New Studies For ADHD - Looking At How Neurofeedback Can Help
One of the areas of new studies for ADHD has involved neurofeedback and the reactions I must say are mixed.
There are those parents who swear by it and find that their children after several sessions can concentrate better and focus for longer.
Actually, only about 10,000 children undergo neurofeedback in the US each year so we are talking about pretty small numbers here.
These figures have been released by the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research.
Although these numbers are small, it comes as a relief to many parents who find that medications with psychostiumulants can have unwelcome side effects.
Some children have been able to reduce their medication levels by 50% when using neurofeedback and this is very welcome.
So, what is so great about this neurofeedback? The first is that it complements medication and can even replace it in some cases.
It has been found to help reduce the following ADHD symptoms in children after they have been through several sessions.
These include a marked reduction in:- • aggression and violent behavior towards pets, peers and siblings • impulsive behavior • inattentiveness • lack of focus • distractability One of the experts in this area of new studies for ADHD is Vincent Monastra who is the founder of FPI Attention Disorders Clinic in New York.
He basically has found that those children who receive neurofeedback treatment do not relapse once it stops.
The positive effects continue.
This is in marked contrast to those children who are just taking medication.
Once they stopped taking the psychostimulants, all the old problems started to re-emerge.
How does neurofeedback work? The whole treatment experience is based on the fact that our brains emit various types of waves and we can easily categorise a few of these such as when we are about to fall asleep, when we are tense and anxious and also when we are feeling alert and relaxed at the same time.
Through the use of video games, the child is able to develop the use of those brain waves which help him to win the game.
He can see a color coded map of the brainwaves on the screen and knows which ones are going to get him the results he wants, that is, to win the game.
That means that over time, he can become more focused, pay attention for longer and generally is able to cope better with distraction.
Disadvantages of neurofeedback The main drawback is that it is rather expensive and a few months of therapy can cost up to $5,000.
Then there is the fact that very few large double-blind tests have been done to really show its efficacy.
Some people are claiming that the child improves merely because he is in contact with the therapist on an individual basis.
The neurofeedback is merely a secondary activity and may or may not work.
The main effects seem to be limited to the lack of attention and focus while those involving impulsivity and hyperactivity seem to gain less from this type of treatment.
As we have seen, new studies for ADHD using neurofeedback are still at a fairly early stage and more research needs to be done.
In the meantime, why not look for a tried and tested medication option which does not involve the use of psychostimulants.
There are those parents who swear by it and find that their children after several sessions can concentrate better and focus for longer.
Actually, only about 10,000 children undergo neurofeedback in the US each year so we are talking about pretty small numbers here.
These figures have been released by the International Society for Neurofeedback and Research.
Although these numbers are small, it comes as a relief to many parents who find that medications with psychostiumulants can have unwelcome side effects.
Some children have been able to reduce their medication levels by 50% when using neurofeedback and this is very welcome.
So, what is so great about this neurofeedback? The first is that it complements medication and can even replace it in some cases.
It has been found to help reduce the following ADHD symptoms in children after they have been through several sessions.
These include a marked reduction in:- • aggression and violent behavior towards pets, peers and siblings • impulsive behavior • inattentiveness • lack of focus • distractability One of the experts in this area of new studies for ADHD is Vincent Monastra who is the founder of FPI Attention Disorders Clinic in New York.
He basically has found that those children who receive neurofeedback treatment do not relapse once it stops.
The positive effects continue.
This is in marked contrast to those children who are just taking medication.
Once they stopped taking the psychostimulants, all the old problems started to re-emerge.
How does neurofeedback work? The whole treatment experience is based on the fact that our brains emit various types of waves and we can easily categorise a few of these such as when we are about to fall asleep, when we are tense and anxious and also when we are feeling alert and relaxed at the same time.
Through the use of video games, the child is able to develop the use of those brain waves which help him to win the game.
He can see a color coded map of the brainwaves on the screen and knows which ones are going to get him the results he wants, that is, to win the game.
That means that over time, he can become more focused, pay attention for longer and generally is able to cope better with distraction.
Disadvantages of neurofeedback The main drawback is that it is rather expensive and a few months of therapy can cost up to $5,000.
Then there is the fact that very few large double-blind tests have been done to really show its efficacy.
Some people are claiming that the child improves merely because he is in contact with the therapist on an individual basis.
The neurofeedback is merely a secondary activity and may or may not work.
The main effects seem to be limited to the lack of attention and focus while those involving impulsivity and hyperactivity seem to gain less from this type of treatment.
As we have seen, new studies for ADHD using neurofeedback are still at a fairly early stage and more research needs to be done.
In the meantime, why not look for a tried and tested medication option which does not involve the use of psychostimulants.
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