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Testimonials from Doctors & Professionals
 Mark Koharchick, PhD, LPC
"The following is about my experience with the DAVID AVE instruments from my DAVID Paradise XL (purchased in 2002 and still in use), to the DAVID Delight Pro newly purchased, and few DAVID PAL 36s in the middle. Let me begin by stating my experience in biofeedback began in the mid 1980s using EMG for muscle tension. I learned about EEG and went through the training and, years later, was among the first group to become certified. I saw great benefit in biofeedback for a number of problems. I began using this to treat anxiety, depression, ADD, and most typical complaints presented to clinicians. Treatment went well for most patients. However, my biggest complaint with this treatment was the length of time it took to for a patient to receive some benefit. Then, by a stroke of luck, another clinician was telling me about AVE and had a DAVID Paradise XL. He specialized in ADHD and would tell me about the changes he noticed in his young patients with the AVE. I tried this ânew gadgetâ and did not think it would amount to much of anything. Well, I was in for the surprise of my life. I felt some things that took me weeks or longer using biofeedback, were quickly resolved with the DAVID. I was hooked and had to have my unit. I began using DAVID AVE instruments in 2002, and continued with EEG Biofeedback as well. In my practice I noticed a much quicker response time for those with AVE. Patients seemed to enjoy this more than other treatments, and it was user friendly. I had witnessed such a dramatic success rate that I slowly decreased the usage of EEG and went completely with AVE. I found significant improvements in patients, especially those referred for chronic pain. It seemed to me that what I could typically have patient experience in one AVE session would have taken about three weeks or more of training with biofeedback but I do need to make one point perfectly clear. I am in no way putting down biofeedback. I am just commenting on my experience with the DAVID AVE units. For the past seven years, I have been using AVE exclusively. I am employed at a hospital and am part of the pain management team. I have found that, in most cases, using a sub-delta .5-1 frequency has provided the greatest relief of pain for most patients. I have used AVE for treating tension headaches, Migraines, fibromyalgia, PTSD, stroke patients with paralysis (and actually had success in getting some feeling back to the effected areas), and other psychiatric and physical problems. I believe that there may be endless treatment considerations for AVE. The reason I titled this, I don’t it believe it, is due to the average comment a patient tells me, first of all when I explain what AVE is and how it will work, and then, after the first session when they feel the reduction in pain or the state of relaxation. I have also noticed, and have been recording, blood pressure readings before and after sessions. I have consistently noticed a reduction in blood pressure on about 85% of patients. Some patients have made incredible gains, enough so they were able to reduce or stop their medications whether it is for hypertension or pain. The DAVID AVE products have proven to be exceptionally reliable and, if I have ever experienced a problem, I made a phone call, talked to Dave, or any of the friendly staff, and the problem was fixed. I can not express my amazement in the success of this treatment and my gratitude for producing an instrument that is of such high quality. Dave, I thank you and my patients thank you. "
Joy Kingsborough
"I ordered the (DAVID PAL36 with CES) a little less than a year ago and have had profound results! I am a wellness facilitator, stillness/meditation instructor and personal development coach. My passion is helping individuals overcome depression and other mind-related limitations to live well. I have been working closely with one of my clients who is using the DAVID PAL36 with CES to overcome depression. After four months of use, she is ready to stop her depression medication completely! She has transformed in a number of ways and is almost unrecognizable from the person she was a few months ago. I am a true believer in what this technology can do for humanity!"
Dr Martha Grout, Arizona, USA October 15, 2008
"We have used the Mind Alive audio-visual stimulation (AVE) devices with every patient who is enrolled in our Brain Advantage program. This program is a form of neurotherapy which employs blood flow biofeedback to increase the blood supply to the frontal lobes, thereby increasing neural connectivity and improving brain function in all kinds of different conditions, from ADHD to depression and anxiety to traumatic brain injury. Audio-visual entrainment is an important part of the program. We find that it calms both hyperactive children and hyperanxious adults, so that they can then actually participate in the remainder of the 90-minute sessions. In fact, the AVE devices are often prescribed for our patients to take home with them, to help them deal with their severe anxiety and insomnia without having to use drugs. The patients often continue to use the equipment, even after their formal therapy has come to an end, as a non-medication means to help them deal with the every-day stresses of life which they previously found so overwhelming. For the depressed patient who is incapacitated with anxiety, the AVE device has been a godsend “successful in reducing anxiety beyond my wildest expectations. We use primarily the ALERT and the PAL36 with CES. Pharmaceuticals may calm anxiety, but at what cost? Brain fog, depression, loss of cognitive abilities are only a few of the side effects that people can experience. The Mind Alive AVE devices leave the pharmaceuticals groaning in the dust. Initially we included AVE because we thought that it would play a small role in some patients. Now we use it on every patient (except those with photic induced seizures) as a hugely significant part of the therapy." Anne O'Loughlin, Hypnotherapist Ashbourne, Co. Meath, IRELAND February 8, 2005 "I am thrilled to have this amazing device. I use it twice daily myself and also use it on most of my clients! I regard it as a leading tool in transforming your life!!â
Dr. John Carmichael
As you know, I am the approved and designated clinical psychologist to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in my part of British Columbia and have been so for almost twenty years now. Currently, over 80% of my private practice in clinical psychology is with police officers who most typically present with depression in which accumulated traumatic incidents have played a significant role, or with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or with both depression and PTSD. Additionally, it has been my experience that the officers I see have waited until the very minute to call me so that by the time we meet the symptoms are very marked in both number and intensity and they have been on-going for some considerable time.
