Neurofeedback is able to help children, teenagers, and adults who have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Individuals with ADD/ADHD may have issues with inattention, distractibility, hyperactivity, impulsivity, or other uncomfortable or difficult behaviors. The neurofeedback perspective demonstrates these symptoms as a dysregulated brain that can be corrected with brain training.
The dysregulation model of neurofeedback illustrates that the brain may have inconsistent performances, inability to calm down at the appropriate moments, and have difficulty transitioning between tasks. Individuals may hyperfocus in some situations and find they cannot concentrate in others. The destabilized brain may function at 60 mph and then fall to zero mph. This leads to inconsistent and uncomfortable behaviors.
Neurofeedback perspectives demonstrates the following issues of ADD/ADHD that can be adjusted with brain training:
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Hyperactivity and fidgeting
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Selective attention and focus
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Attention span difficulties
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Emotional sensitivities
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Flexibility with changing perspectives
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Transitioning to different activities
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Impulsive behaviors
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Giving up, freezing, or becoming too frustrated
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Social skills difficulties
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Self-esteem issues
Brain Patterns and ADHD
With ADHD there may be too much slow activity in brain regions that regulate focus and attention. ADHD clients compensate for this slower-than-normal brain activity with constant body movement aimed at “waking up their brain” so the person can focus without constant body movement. This is what stimulants do, except that their effect disappears as the medication wears off. Slow activity in certain brain regions is also associated with lack of motivation, distractibility, inattention, depression, and worry.
Example:
Excessive fast activity in the brain can also cause problems such as impulsivity, aggressiveness, and anxiety. Imagine your brain racing so fast that it’s difficult to listen or sit still. People with ADHD tend to be very intelligent and often get the big picture right away. Because their mental pace may be faster than the person giving the instructions, they move ahead and miss many of the details.
Brain Training is an Effective and Researched Alternative
Your brain drives all learning. When you train your brain with neurofeedback, it helps you learn how to become focused, calm, and gain self-control. This has been shown in various studies conducted over many years
ADHD is a brain problem. Doesn’t it make sense to focus directly on the problem?