How Brain Injuries Should Be Handled

Brain injuries happen when the brain itself experiences trauma or a brain-damaging illness. People with brain injuries are affected in all sorts of ways. The event can have a devastating effect on how they move, feel, think, or function. Over five million people in the country are trying to cope with some sort of brain injury.

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People can sustain brain injuries in a variety of ways. The type of brain injury—-whether or not it is classified as traumatic—- is determined by the circumstances. Situations that can cause traumatic brain injuries can range from car crashes to slips or falls, from sports accidents to violent attacks from other people, from wartime experiences such as bomb blasts to repeated concussions in a full contact sport.

As for non-traumatic brain injuries, a simple lack of oxygen will be enough to damage the brain. Other causes include tumors and infections. Although the most common non-traumatic brain injury is stroke.

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When a person suffers a brain injury, his or her loved ones should be prepared for the symptoms, which can include headaches, poor vision, inability to communicate, insomnia, and more serious problems like seizures and gradual decline of motor skills. People taking care of loved ones who’ve suffered brain injuries should above all understand that the injury changes them.

NTL Group specializes in neuroengineering programs diagnosing and treating neurological disorders connected to head injuries, among other physical problems. Curtis Cripe, Ph.D. is the head of the research and development team. For more on Dr. Cripe and the NTL Group, check out this website.

The Widely Believed Causes Of ADD/ADHD

Attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) has varying causes that medical experts have not yet scientifically isolated. There is no medical exam or blood test that can diagnose the causes of these disorders – scientific behavioral assessments, neuro-imaging techniques, and cognitive abilities evaluation, however, aid in the diagnosis of ADD or ADHD.

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ADD/ADHD is commonly attributed to is genes. Studies show that if a parent has ADD/ADHD, the likelihood that the child will have it, too, is 50 percent. Furthermore, an individual who suffers from ADD/ADHD is four times as likely to have had a relative with the same issue.

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Currently, various researches on different genes are ongoing. These notably involve the brain chemical dopamine, which is responsible for the transmission of signals between nerves in the brain, and imbalances in the fatty acids, which are important for brain development and function.

Pregnancy complications are also seen as potential causes of ADD/ADHD. Children who were born under difficult circumstances, for instance, premature birth and low birth weight, have a higher risk of having ADD/ADHD. Exposure to toxins caused by cigarette smoke, alcohol, drugs, lead, PCBs, or pesticides during pregnancy could also hinder the baby’s brain development.

Curtis Cripe, Ph.D. is the director of research and development of NTL Group, a neuroengineering services provider specializing in technology that diagnoses and repairs brain dysfunction, including neurodevelopmental delays in children with learning disorders. Visit this website for more information about the company.

Treating Auditory Processing Disorder/Deficit

Over the past years, more and more people are becoming aware of auditory processing disorder/deficit (APD), which is also known as central auditory processing disorder (CAPD). The disorder causes difficulty in recognizing the subtle differences between sounds in words. Due to this, those who suffer from it find it hard to process what other people are saying.

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A common misconception is that APD is similar to hearing impairment or attention deficit disorder, which is far from the truth. Most children with APD pass hearing tests, having normal hearing abilities. What is affected is how the central nervous system processes the sounds they hear, leading to struggling to understand speech in a noisy environment, obeying directions, and distinguishing sounds that seem similar. While it is different from hearing impairment or other cognitive dysfunctions, APD still affects speech and language development, learning, comprehension, spelling, and reading.

An effective way of treating APD is the use of an auditory program that first identifies the specific cause of the issue and assesses the patient before creating a personalized solution. Several factors are taken into consideration, such as the neurodevelopment of short-term memory, the auditory cortex, the language centers, ability to recognize words and speech, and learned listening personality traits. After which, exercises, activities, and processes are applied to reduce or eliminate neuro-inhibitors in feedback pathways. These tools also develop the brain so it could recognize auditory frequencies, which leads to better processing of sound signals.

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Experienced neuroengineer Dr. Curtis Cripe heads the research and development department of NTL Group, which specializes in diagnosing and treating brain-based dysfunctions. Read more about neuroengineering by connecting with this Google+ page.

Tapping Into The Potentials Of Brain Connectivity

The brain is a complex lattice of interconnected neurons and glial cells that act in unison, relying on electricity and chemistry to convey signals that run our vital systems and comprise our consciousness and thought.

For many years, neuroscientists have looked into the cacophony of signals that makes up the human brain. Such research aided the search for answers, such as where human consciousness lies. Findings drawn from these studies can also yield invaluable insight into the underlying causes of cognitive, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders, which in turn can be used to help patients manage or overcome these issues. These also inform both novel and established neurological technologies prioritizing cognitive repair.

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Making sense of the seemingly tangled mess of connections requires mapping the human brain. This is no small task: the human brain contains over 100 billion neurons of several fundamental types. Most of these neural connections cannot be directly detected without the aid of a microscope, but a general if incomplete picture can be made of some of the brain's activity through current imaging techniques.

In addition, what we know of mental connections can also complicate matters greatly. Longer connections cost more energy to maintain, thus the brain frequently relies on several shorter, constantly shifting connections.

