Brain Wellness Center program recipient of Tipp City Foundation grant

For more than 50 years, the Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development in Piqua has helped children and adults address neurological challenges with a series of programs.

Among those served have been those with stroke, traumatic brain injury, birth trauma, Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, ADD/ADHD, chromosomal disorders, developmental delays and other brain-related conditions.

The programs include the facility’s Brain Wellness Center’s EEG neurofeedback program. This program was the recipient of a Tipp City Foundation grant for $5,300 to purchase a brain wellness/EEG Neurofeedback Amp 1 to replace an older version of the amp.

The EEG neurofeedback training is a learning strategy providing the brain with information that helps normalize brain activity, said Carla Bertke, the center’s executive director.

EEG neurofeedback is a painless, non-invasive procedure utilizing operant conditioning techniques. One or more sensors are placed on the scalp. A computer reads the brainwaves and provides the proper feedback for the trainee. The trainee watches a video display with audio signals that provides the proper reward for the desired brain state. 

As activity in a desirable frequency band increases, the reward increases. The new amp provides a larger frequency range, providing more options for each brain to find its most comfortable treatment level and allow for the most calming results.

Gradually the brain responds to the cues it is being given, and “learning” of new brain patterns takes place. The new pattern is one that is closer to what is normally observed in individuals without the problematic condition.

The individual’s commitment to the training process, along with the nature and severity of the problem, will play a role in the successful completion of neurofeedback training, Bertke said. The frequency of training needs to be at least twice per week. Training can usually be completed in 40 to 60 sessions. Upon completing the program, the trainee should experience significant improvement in one or more of the following: mood, relaxation, attention, focus, self-esteem, behavior and memory.

The amp is the foundation of the entire neurofeedback program, Bertke said.

The Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development serves people in Miami County and beyond. It sees between 250 and 300 clients annually. Among its other services are an aquatic wellness center offering alternative exercise option for those with limited ability and Nicholas School, a state-chartered K-8 non-public school specializing in education for children with different learning needs.

The center’s funding comes from income fees; individual donations; grants from foundations, corporations and trusts; fundraising; an annual giving drive; and the United Way.

Donations and gifts can be made through the center at https://www.rcnd.org/donate, mailed to or dropped off at 1306 Garbry Road, Piqua, Ohio, 45356.

For more information on the center, visit https://www.rcnd.org/ or on Facebook under Rehabilitation Center for Neurological Development.