about how they might respond in any given situation.

Aside from better impulse control, the game aims to teach kids to learn from old mistakes, anticipate consequences, think before acting, work cooperatively with others, and improve problem-solving skills.  It’s also a great way for the kids to bond with the family. Together with other ADHD treatments, practicing these impulse control skills in a fun way may help your child make better choices in real life situations.

The Remote Control Impulse Control game can be purchased at Amazon and Toys R Us. Have you ever tried this game? How has it helped your child?

Although it’s not the most affordable of therapies available, neurofeedback is one of the most promising and interesting natural treatments for ADHD.  Basically, the goal of neurofeedback is to “train” a child to change the way his brain works, so that he can function as if he doesn’t have ADHD. In other words, neurofeedback teaches a brain how to not have ADHD.  Sounds fascinating, doesn’t it? Neurofeedback treatments are non-invasive and safe for children to take, especially if they have problems maintaining their focus and ignoring irrelevant stimuli. We have an article in the Article Library that explains how this mechanism works.

Neurofeedback is also one of the most well-studied alternative treatments for ADHD.  A German study published in the Journal of Child Psychology was able to address some limitations in previous research of neurofeedback and ADHD. The study authors discovered that children who received neurofeedback treatments had fewer inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms than those in the control group.

More recently, a paper published in the Journal of Neuropathy found evidence of neurofeedback as a “safe and efficacious treatment in the intervention for ADHD.” The paper reviewed over 40 studies that used various neurofeedback techniques for ADHD and compared to control groups, including placebo treatments and stimulant medications.  Most of the research evaluated attention span, impulse control, and hyperactivity symptoms.  According to the review, neurofeedback is most effective at treating poor attention span and impulse control issues.

Current research is evaluating the effectiveness of neurofeedback for related disorders like anxiety, autism, insomnia, and substance abuse. So far, the results seem promising.

So if your child is afflicted by predominantly inattentive ADHD, he or she might have a good chance of overcoming the symptoms with the help of neurofeedback. To find a neurofeedback provider in your area, visit eeginfo.com.

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Many parents on the lookout for an alternative to Ritalin have resorted to buying one of the many high-powered energy drinks often marketed to young consumers. While children with ADHD need a little help channeling their pent-up energy into productive energy, an energy drink may not be the best way to go about it.

Energy drinks are a very attractive alternative because of the health claims they make.  Look at advertisements of any health drink and you’ll see someone living a macho, active lifestyle.  Many of these drinks promise an energy kick with added benefits to your health, thanks to ginseng, taurine, and green tea extracts. Some companies even claim that their drinks contain as much as a daily serving of vitamins in a single bottle.

The truth is that most of the energy from these drinks comes from sugar and caffeine, not from the added extras.  In fact, these drinks are so calorie-laden from the sugar that they quickly add up after several bottles.    To make things worse, the amount of stimulants in the drink are not properly labeled, and even if the ingredients are listed it is hard for the average consumer to tell how much of these ingredients are present. There may be barely enough green tea or taurine to make even the slightest dent on your health.   Additionally, caffeine dehydrates the body, and it’s easy to rehydrate with yet another can. They’re sweet and cold, and who wouldn’t want one in the middle of a long workout or during a hot day?

One concern health experts have is how easy it is to drink bottles and bottles of energy drinks.  This can be dangerous because energy drinks contain more than one stimulant, which could be dangerous to the body when taken in large quantities.  Anyone who takes a swig out of an energy drink will experience a burst of energy, but once it wears out it could lead to poor concentration, hyperactive behavior, agitation, insomnia, or high blood pressure.  Other side effects of energy drinks include heart palpitations, leg weakness, jitteriness, and upset stomach.

That’s not the worst part. Energy drinks also contain high amounts of artificial additives, which are notorious for causing ADHD. One such additive is the chemical benzene, a carcinogen linked to leukemia, immune system disorders, and nervous system disorders.  It is present in many commercially-manufactured drinks, including soft drinks, fruit juice, and energy drinks under the ingredient “benzoate salts” or the preservative “sodium benzoate.” Recent studies showed that children who drink fruit juice and soft drinks with sodium benzoate experience aggravated hyperactivity.

Finally, a study by the University of Buffalo discovered that energy drinks increase the likelihood of risky behavior in teenagers.  Although the drinks themselves do not cause the behavior, the teens who do consume them are more likely to risk their health and safety without considering the consequences. This is very dangerous for someone who already has ADHD; the nature of the disorder already makes them more likely to engage in activities like substance abuse, violence, and unprotected sex.

Although energy drinks may not cause a significant impact on health if consumed occasionally, these findings show that it should not be considered as a long-term treatment for ADHD.

