You’re feeling off. It’s just one of those hard to describe things, but you’re feeling off. There’s a little bit more moodiness when you’re in public. Maybe you’ll snap at a family member when at a baseball game because of something they didn’t do — but you had to snap at somebody and man, it felt good to snap at somebody. Even if you feel bad a few hours later.
That’s not the person you are, of course. But that’s the person you’re scared that you are becoming, and you want to know how to reverse that process. And because you want to live your best life, you have a natural curiosity about things, and want to know if there is a way to find out how to diagnose how your hormones are affecting your judgements.
We have some good news for you: We can help you on the road to enlightenment and begin to answer the questions that you may have. The full name of it is long and hard to pronounce, but the short summary of it is this: We’re excited to have qEEG Brain Mapping now at Living Well Dallas!
What is it, exactly?
qEEG is short for quantitative Electroencephalography. To be able to do a cognitive screening test with qEEG is ideal for many women as they enter a new stage in their lives. For those who are dealing with hormone-related cognitive issues like perimenopause and menopause, this style of testing is ideal. It is also useful for those who have sustained a brain injury or concussion, feeling like they have been excessively moody, or for somebody who is having trouble sleeping through the night.
What is the difference between EEG and qEEG?
The difference lies in the q (duh). EEG is the measurement of electrical patterns, aka brainwaves. Adding the quantitative part to the EEG allows for an analysis of the digitized EEG analysis, with the hope of supplementing the initial EEG knowledge.
What does it do?
qEEG processes brainwaves from a multi-electrode recording via computer. The data is statistically analyzed, then compares it with a ‘normal’ database reference. The processed EEG is then converted into color maps of brain functions, and interpreted as a clinical tool to evaluate brain functions, finding which areas are engaged and working at peak efficiency, and track changes in brain functions after various interventions such as a change in medication.
Should I be worried about testing?
Nah, you don’t have to worry about a thing. The qEEG is noninvasive. Scalp sensors safely and easily record the brain wave activity, then quantify the data from the recording in multiple ways. By sending the data through a software program, it is able to create color codes for the brain images. It takes approximately 30 minutes.
What can it diagnose?
First, there is the important disclaimer that diagnosis and treatment decisions should not be made by qEEG alone. That said … patterns of abnormality that can be seen have been associated with three primary neurological subtypes of AD/HD. There are also multiple subtypes of depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions, and qEEG can give the information a medical practitioner needs to make recommendations on treatments.
Why is neurofeedback important?
Neurofeedback is a form of biofeedback that trains people to control their brainwaves to treat various mental health conditions. It can be used to help people who have suffered brain injuries or cognitive deficiencies. Once a trained psychologist has data from a qEEG session, they can design a neurofeedback training program with a series of sessions in which a patient is hooked up to sensors and then — in typical practice — watch a movie. If a sensor shows that a part of the brain is moving too fast compared to the qEEG testing, a psychologist can manipulate the movie and regulate the brain itself to a more normal activity pattern.
What about my health insurance?
In most instances, this test is covered by most commercial insurance companies and Medicare, depending on your program plan. You should definitely ask your health provider how to get referred to do an assessment of your brain functions today. There are insurance options as well as cash pay options.
qEEG is one of the ways that you can put your mind at ease about your mind! Call us today at 972-930-0260 to learn even more about this exciting option. It’ll help set you on the road to a greater peace of mind and security about how your brain is functioning, and maybe even give you a pathway to a better, more stable life with no more curiosity about how and why you feel the way you do in stressful situations, or why you really want that fifth coffee of the day no matter how much you know it would be the worst idea in the world.
