A Non-Invasive Therapy for ADHD and Other Disorders: Neurofeedbacking

By: Sierra Shumate

               Many people have been exposed to, or may have even experienced ADHD as a child. It is something that thousands of parents struggle with day to day, as many children are on medication to help them pay attention and organize their thoughts both in school and at home. Some families, however, are opposed to medication or seek alternative therapies that are less invasive, like neurofeedback therapy.

               The process of neurofeedback therapy essentially focuses on retraining the brain, producing electrical patterns in place of old ones, to ensure calm and focus. During a session, which is usually around 30 minutes, a child is placed in front of a computer and attached to electrodes on the head. A movie is started on the screen, and the child is told to concentrate on continuing the film. If the child's attention wavers, the movie will turn off, and the process begins again by having the child refocus his/her attention on restarting the movie.
               Dr. David Mitnick, who works with the New York Presbyterian's Weill Cornell Medical Center, is experienced with this type of therapy and recommend it where medication is not an option or is ineffective.

               Before treatment, a measure of electrical activity in the brain is first measured. This is used to develop more specific treatment for certain patients. Mitnick states that "The technique is not concerned with what you have, it is concerned with the regulation of your brain." He is optimistic about other disorders and the benefits of neurofeedback as well in the future. Although it is still dificult to obtain funds from medical insurance as treatment is still not greatly scientifically evident, many psychologists have seen grand improvements in their patients, particularly in school. Dr. Luchow, a psychologist in Tenafly, says that she has seen her patients go "from failing to top of their class." 

               As different parts of the human brain are made more organized and engaged, the mind grows sharper, similar to sharpening a knife. As treatment popularity continues to grow, neural mapping evidence may become clear enough to allow reimbursement from medical insurance, which would be a breakthrough in learning disorder alernative therapy. 

Source: Perlmutter, Leslie, (201) Family