You’ve probably told your child to sit still and focus so that he or she can get homework done.  Anyone with ADHD is no stranger to well-meaning statements like, “If you try hard enough and concentrate, you can become whatever you want to be.”  However, relying on mind over matter can be frustrating and downright discouraging for someone with ADHD; after all, their distractible and inattentive brains aren’t exactly their biggest assets. But what if there was a way to use fidgeting as a means to improve focus?

Current research shows that fidgeting is actually beneficial for children with ADHD.  In her book ADHD and Education, Dr. Sydney Zentall observed that inattention increases when a task is repetitive, lengthy, and familiar. Basically, a child with ADHD tunes out when a task becomes boring.  According to her research, an activity that uses another sense besides the one required for the primary task – e.g. listening to music while reading a textbook – improves the academic performance of children with ADHD.  In other words, doing a secondary activity along with a primary one helps the brain focus on the latter. This secondary activity can be referred to as “distractions” or “fidgets”.

Fidgeting is a conscious, mindless activity you do while you work on a primary task.  Fidgeting does not necessarily refer to wriggling in one’s seat; it’s doodling while talking on the phone or pacing while studying for a test. In order to be effective and constructive, fidgeting has to be a deliberate act. At the same time, it shouldn’t take attention away from the task at hand; fidgeting has to be an activity you don’t even think about.

To help your child use fidgets to self-regulate their symptoms, you first need to accept that children require these sensory-motor activities to help them function well.  Don’t tell your child to “Sit still!” or “Look at me when I talk to you.” Acknowledge that these activities are not signs of disrespect, but a way for the child to adjust when they have difficulty sustaining their attention.

Explore different strategies and encourage your child to try new ways to fidget.  Here are some fidgets that might work

Talk while walking

If your child tends to tune out when you give instructions or try to have an important conversation, see if his or her attention improves if you walk while you talk.  Other non-strenuous activity like doing a puzzle together or playing catch will also work. This strategy will make it easier to talk about how your child’s day went or other important matters.

Encourage doodling

Tell your child to try doodling pictures or words while listening to a boring lecture in class.  Doodling is one of the best fidgets and least intrusive one for improved focus.

Buy fidget toys

Busying one’s hands also facilitates focus when a child is listening or thinking about how to answer a question. Fidget toys can be anything, really – a hand-sized plushie, a small rock, even mundane objects like paper clips.  Just make sure these fidgets are small enough to fit into your child’s pocket, allowing him or her to use them without distracting classmates.

Listen to music

Try playing music when your child does homework or chores – something with a steady beat that isn’t too loud or too fast.  Try BrainBalance Music, specialized music designed by Dr. Robert Melillo’s work on sound frequencies and brain function. According to his research, the two hemispheres of the brain become stimulated by certain sound types and frequencies, which is critical to overcome attention problems. For more information, visit i-waveonline.com.

Chew gum

Moving the mouth will help your child concentrate for an extended period of time. If your child’s teacher gets distracted by the sound of gum chewing, have your child suck on a hard candy instead.

Beat the time

Turn household work into a fun game! When doing chores, challenge your child by setting an alarm and racing to get the task done before the time is up.  To sweeten the deal, offer a small reward if your child finishes on time.

Last year, researchers from the Brookhaven National Laboratory discovered that ADHD symptoms are partially caused by a problem in the brain’s reward pathway. Specifically, children with ADHD lack a protein in their brain, which causes a dysfunction in the way a person experiences reward and motivation. For instance, the prestige of getting good grades is not enough to motivate ADHD kids to do well in school; teachers need to provide extra engagement to get children interested in their lessons. These findings can probably explain why short attention spans and lack of focus are key behaviors of kids suffering from this disorder.

This discovery also helps explain how ADHD stimulant drugs work. These medications increase the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with the brain’s reward and pleasure systems. However, stimulant medications are inadequate long-term solutions that often come with harmful side effects. Can the brain’s reward pathway deficits be corrected without drugs?

Researchers from the University of Nottingham recently came up with an answer to this question – it turns out that behavioral rewards work just as well as medication in managing ADHD symptoms. In their Motivation, Inhibition, and Development in ADHD Study (MIDAS), 28 children with ADHD and 28 children without were asked to play a simple computer game. The game involves “catching” green aliens, which appear at random. At the same time, the child needs to avoid catching black aliens, which appear less frequently. For each green alien caught, the child would get a point. For every black alien caught or green alien missed, the child would lose a point.

To measure incentives, the rewards for avoiding black aliens were increased to five points. There was also a five point penalty imposed for catching the wrong alien.
Throughout the game, each child’s EEG waves were measured to keep track of brain activity. In the analysis, researchers looked at the markers of brain activity related to attention and impulsivity and observed how these were affected by motivational incentives and medication.

