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Full Care - Treating The Whole Disorder
To assure the greatest chance of success, the Drake Full Care Program includes all the known elements required for each patient’s success. This is based on their original assessment and the unfolding evaluation of their needs. The assigned Program Coordinator moves the patient through the facets of their program at precisely the right time. This produces the desired Synergistic effect that we have observed over the years; it “glues together” the new and adequate responses that were formerly missing. Family involvement is crucial. Treatment for a child may include neurofeedback, behavior modification, school intervention and parental counseling, as needed. We also have additional support and adjunct therapies for individuals and families with additional needs.The goal of the Drake Institute Program is to resolve symptoms. This is quite different from drug treatments which are intended, as their highest goal, only to manage symptoms. Drugs, however, successfully manage symptoms only 60-70% of the time—and only temporarily—and often have harmful side effects. Because many drugs have harmful side effects, at Drake we recommend their use cautiously and definitely not on a long term basis.
We are not the only non-drug treatment option you may be considering. However, unlike others, we can prescribe drugs but do so infrequently and only when needed. We are a medical facility and, therefore, take a greater level of responsibility than any non-medical treatment center can. Unlike other programs that have recently begun offering “non-drug” treatments, we provide our patients with the benefits of our clinical experience having treated more than 8,000 individuals using the most advanced neurofeedback technology available.
Our staff is led by a licensed physician and neuropsychologists with the highest levels of education and experience. We have an unparalleled record of successfully resolving symptoms for our patients. You are making a difficult decision, and we hope, for the sake of the patient, the right one. Our web site has the information you may need to assist you in making a choice. We offer you a full screening to determine if we can help you; we do so as a public information service at no charge. We hope you investigate all your choices and then choose us; our staff loves helping people and we look forward to helping you and your family.
We pride ourselves in taking responsibility for full patient care. When we first meet you we begin a process of discovery. Many times you or your loved one is experiencing difficulties in handling life's challenges. All too often the consequences of those failures can be wearing on your family and you. Self-esteem plummets, and a bleak future seems likely.
Uncovering the source of the problem, we can treat the needs of the patient and in most cases, halt this downward spiral.
ADHD often masks other learning disorders. Once the ADHD is addressed, the mystery of each case begins to unfold.
At the Drake Institute we have found that, to be most clinically effective, the treatments should take place during a short but intense period of time. The likelihood of success heightens when care is blended together (such as the incorporation of Neurophysical Training with Learning Disorder Treatments, Auditory Language Treatments, our Social Skills Program and Family Supportive Counseling)
The patient is then prepared to function at his/her best, resulting in reinforcing the new brain patterns. This strengthens the patient, and with usage, their brain. After all, the brain is our most adaptive organ, and is the platform for sustained long-term change.
Our Post-Care Review program continues for five years after the active treatment period to ensure the maximum possible long-term benefits from the active treatment. In case of a regression, which does occur in 25% or so of our patients, an after-care “re-tuning” is usually all that is needed to return patients to their prior levels of improvement or even to surpass them.
Care is provided in the following areas:
Learning Disorders / Auditory Language Disorders
A computerized neurocognitive rehabilitation program is utilized for treating learning disorders. Speech/language therapy is recommended when auditory/language testing indicates an auditory processing disorder and/or receptive/expressive language deficits. We offer Fast ForWord, a computerized program which increases the speed of auditory processing and remediates delays in receptive and expressive language. This program is used in conjunction with neurophysical training (neurofeedback) of the left area of the brain involved in auditory/language processing.
Social Skills Program
If necessary, many of our patients will benefit from a group based program to address difficulties in social skills. These groups address the areas of self confidence, interpersonal skills, impulsivity. oppositional and defiant behavior, anger management, and personal and academic motivation.
Family Supportive Counseling
Designed to provide aid to the family in identifying and adjusting to positive changes occurring in the patient.
Medical Consultation
Our standard program includes medical review and medical drug reduction as needed. In some cases (approx. 10-15%), combinations of drugs or high dosages require additional care, to bring about our goal of minimal or no drugs needed. This will be considered additional care in those difficult cases.
Individual Supportive Counseling
Designed to address any psychological components resulting from these disorders. Our aim is to strengthen the patient's self-worth. Approximately 10% of the cases need additional treatments.
Stress Care
This is largely Neurotherapy with some integrative counseling and biofeedback. The treatment can be a part of your normal program. At Drake we have been identifying and treating stress disorders since 1980. When a significant stress disorder is present it may have to be treated separately and to completion.
Parental Stress Program
An adult can receive treatment to manage the stress that comes with raising an ADD/ADHD child. The child being treated will feel less stigmatized. This choice will not only benefit the well being of both parent and child; it will also work towards improving the functioning of the family and the chances of patient success.
Full Care Testing
When the information gathered at the Initial Appointment indicates there are elements other than the neurophysical training program (neurofeedback) addresses, we need to look a bit more deeply than a mere screen. Learning Disabilities, Auditory Processing/Language Disorders, Social Skills, Family and parenting issues and cognitive development problems become vital concerns to address. Your full care program will address these factors in the screening process in the initial appointment and then determine if additional testing is warranted or not. We want your full confidence before care commences. The details made visible by the heightened testing are also what we need to optimize therapeutic intervention. The highest level of full care is shared care -- it achieves the best results.
Treatment of Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders for Children and Adults
Learn more about the Drake Institute's treatment for ADD / ADHD
Neurofeedback, Drugs, Treatments & Related Information
ADD/ADHD • Autism
• Language Disorders • Stress
Disorders
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Behavioral Medicine & Medical Associates
