Assessment
QEEG
A Quantitative EEG (QEEG), also referred to as a brain map, functions as a road map for the neurofeedback practitioner. As one Practitioner said, “If you need to fix your car, it’s kind of nice to look under the hood first.” A brain map helps neurofeedback providers “look under your hood.”
We first make a recording of brainwave activity. An elastic cap with 19 sensors is placed on the head. Electrical activity is recorded simultaneously at all 19 sites, first with eyes closed and then with eyes open. If deemed necessary, a third recording may be made while the client is given a task. The recording session itself takes between 20 to 30 minutes.
After this, the recorded raw data is carefully edited to remove artifacts, which are signals not generated by actual brainwaves (such as those produced by muscle twitches, muscle tension, eye blinks, coughs, etc.). The data is then subjected to various quantitative analyses using sophisticated software dedicated to this purpose and compared to a database of age-matched high-functioning individuals free of difficulties, injury and disease.
The result is a map of how the client’s brain function differs from this high-functioning population.
History
Each client spends an hour having a chat with Ovadia Trepp LCSW. Ovadia is kind, patient and makes a great listener. It is an opportunity to discuss why you have come to NeuroClinic, and what goals you hope to achieve.
Ovadia will also ask you questions to help us get a general picture of your presenting symptoms, what may have caused them, and whether they may be a genetic factor at play. You may be asked about your medical history, if you or your child is taking regular medication or if there was any traumatic experience you or your child went through. If you are coming with a child, we might encourage the child to leave the room for a few minutes so that you can speak to the therapist about the child on your own.
Cognitive
Our cognitive assessments are offered Free of Charge! (Normal value 200 NIS a test). These tests are administered before the start of a treatment protocol in order for us to have a baseline measure. Tasks include matching letters and symbols, continuance performance tests and reasoning tests, among others. This gives us a standardised score of our reaction time, processing speed, simple attention, executive function etc. Depending on your goals, we may ask you to fill in a questionnaire related to your symptoms as well.