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Moreover, our brains are resilient. Even in the face of trauma, connections can and are rerouted by the brain, bringing with them the potential to rewire the organ or to restore lost or hindered functions. As our understanding of the brain grows, so does the sophistication of cognitive techniques for training these connections, treating neurocognitive disorders, and improving key functions like memory.

Dr. Curtis Cripe's studies in neurofeedback are the groundwork for NTLgroup®'s neuroengineered cognitive repair. For more on his company's work, visit this website.

Tapping Into The Potentials Of Brain Connectivity

The brain is a complex lattice of interconnected neurons and glial cells that act in unison, relying on electricity and chemistry to convey signals that run our vital systems and comprise our consciousness and thought.

Image source: jonlieffmd.com

For many years, neuroscientists have looked into the cacophony of signals that makes up the human brain. Such research aided the search for answers, such as where human consciousness lies. Findings drawn from these studies can also yield invaluable insight into the underlying causes of cognitive, behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorders, which in turn can be used to help patients manage or overcome these issues. These also inform both novel and established neurological technologies prioritizing cognitive repair.

Making sense of the seemingly tangled mess of connections requires mapping the human brain. This is no small task: the human brain contains over 100 billion neurons of several fundamental types. Most of these neural connections cannot be directly detected without the aid of a microscope, but a general if incomplete picture can be made of some of the brain's activity through current imaging techniques.

In addition, what we know of mental connections can also complicate matters greatly. Longer connections cost more energy to maintain, thus the brain frequently relies on several shorter, constantly shifting connections.

Moreover, our brains are resilient. Even in the face of trauma, connections can and are rerouted by the brain, bringing with them the potential to rewire the organ or to restore lost or hindered functions. As our understanding of the brain grows, so does the sophistication of cognitive techniques for training these connections, treating neurocognitive disorders, and improving key functions like memory.

Image source: jonlieffmd.com

Dr. Curtis Cripe's studies in neurofeedback are the groundwork for NTLgroup®'s neuroengineered cognitive repair. For more on his company's work, visit this website.

Sharpening the mind: The best foods for the brain

There are various reasons for people to be watchful of their dietary intake, with most of them citing weight management as the primary reason for doing so. But it is also important to understand that mental health is as important as physical health. The brain requires certain nutrients to ensure that the wellness of the brain is optimized and odds of developing mental illnesses are minimized.
Some of the nutrients the brain needs are the following:

Antioxidants
One of the major causes of brain deterioration is free radicals, as the oxidative damage it generates can not only produce cancer and other diseases, but it also quickens aging. There are many sources of antioxidants, such as nuts, tomatoes, dark red and purple fruits, such as blueberries and blackcurrant, cruciferous vegetables, such as kale, and even wine or champagne.

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Essential fatty acids
There are many essential fatty acids (EFA) that enhance brain health. One of the most effective of which are omega-3 fats that are naturally produced by sardines, salmon, mackerel, trout, and other oily fish. Ground flaxseed, soya beans, and pumpkin seeds are also good sources of EFA, including alpha-linolenic acid.

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B vitamins
B vitamins are called “happy vitamins” or “anti-stress vitamins” for a good reason. B6, B12, and folic acids are known to improve one’s moods, increase stress resilience, and prevent mental illnesses. Leafy greens, chicken, egg, particularly the yolk, whole grains, and lentils are rich sources of different types of vitamin B.

Curtis Cripe, Ph.D. is the director of research and development of NTLgroup®. The firm specializes in the development and implementation of neuroengineering programs that aim to improve brain health and heal and repair neurological disorders. Find out more about the company by visiting its official website.

Augmenting Cognitive Neurodevelopmental Training With a Lens Unit

LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System) is a form of brainwave biofeedback that was developed in the early ‘90s by Northern California psychologist Len Ochs.  The system was an alternative to medications that were used to treat brain-based problems.  It was also used to supplement psychotherapy.

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Prior to the creation of LENS, traditional neurofeedback needed the participant to actively attempt to understand the feedback shown to him and try to regulate his own brainwaves.  But with the groundbreaking neurofeedback system in its stead, the participant will only need to sit comfortably in front of the equipment consisting of a computer with installed LENS software and an electroencephalogram (EEG) box.

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Electrodes with conductive paste are attached to the scalp to measure brainwave activity and deliver treatment at the same time.  What results is a more efficient – in terms of both time and money – and painless procedure for treating brain-based problems.

LENS has been effective as an adjunct to cognitive neurodevelopmental training, as evidenced by a study by Dr. Curtis Cripe.  Patients with autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and mild head injuries were treated with specific procedures that were augmented with a LENS unit.

The study illustrated that LENS training, due to its facilitative effects, enabled the patients to engage actively in neurocognitive and neuro-rehabilitation exercises, which accelerated their progress, reduced treatment time, and allowed them to regain normal functioning of the brain systems.

 

Neuroengineer Curtis Cripe, Ph.D., boasts of a diverse multidisciplinary professional and academic background, having worked in different industries, including aerospace, engineering, software development, bioengineering, addiction recovery, psychophysiology, psychology, and child neurodevelopment.  For more on his career, visit this LinkedIn profile.