My diagnosis and treatment plan continues to be based on a careful assessment: a structured clinical interview which can include the Hamilton Depression Inventory and/or the Clinician Administered PTSD-Scale for DSM-IV; clinical psychophysiological measures including baseline arousal levels, reactivity to stressors, and recovery once stressors are terminated; administration of standardized psychological tests such as the Personality Assessment Inventory and the Trauma Symptom Inventory; and often an interview with the client's spouse - “I am nothing, if not thorough”.
Until recently intervention has included a step-wise combination of psycho-education about the diagnosis, seeing a physician for medical examination and possible medication, relevant recommendations for client's to implement based on research in Health Psychology (for example, increasing aerobic exercise, decreasing the use of stimulants, and sleep hygiene), biofeedback-assisted training in relaxation/self-regulation (autonomic nervous system, relevant muscle systems, and EEG), and appropriate aspects of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
I continue to do all of the above.
However, since discovering your DAVID technology about 18 months ago, I now include audio-visual entrainment for all of my police clients with depression and/or PTSD once there is psychophysiological confirmation both that they have mastered diaphragmatic breathing, that they can establish an RSA pattern, and that the entrainment creates desirable changes.
When using the DAVID, generally, we begin with (and most often stay with) frequencies at 10 Hz (although sometimes down as low as 7.8 Hz). Some clients keep the unit for six months before returning it as they no longer have the symptoms they came with, others keep it indefinitely using it daily at first and months later only as symptoms reoccur, and still others continue to use it on a daily basis (two people have done so for 12 months now). Regardless, it is clear that well over 90% of my police clients find the DAVID helpful. Among the most common findings are:
A rapid decrease in both autonomic nervous system hyper-arousal/hyper-reactivity and muscle tension (I show clients the changes during their first session with DAVID in my office);
A longer and longer duration of these positive effects the more frequently they use the DAVID;
A rapid increase in mental calmness and corresponding decrease in "monkey mind" (thoughts all over the place);
 Rapid improvements in sleep (reduced latency to sleep onset, decreased night waking, and increased sense of restfulness come morning) when they use it at regular bedtime and again if they wake during the night and are unable to fall back asleep within 15 minutes; and what appears to be self-initiated changes in both behaviour and cognitions even before any formal introduction of cognitive behavioural therapy.
The positive effects noted above are even more remarkable to me given the suspicion levels typical of most police officers I see, the significant intensity of symptoms upon presentation, and how long symptoms have persisted. Moreover, as people of action, police officers are pleased to have something they can do to modify symptoms quickly on their own without having to talk at length with me about their childhood or mothers as they mistakenly expect we will be doing.
Testimonial From Dr. Ira Katz - Clinical Neuropsychologist
"I met you briefly last year at the Stens training.
I was a healthy skeptic - yet went ahead and bought a thousand dollars worth of your products .......... the CES OASIS and the DAVID Paradise XL.
In a few words-worth every penny.
I have used the "Brain Brightening" session after meditating. I felt that the fog had lifted in my brain - more energetic, yet calm and relaxed. As you well said, Dave ...... "the edge was off..." thank you, my family thanks you. .......DAD is back."
Testimonial From Richard Glade, M.A., L.C.S.W. Bountiful, Utah, USA August 5, 2003
"Thanks for the excellent devices: the ABT Bioscan and the EDA Bisoscan. I have given both a good bit of use since their arrival and find both of them very well made, reliable and simple to use.
