Although it’s not the most affordable of therapies available, neurofeedback is one of the most promising and interesting natural treatments for ADHD. Basically, the goal of neurofeedback is to “train” a child to change the way his brain works, so that he can function as if he doesn’t have ADHD. In other words, neurofeedback teaches a brain how to not have ADHD. Sounds fascinating, doesn’t it? Neurofeedback treatments are non-invasive and safe for children to take, especially if they have problems maintaining their focus and ignoring irrelevant stimuli. We have an article in the Article Library that explains how this mechanism works.
Neurofeedback is also one of the most well-studied alternative treatments for ADHD. A German study published in the Journal of Child Psychology was able to address some limitations in previous research of neurofeedback and ADHD. The study authors discovered that children who received neurofeedback treatments had fewer inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms than those in the control group.
More recently, a paper published in the Journal of Neuropathy found evidence of neurofeedback as a “safe and efficacious treatment in the intervention for ADHD.” The paper reviewed over 40 studies that used various neurofeedback techniques for ADHD and compared to control groups, including placebo treatments and stimulant medications. Most of the research evaluated attention span, impulse control, and hyperactivity symptoms. According to the review, neurofeedback is most effective at treating poor attention span and impulse control issues.
Current research is evaluating the effectiveness of neurofeedback for related disorders like anxiety, autism, insomnia, and substance abuse. So far, the results seem promising.
So if your child is afflicted by predominantly inattentive ADHD, he or she might have a good chance of overcoming the symptoms with the help of neurofeedback. To find a neurofeedback provider in your area, visit eeginfo.com.