Case A
This case involved a nine year old male diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder. The boy apparently suffered from traits of fetal alcohol syndrome and traumatic in vitro/birth/ early life circumstances. The boy had endured multiple instabilities living in foster homes until he was adopted at age five. He was extremely hyperactive and hypervigilant at time of adoption. After several years the adoptive family became increasingly concerned about the boy’s behaviors. He had an inappropriate gaze fixated on his adoptive mother at all times, ran away from home several times and had threatened to kill all family members. In addition he repeatedly lied, stole, was often manipulative, and showed no remorse or empathy. He demonstrated no reaction when physically hurt, was oppositional and defiant and was unable to get along with his peers. The boy also struggled with speech delays; still spoke "baby-talk" on a daily basis. Prescribed medications, behavioral and speech therapies had proved to be nominally effective. Despite all of the challenges the parents remained committed to providing a loving and stable environment for their adopted son.
After completing his first Neurofeedback session the parents reported their son had demonstrated some brief “acting out behaviors”. Shortly into training the boy’s mother reported noticeable improvement in her son’s disposition and willingness to cooperate, with a marked decrease in hyperactivity. As he continued his Neurofeedback training the parents reported their son was getting along better with his siblings. Thereafter they reported speech improvements and more normal eye contact. The boy had stopped fixating his gaze on his mother at all times. Midway through his training program the boy’s parents reported some behavioral setbacks, but less hyperactivity overall, and better cooperation much of the time. Later the parents reported a major breakthrough as for the first time ever their son had wept and apologized for his behavior. Close to discharge the boy was playing with age appropriate friends, had not been in trouble at school or extra-curricular activities for months, and was receiving accolades from his other therapists. At time of discharge the boy transitioned successfully to home training.
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Case B
This case involved a five year old female who was adopted from an Asian orphanage at two years of age. She had suffered extreme neglect, and was severely undernourished at the time of her adoption. Despite all of her adoptive parent’s efforts to reach out to the child, it was clear after a year that the girl was not just shy; she was unresponsive. When the girl turned three she still was not speaking, and began kicking and biting her parents at the slightest provocation. Shortly thereafter the child was diagnosed as having Reactive Attachment Disorder. Her parents were home-schooling the girl and were devoted to helping her without the use of medications. The girl had benefited from speech therapy, and from ongoing play therapy.
After receiving a handful of Neurofeedback training sessions the girl’s parents reported dramatic improvements in their daughter’s ability to enunciate. Thereafter the Mother reported her daughter was having fewer oppositional tantrums and was smiling more often. As training progressed the girl continued to become more positively responsive, and mid-way through training the parents reported that their daughter’s therapist felt she had made significant progress since initiating Neurofeedback. Toward the end of training the Father reported the girl was “infinitely better adjusted” in social situations. Though she still clung to her Mother’s side at times, she interacted appropriately with children and adults in most instances and had not had a tantrum in “a long time”. Thereafter the girl transitioned successfully to home training.
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