The ABT Bioscan is quite economical and yet does an excellent job of training targeted frequencies. Being small and easily taken anywhere, I took it on a meditation retreat and trained with it several times a day to augment meditation. I believe it to be an excellent tool for tuning meditation and strengthening relaxed alertness."
Testimonial From Dr. Kenneth J. Vinton Vinton Chiropractic Center, Inc. Grove City, Pennsylvania, USA June 19, 2003
"Hey there...my name is Dr. Ken Vinton, and I am a 14-year veteran Doctor of Chiropractic, with 7 years of biofeedback and neurofeedback experience
I've taught doctors from 49 States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China, Ireland and the U.K. As such, I am always looking for means of improving CNS function. The method of Chiropractic adjustments that I teach demonstratably improve system wide CNS function generally producing an increase in alpha, warming of the hands, decrease in EDR, HR, and EMG, along with improved posture and bi_lateral weight scale distribution.
I began performing biofeedback first as an assessment tool to determine what my adjustments were doing...then went on into full scale biofeedback training with the BioIntegrator. However, I found a goodly number of folks who didn't wish to invest in themselves either the time or expense of appropriate biofeedback care...they would come frequently for their adjustment, but just didn't wish to "live consciously" or self_regulate. Herein laid my frustration...until I found the DAVID Paradise XL.
As soon as I had it out of the box, the next patient through the door was one that truly needed to "chill out" her CNS, but was unwilling to commit the time or energy to self-regulate. Knowing her EEG "patterns", I had her place the goggles and headphones on, I briefly explained what I was doing, turned on program #1, and waited...15 minutes later, she emerged with a sigh. I received a telephone call later that evening stating that she couldn't recall remembering when she felt so relaxed...and that she could feel the tension "draining" from her body.
The next client I used the DAVID Paradise XL with EEG hookups from the BioIntegrator...and watched as her brain waves centered in the 12-15 hz range...exactly as the program said it would. She stated that she felt tension release from her body, and felt the mental fog lift.
The next woman was scheduled for her weekly biofeedback session, but was highly despondent and in tears over an incident at her work. Clearly we weren't going to get much done during her session, so I gave her the option of rescheduling...or, letting me try something new. Previously she had displayed on her EEG a significant amount of beta in the 20-40 hz range. I chose session number 1 and 15 minutes later she was a different person. She too called the office to ask if we could do it again at her next appointment, stating that typically she would have been wound up all evening, not slept and been miserable. Instead she stated that when she left she felt calm and centered, and seemed to "glide" through the rest of her day. Amazing!
This has been so awesome, that I just upgraded to the DAVID Paradise XL+ with CES to help even further..I've rearranged my office to put in a 12x12 "relaxation center" for patients to use the DAVID and am beginning an advertising campaign around the DAVID, and will be adding information about the DAVID Paradise XL+ to my office website at www.QualityofLifeCenters.com. Thank you! "
Testimonial From Dr. Frederic Boersma
"It is important to note the difference between acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is usually associated with short-term pain, whereas chronic pain is long-term. Physicians often prescribe medication for acute pain, but this same medication can be detrimental in the management of chronic pain.That is why physicians often do not renew prescriptions for chronic pain patients.
When your body is experiencing pain it creates Endorphins, a natural pain killer, to suppress your pain.The body's pain messengers compete with Endorphins to the point where the more pain you experience the fewer the Endorphins created. Thus, individuals who live with chronic pain usually have fewer Endorphins in their body than normal people.
Pain medication suppresses the body's ability to manufacture Endorphins so that when pain medication wears off there are few, if any Endorphins left, which in turn results in increased pain messages from the body. This circular interactive effect is common in chronic pain patients who depend on medication to manage their discomfort. These people never seem to catch up and keep needing more and more medication to maintain a "normal" style of life.
Dependency on Demerol, Codeine, Percoidean, Morphine and other types of pain medications lead to addictive behaviours. These addictive behaviours are eventually reflected in family interaction which become enmeshed and dysfunctional. The point to remember is that when you do not depend on pain medications your body produces more Endorphins, you have more control, and the quality of your life improves. There are several ways to increase the output of Endorphins in your body. One of the most effective is to use relaxation techniques which involve imagery research with the DAVID, in conjunction with supportive psychotherapy, has shown that chronic pain can indeed by controlled by using these procedures. This research indicates that regular use of the DAVID can result in greatly reduced dependency on medication and improvement in quality of rest, which in turn contributes to increased self-esteem, family stability, and reduced suicide ideation. And an overall improvement in the quality of one's life."
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