Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to do the whole integration at once?

BIT takes between 8 and 12 hours, depending on the individual. It can be done all at once (over two or three days), or spread out over a longer period of time. For small children who have trouble being still, we recommend breaking the appointments up by scheduling one hour on, one hour off, etc. For extremely small children and infants, we recommend half-hour appointments, with a break in-between.

What age do you have to be to be integrated?

BIT is helpful for people of any age. When integrating young children, sometimes we cannot assess (and therefore correct) certain functions because the child has not yet reached that developmental milestone. In this case, we complete the integration and might recommend bringing the child back in a couple of years to integrate the remaining areas.

What do I have to bring to BIT?

We recommend that our clients come well-fed and well-hydrated. Please bring water and snacks for long or multiple sessions in one day. Children may play with toys (with no batteries or electricity), read (or be read to), or listen to music during the treatment.

Should I plan to stay with my child during treatment?

We always welcome parents during treatment, and ask that they plan to stay at least for the first hour of assessment. However, sometimes children behave differently when their parents are present, and that might be more challenging. In this case, for the other treatment sessions the practitioner might suggest that the parent take a break and enjoy an hour or so, on their own!

What if I (or my child) is on medication?

Medication does not compromise the treatment, nor does the treatment compromise medication. We are not MDs, and do not make any recommendations regarding prescriptions. Please consult your doctor or psychiatrist with any questions.

Can BIT help people with drug or alcohol problems?

BIT is beneficial for almost everyone! For individuals with addiction problems, BIT can help relieve stresses that might be causing those behaviors. But remember, we enable the brain to learn. We do not make the brain learn. Please consult your doctor or psychiatrist with any questions.

Will we still need additional help, like tutoring or other therapy, after BIT?

That depends on a few factors. For example, if we see a student who is 16 years old and has missed a few years in his mathematics knowledge they will probably need tutoring to catch up to his grade level. If a student is very young, the normal practice of reading and/or spelling in the classroom may be all they need. In addition, the child might still need behavioral therapy or modification, or the family might need counseling for help with family dynamics. We recommend that you would see the appropriate professionals for those services.

Another factor that is often overlooked is nutrition. According to an article in the Boulder Daily Camera, there are numerous national studies that show that children high on a lunch packed with sugar and caffeine have a hard time concentrating, and thus learning. And that when students had a healthy meal, their performance went up and ADD symptoms went down.