Can Neurofeedback Help ADHD?

| Serin Center |

Approximately, 9.4% of children between the ages of 4 and 17 in the United State are diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder[1].

Common symptoms of ADHD include:

  • Inattention
  • Impulsive behavior
  • Hyperactive movement
  • Easy distractibility

Several clinical trials have found that neurofeedback effectively treats the symptoms of ADHD.

Improvements seen following neurofeedback have been described as:

  • Improved attention
  • Decreased hyperactivity and impulsivity
  • Increased academic and social skills.

Neurofeedback Approaches For ADHD

There are several various neurofeedback approaches that have been developed for ADHD. The most frequently used frequencies increase beta (15-18 Hz) activity and decrease theta (4-7 Hz) brain activity, particularly in frontal regions of the brain. The frontal lobe is often associated with executive functioning and problem solving such as motivation, attention, impulse-control, goal-directed behavior, and judgment.

Individuals with ADHD often exhibit frontal lobe dysfunction[2]; which subsequently may be the reason for perceived difficulties with inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

Other approaches are to target sensorimotor rhythm (SMR; 12-15 Hz). Protocols that increase SMR activity, such as theta and alpha (8-11 Hz/4- 7 Hz) protocols that increase alpha brain activity, and slow cortical potentials (SCP) that control cortical excitability can also help lessen symptoms.

Theta waves are involved in being withdrawn from the external world and being more focused on internal signals, often experienced as the twilight state when waking or drifting to sleep.

Beta waves are involved in typical wakefulness states and alertness and when attention is directed to cognitive tasks and the external world.

Neurofeedback for ADHD is based on data showing that many individuals with ADHD have more slow-wave (especially theta) power in their EEG than those without ADHD, and oppositely, less beta power[3]. Therefore, neurofeedback helps to “wake up” the brain and keep it alert and focused while simultaneously decreasing the “sleepy” brain activity that is associated with inattention in individuals with ADHD.

ADHD Improvements with Neurofeedback

According to accounts from parents, neurofeedback significantly reduces the basic symptoms of ADHD and is just as effective at improving behavior as drugs like methylphenidate. This supports the use of neurofeedback as an alternative therapy for children and adolescents with ADHD. Children may also be on medication while completing neurofeedback treatment, but it may offer a healthy form of treatment to assist in waning off stimulants.

Neurofeedback can help individuals with ADHD focus better and improve executive functioning skills needed to improve daily functioning. Following neurofeedback therapy, children may show improvements in IQ scores and performance at school.

In addition, neurofeedback has been found to be effective in improving self-regulation skills in adults with ADHD[4] demonstrated that compared to controls. Of the adults with ADHD who received neurofeedback, 14 out of 24 showed 25% symptom reduction after 30 sessions with 6 participants no longer meeting the criteria for ADHD following treatment. Benefits were also maintained at a 6-month follow-up.

Overall, neurofeedback shows promising evidence for long-term improvement in ADHD symptoms.

For additional information, or to get started with neurofeedback therapy offered at Serin Center.

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html

Shue & Douglas, 1992; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1389116

Duric et al., 2012; https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-244X-12-107

Mayer et al., 2016; https://www-sciencedirect-com.mwu.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S1388245715011037

Serin Center

If you are located in the Metro Phoenix Arizona area, Serin Center has two offices located in Peoria, AZ, and Scottsdale, AZ that can provide testing for Dyscalculia and provide Independent Educational Evaluations. Contact us today to discuss how we can help.

Our educational evaluations can provide diagnoses and generate specific goals and treatments to help your child succeed. Completed in Peoria & Scottsdale AZ

Recent Posts

Categories