| Reactive Attachment Disorder arises from a failure to | | | | relationship with a good therapist and a strong family |
| form normal attachments to primary caregivers in | | | | background can help a child learn to form |
| early childhood. For some children it occurs when they | | | | attachments and to become more socially adept. |
| do not receive the love and affection that every | | | | However, this treatment can be hit-and-miss, and it |
| infant needs. Studies have shown that in order for | | | | can take many years of therapy. |
| the part of a child's brain that is responsible for | | | | Another type of therapy that is showing promising |
| regulating affection to develop normally, 'entrainment' | | | | results with children with RAD is neurofeedback. This |
| between the mother and infant's brain must occur | | | | type of therapy actually changes the way that the |
| during the child's first 18 months of life. | | | | brain works; this is important for RAD patients |
| Brain waves in mother and child very often come | | | | because when a child is not cared for as an infant, |
| into harmony with the brain waves of the other; | | | | the way that their brain works actually changes. |
| they are in sync, if you will. This is what happens | | | | Neurofeedback, which is a type of biofeedback for |
| when mothers respond to the needs of their children, | | | | the brain, may actually re-map the child's brain, |
| and it lays the foundation for children to become | | | | allowing him or her function on a more normal level. |
| happy and well-adjusted adults. When this brain wave | | | | Neurofeedback therapy may enable a child with RAD |
| entrainment does not have the opportunity to occur, | | | | to gain control over their behavior and to form |
| or only happens for very brief or infrequent periods, | | | | positive relationships with parents, caregivers, and |
| proper brain development may be stunted in the child. | | | | peers. |
| These children often end up with Reactive | | | | In fact, many children who are treated with |
| Attachment Disorder (RAD), which can leave them | | | | neurofeedback become calmer and less easily |
| with serious anger and behavioral issues that can last | | | | alarmed. They also typically become less aggressive |
| into adulthood. Children with RAD are unlikely to seek | | | | and impulsive after just a few sessions, although it's |
| out social interaction or to form strong relationships. | | | | impossible to tell exactly how long it will take for an |
| While RAD did not receive much attention in the | | | | individual child's condition to improve. If combined with |
| past, it is now coming to the forefront of | | | | other treatments, however, neurofeedback as a |
| psychological study. This is, in part, because many | | | | therapy for RAD may contribute to a positive |
| more families are choosing to adopt children. Even | | | | therapeutic outcome in the child's life. If you have |
| children who are adopted as early as age two or | | | | adopted a child who is struggling with RAD, or if you |
| three could have already developed RAD, since it is | | | | are an adult whose childhood has caused social or |
| important for children to entrain within the first | | | | attachment issues, you may want to consider |
| eighteen months of life. There are a few treatment | | | | neurofeedback as a possible add-on to |
| options for RAD. One focuses on therapy and family | | | | psychotherapy. |
| support, which can be helpful. Over time, a | | | | |