Neurofeedback for ADHD: Double Blind Research
ByThanks to the advances in technology, we’re literally gaining a look at how a brain affected with ADD/ADHD works. And because of that, many children – and adults have benefited from a therapy called neurofeedback.
Neurofeedback, so its supportors say, trains the brain to work more efficiently by measuring the brain waves while an individual essentially plays a video game. Now, the effectiveness of this treatment is being put to the test – the scientific test, that is.
Researchers at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio testing this form of therapy with the help of 36 children, aged six to 12. Each child receives 40 treatments of neurofeedback training either two or three times weekly for a total of 14 to 21 weeks.
The students are not permitted to take medication for ADD/ADHD during the course of the trial.
This study is the first time that neurofeedback as a treatment for ADD/ADHD has been tested in a double-blind study in this country. The study works by monitoring the brain waves of the children as they play the video game. As the children lose focus on the game, their brain waves will naturally slow. And in turn the test is constructed so the children lose the ability to control the game. They won’t be able to gain control again until they are prompted to refocus, which will increase their brain waves.
Having the research be ‘double blinded’, means that one group of the children will receive the real neurofeedback treatment, where the second group will have the same set up, however the treatment will not be true neurofeedback. This will allow the researchers to see if the neurofeedback leads to clinical improvement in children with ADD/ADHD, because the ‘sham’ treatment is acting like a placebo.
Watch this blog to see view the results of this trial. You can also visit here to read the entire news release of the study.
Best,
Dr. Kenny
p.s. to learn more about neurofeedback and other alternatives for ADD/ADHD, please visit: Alternatives for ADHD.
Technorati Tags: ADD, ADHD, Neurofeedback, alternative medicine
Wow, this is another breakthrough for science. I am hoping that soon, we can find a cure for ADHD.
I have ADHD, will my children have it as well? What are the chances?
where can I get it for a 2 yr old?
I am looking forward to reading the results of this study, but I don’t need it to know neurofeedback works. My daughter began half way through 1st grade when her teachers described he as “often clueless”. She had “needs improvement” in every area of conduct and study habits at that time and struggled with math. She was only mildly hyper and mostly lethargic. When she began neurofeedback, we immediately saw improvement. By the end of first grade, she had raised her marks in all areas – academic and conduct and study habits. Her lethargy is non-existent. Now into 2nd grade, she is excelling in every area (even math). At the most recent parent teacher conference I heard what every ADD parent wants to hear from a teacher – “I have been looking all of this time for something, anything that I know ADD looks like in the classroom, and I haven’t seen anything.” Wow – what a success.
I’m really encouraged to hear that someone has had success with neurofeedback. My five year old son has been taking neurofeedback sessions for about a month and a half now for ADD. So far it’s still a bit early to see results, but we’re desparate to keep him from getting kicked out of school. He goes to a private Montessori school and they’re pretty much fed up with his disruptive behavior and disinterest in lessons. He’s tested to be very gifted, but you’d never know it from his school performance. They’ve basically given us a month to find a way to improve his behavior, or withdraw him. We’ve increased his feedback sessions to twice a day, five times a week in an attempt to speed the process along and hopefully see enough of an improvement that we can at least keep him enrolled in school. I really don’t want to resort to medication unless I absolutely have no other choice.