The researchers discovered that when the children took their usual dose of ADHD medications, they performed significantly better than when they did not take any drugs. It was also noted that the increased incentives normalized their brain activity. The EEG scans showed reduced impulsivity and improved attention once the points were increased.

Although experts are doing more research before applying these findings to the classroom or everyday clinical practice, many parents already use incentives and rewards to manage tantrums and other problematic behavior. Simple behavior management techniques can do much to reduce the impact of ADHD symptoms at school and at home. Together with a comprehensive treatment program, using rewards and incentives can increase the chances of long-term recovery from ADHD.

Do you find yourself changing your child’s sheets too often because of tiny “accidents” that happen at night?  While there is little scientific evidence to show that one causes the other, doctors and experts observe that ADHD and bedwetting (or enuresis) often occurs together.  Will bedwetting go away if the ADHD symptoms are treated? Or will it require its own interventions?

Every one of us has wet the bed at least once in our lives.  When a baby’s bladder gets filled, the muscles contract automatically and the baby urinates.  As the baby grows up and his nervous system matures, the circuits that connect the brain and the bladder helps a child realize when the bladder is full.  The child is now capable to delay urination until he reaches a proper place to void the bladder.  Often, children learn to control their bladder during the day before they can sleep through a dry night – it’s normal for night-time accidents to occur every now and then.  But when a child is still unable to control the bladder after the age of 5, he or she meets the diagnostic criteria for enuresis. There are four kinds of enuresis, but for now we are interested in nocturnal enuresis, or nighttime bedwetting.

The causes of nocturnal enuresis are not known, but it could be a combination of various factors – delayed neurological development, an over-production of urine at night, or small bladder capacity.  Sometimes, enuresis is caused by emotional trauma or anxiety.  Research shows that having ADHD is also a risk factor for enuresis.  A study in the Southern Medical Journal looks at a large group of 6-year-old children with ADHD to another group of 6-year-olds without the disorder. They found that the kids with ADHD are 4.5 times more likely to experience daytime enuresis and 2.7 times more likely to experience nocturnal enuresis.  Similar papers have observed higher rates of enuresis in children with ADHD.

Although enuresis tends to decline after age 5, some children may require separate interventions for the condition. Treating enuresis will involve evaluating the child’s current physical and emotional state.  From there, one of the following interventions will be done:

Behavior modification

Limit your child’s liquid intake at least two hours before bed time and remind your child to urinate before going to bed. Praise your child for sleeping through a night without bedwetting, but do not punish your child if an accident occurs.  When your child wets the bed, make him or her responsible for changing the sheets.

Hypnotherapy

Some therapists have had success using hypnotherapist to help children learn to control their bladder or cooperate with behavior modification techniques.

Neurofeedback

A therapy called neurofeedback can correct any deficits in the brain’s wave patterns, which will help your child control his or her bladder. This is useful not only for treating enuresis, but for ADHD symptoms as well.

Diet

Research shows that food allergies or the chemicals in food can cause ADHD symptoms, including bedwetting. Going on the Feingold Diet (or any ADHD diet that will eliminate the allergenic food) reduces incidences of bedwetting and ADHD symptoms.

Chiropractic care

Some cases of enuresis are caused by misalignments in the tailbone or sacrum. The tailbone starts out as five separate segments until the child reaches puberty, at which the fusion of the tailbone segments begins. It’s possible that a misalignment of the tailbone segments can irritate the nerves connected to the bladder, thereby sending mixed signals and causing uncontrolled urination.  Chiropractic care has been able to treat the spinal causes of bedwetting.  In fact, in the last decades, I have taken care of dozens of children with enuresis alone and children who had a combination of ADHD and enuresis.

My experience has shown that children who are suffering from both ADHD and enuresis respond better to our holistic approach than children with enuresis only. From my perspective, enuresis combined with ADHD are merely symptoms of underlying imbalances in the brain function- we call it a functional disconnection syndrome – that can be treated naturally with an approach such as the Unritalin Solution.

Most pediatricians and psychiatrists diagnose ADHD based on a series of criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-IV).  According to the DSM-IV, there are three types of ADHD: inattentive type, hyperactive-impulsive type, and combined type.  But did you know that there are more than three types of ADHD?

Psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Amen has handled hundreds of children and adults with ADHD and developed a special brain imaging technique called the SPECT test to help him find the cause of the condition.  His work on SPECT imaging made him realize the full complexity of the disorder.  Over the years, he noticed that there are six distinct SPECT patterns in his ADHD patients, and that each requires a specialized treatment. Based on these observations, Dr. Amen came up with the six types of ADHD.

Type 1: Classic ADHD

Classic ADHD describes the hyperactive-impulsive type with a little inattention.  This is usually treated with omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids like L-tyrosine, and multiple vitamins.

