Neurofeedback Therapy Shows Promise In The Treatment Of Tourette's Syndrome

For many people, hearing the term "Tourette's" immediately ushers forth thoughts of some seemingly out of control person spewing an incessant stream of profanity. In truth, the repetitious utterance of vulgar words is a symptom found only in a relatively small portion (10%) of those with the disorder.

The medical term for this Tourette's syndrome is coprolalia. As is the case with autism, the exact cause of this condition has yet to be discovered. There is, however, a significant genetic factor involved; a mother or father with Tourette's syndrome has a 50/50 chance of passing the gene on to a child.

A person with Tourette's syndrome may experience sudden, uncontrollable jerks or "tics" dozens, even hundreds of times day. One way to illustrate what is going in the body and mind of a Tourette's sufferer is to think about a lamp with a faulty switch. You touch the switch, and the light flickers on and off. Even the slightest touch will cause the light bulb to engage in an apparent dance of indecision, committing to nothing.

In much the same way, we find the person with Tourette's syndrome (or the person sitting next to them) wanting to control the arm, the leg, the facial expressions, or the mouth. But just as changing the light bulb would do nothing to alleviate the challenges presented by a faulty light switch, holding down the hands or otherwise attempting to control the movements and speech of someone with Tourette's syndrome would prove to be just as illogical, not to mention frustrating.

While we may not always be able to replace a defective light switch, at least immediately, we can usually tighten the switch, or make sure that it is connecting properly. This is sometimes the case with Tourette's syndrome and neurofeedback. In some cases, neurofeedback practitioners may shake their heads in wonder at how simply the symptoms of Tourette's have been reduced. With other patients, however, they wonder why things aren't happening faster.

How Does Neurofeedback Therapy Work?

Neurofeedback treatment is a safe and noninvasive means of training your brain to function differently. While you relax, the therapist will attach very thin leads that transmit electrical energy from your brain into an EEG device. A special gel is used to comfortably hold the leads in place.

You will then use brain waves to alter what is happening on a visual display on a computer screen. You will use your brain waves to play a "Pac-Man" game, for example, or to play a DVD. Your brain perceives these activities as a reward, and with this positive reinforcement, will increasingly choose to use the desired waves, until eventually the changes in brain function become permanent. The sessions are quite comfortable, and are even considered by many patients to be relaxing.
From a research standpoint, there is not sufficient research to support neurofeedback as a mainstream form of treatment, but try telling that to someone who once suffered from severe Tourette's symptoms, and is now able to seek employment or get involved in a relationship because of marked improvements they have experienced with neurofeedback.