A Maidstone schoolgirl is sleeping peacefully for the first time in her life thanks to pioneering treatment.
Ella Giemza, 10, was diagnosed last year with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which left her with symptoms including headaches and tics, plus learning, appetite and behaviour problems.
Reluctant to start with more conventional treatments Ella’s mum Caroline, from Bearsted, decided to look for a different approach.
Her research led her to Starjumpz Children’s Centre, where staff have put together a special programme, called neurofeedback.
The treatment, which Ella has been receiving for six months, focuses on therapy and nutrition as opposed to more commonplace drug-based solutions. It’s estimated around 800,000 children nationwide are given drugs for the condition, with the number of prescriptions for an amphetamine-like stimulant doubling in the past six years.
Ella attends the centre in Speldhurst Place, Tunbridge Wells, once a week for 45 minutes.
Her mum Caroline said: “We opted for occupational therapy, but couldn’t get the help on the NHS, which is when we came across the centre and thought we’d give it a try.
“Ella is only half-way through her course and her headaches and tics have completely stopped and she is sleeping through the night.
“We have also seen a vast improvement in her emotional maturity, learning, organisation, appetite and behaviour generally.
“She is due to finish the course just before Christmas but we’ll look in to booking more sessions if we think she’ll benefit from them. I would definitely recommend the treatment to any parents in similar situations.”
Neurofeedback relies on the natural learning ability to teach the brain of the person being treated to regulate itself better.
It can help a variety of childhood problems including autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, anxiety and numerous forms of disruptive behaviour and is also effective for adults struggling with depression, drug and alcohol use, migraines or post traumatic stress disorder.
Joanna Brett, director of the children’s centre, said: “Even though drugs help alleviate the symptoms for ADHD, it is important that people have a choice of treatments to choose from.
“Neurofeedback is well recognised and accepted in America, but is still new to the UK and isn’t offered yet on the NHS. We would like to see this change.”
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