Neurofeedback has become the preferred treatment for ADHD because it avoids the side-effects of drugs, and has proven as effective as prescription treatment.
In October 2012, the American Academy of Pediatrics rated neurofeedback as a Level 1 “Best Support” Intervention for ADHD. That is the highest possible rating, and at the same level as medication treatment and behavior therapy.
“We found that the children’s improvement on neurofeedback was equal whether they were on medications or not. What’s more, the children who had the neurofeedback treatments did not increase their medication dose over the course of a year, while the other two groups increased their dosage by an average of 9 milligrams for the cognitive therapy group and 13 milligrams for the control group, likely because of an increase in height and weight that required a higher dose for effectiveness.”
– Dr. Naomi Steiner, Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician, Tufts’ Floating Hospital for Children
Neurofeedback, a type of biofeedback for the brain, involves sitting in a chair with electrodes attached to the scalp and earlobes to track brainwaves. For the participant, the experience is about playing a video game with their mind as the controller. As they seek to control movement through the game, their brain is rewarded with success when it generates the desired brain waves.
Read the Boston Globe’s report on Neurofeedback and ADHD. Part of the report states: “Both the neurofeedback and the cognitive training enabled the children to have longer attention spans, but only the neurofeedback reduced hyperactive and impulsive behaviors, according to the study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
While the benefits lasted six months after the therapy ended for the neurofeedback group, they seemed to diminish a little in the cognitive training group.”
Download the study on treatment of children with ADHD which concluded “Neurofeedback was as effective as methylphenidate at treating the attentional and hyperactivity symptoms of ADHD”