Type 2: Inattentive ADHD

Inattentive ADHD is similar to the DSM-IV’s Inattentive Type – low energy, low motivation, always daydreaming, etc.  This type is common in girls and is often diagnosed later in life.  Like Classic ADHD, Inattentive ADHD can be treated with omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, and vitamins.

Type 3: Overfocused ADHD

A child with Overfocused ADHD experiences typical ADHD symptoms as well as oppositional behavior, argumentative tendency, cognitive inflexibility, a need for sameness, or negative behavior. This type of ADHD is common in families with obsessive-compulsive tendencies or addiction problems.  This can be treated with the amino acid L-tryptophan, St. John’s Wort, omega-3 fish oils, and vitamins.

Type 4: Temporal Lobe ADHD

A child with Temporal Lobe ADHD experiences typical ADHD symptoms as well as headaches, periods of anxiety, a short fuse, memory problems, dark thoughts, and difficulties learning to read.  This type is common in families with a history of mood disorders and learning disorders. Treatment includes GABA for irritability, vitamins, and omega-3 fish oils. Sometimes, anti-seizure medication is given.

Type 5: Limbic ADHD

A child with Limbic ADHD experiences typical ADHD symptoms and low self-esteem, mild depression, poor social skills, irritability, insomnia, and poor appetite. Treatment includes omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids, St. John’s Wort, and vitamins.

Type 6: Ring of Fire ADHD

A child with Ring of Fire ADHD experiences typical ADHD symptoms as well as angry outbursts, extreme mood swings, excessive talking, fast thoughts, inflexibility, and sensitivity to light and sound.  This ADHD type was called “Ring of Fire” because of the ring of overactivity seen in brain scans of affected children.  Treatment includes vitamins, omega-3 fats, and amino acids.

While these six ADHD categories make it easier to identify appropriate treatments, try not to get too focused on what type of ADHD your child has. At the very core of it all, ADHD and its co-morbid disorders are caused by the same underlying problem – a functional disconnection syndrome. This means that the regions of the brain aren’t communicating with each other as well as they should. What’s important is finding the type of treatments that will best rehabilitate your child’s brain and address his or her unique constellation of symptoms.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Dr. Amen’s work, you can visit his website at amenclinics.com.

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The words “electro” and “therapy” often bring to mind cruel psychiatric treatments that seem more fitting in haunted asylums than in hospitals. Cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) is nothing like that. This fairly new technology involves administering very low electrical volts on the head to relieve depression, anxiety, and the symptoms of ADHD. Instead of going to a mental hospital to receive the treatment, CES can be done at home using a small handheld device. CES is approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States as a medical device, and recent studies show that it can improve attention spans and behavior among kids with ADHD. But is it really safe? Are there any side effects to CES?

A brief history of CES

CES was first developed by the Soviet Union in 1949 as a treatment for insomnia – hence the original name “electrosleep.” Soon, its developers discovered that the device could be used to treat depression and anxiety. In the early 1960s, physicians in the United States and Canada began using CES for a wide range of psychiatric conditions and continue to do so to this day. However, CES is not considered a mainstream treatment because not all doctors in general medical practice are aware of this technology and its benefits. To date, there are 160 published studies on the safety and efficacy of CES in treating psychological disorders, specifically depression, insomnia, and now ADHD. A study from Harvard’s School of Public Health showed that these low electrical voltages can boost neurotransmitter activity, particularly the production of dopamine and serotonin.

How it works

CES treatments are administered by a small, battery-powered device that resembles transcutaneous electric nerve stimulations – devices often used in physical therapy for pain relief. Electrodes attached to thin wires are then clipped to the earlobe. The CES device sends very low pulses of electricity (less than 1.0 milliampere). The frequency of the pulses can be adjusted depending on the effect desired. During the treatment itself, the child should feel nothing more than a faint tingling sensation. After the treatment, most patients enter the “alpha state” – a feeling of relaxed alertness. Researchers notet hat the results of CES tend to be long-lasting and cumulative; succeeding treatments are said to cause less anxiety, improved focus, and long attention spans. Children who respond positively are also known to sleep better and experience a heightened sense of well-being.

Side effects

There have been no reports of any serious side effects of CES to date. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs for ADHD, it doesn’t cause any lasting damage and it does not interact with any other medications your child will be taking. However, the device should only be handled by an adult or a doctor, and should be used with caution.
Getting started

There are two ways your child can avail of CES. The first is to find a doctor or a medical center trained to administer the procedure. You can also purchase your own cranial electrotherapy stimulators through two companies – Alpha-Stim, Fisher Wallace Laboratories, and their licensed distributors. Although the benefits and safety of CES have been extensively tested on children, consult your child’s doctor before trying this therapy at home.

Photo taken from Biofeedback Center of Florida