| Electroencephalographic Biofeedback |
Electroencephalographic Biofeedback -
Alternative Treatment for Adult ADD and Teen ADD/ADHD
Until recently, medication (e.g., Ritalin) has been the only effective treatment for attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, a series of case and controlled group studies examining
the effects of electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback have reported improved attention and
behavioral control as well as gains on tests of intelligence and academic achievement. EEG bio-
feedback was determined to be an effective treatment of ADHD and has emerged as a non-
pharmacological way to approach this mental disorder. Testing confirms that EEG biofeedback
produces patient outcomes equivalent to those obtained with stimulant drugs.
Significant health concerns exist regarding the current treatment of ADHD by the use of stimulants.
Side effects, lack of compliance, and the fact that stimulant medications cannot be given late in the day
limit the benefits largely to school hours. Also, while stimulants improve behavior and attention, less
of an effect has been noted on academic and social performance. Thus, EEG biofeedback is a welcome
alternative to traditional treatments.
In electroencephalographic (EEG) training for ADHD, the trainer presents information to the child
about what is happening at that moment in his cortex. He is seeing his own brain waves misbehave,
and he tries to get them under control. Gradually, he is able to do so. When that happens, his sleep
may improve. His bedwetting may stop. His headaches, if any, may disappear. He may no longer
explode in temper tantrums. He may start reading better, and listening better, and his school
behavior may become less disruptive. His math grades may improve significantly. His handwriting
may improve. Speech may improve. Once the child's brain has learned to regulate itself better by the
use of EEG biofeedback, it continues to use that skill, just as other children's brains do naturally.
EEG biofeedback has been shown to be helpful with specific learning disabilities (LD) as well. Often
the same training protocol is appropriate for both ADHD and LD. In addition, EEG biofeedback is
sometimes used for relief from chronic pain, hypertension, or digestive problems.
EEG biofeedback is a painless, non-invasive technique that monitors the body's
unconscious and automatic functions such as blood pressure, or heart rate, and
"feeds back" the information to the ADHD child in a concrete form such as through
sounds or a graph on a computer screen. By seeing how different behaviors and
thoughts change the feedback, the child learns to regulate these functions on his
own to improve functioning.
EEG biofeedback uses an electroencephalograph (EEG), a device that detects and records the
electrical activity in the brain, called brainwaves. The EEG monitors and records the different
brainwaves of the child, who learns how to increase or reduce certain types of brainwaves.
Electroencephalographs of ADHD children show a brainwave pattern that is different from those of
children without ADHD. ADHD kids exhibit more theta waves (related to sleep or daydreaming) and
less beta waves (related to thinking activities). The goal of EEG biofeedback is to reverse the ratio of
theta waves and beta waves by increasing the awake and alert state of the ADHD child. Proponents of
this technique believe that bringing theta and beta brainwave closer to healthier patterns leads to a
reduction of ADHD symptoms.
EEG electrodes placed on the head detect the different types of brainwaves produced by the patient
and send the information to a data recorder. Every time the desired brainwave is identified, the
biofeedback apparatus sends a signal to the ADHD child - auditory or visual feedback - to encourage
the production of similar brainwaves. The auditory or visual feedbacks vary from simple sounds to
elaborate computer graphics made to resemble video games where generating the wanted brainwave
adds excitement to the action and brings some kind of rewards.
Electroencephalographic biofeedback trains the ADHD kid to alter his brain functioning so that he
daydreams less and pays attention more (through the use of special software and computer enhanced
techniques which allow him to monitor his progress in a video game format).
One of my adolescent clients who tried this couldn't sit still for his EEG biofeedback
sessions at first. After about the third session, he began to enjoy the biofeedback
method. By about his tenth session he was more attentive at home and less
oppositional. Within six-months his reading and math scores had progressed one
grade level. He continues to make grade-appropriate progress in school, but does
have occasional setbacks. He goes back periodically for booster EEG biofeedback
sessions.
EEG biofeedback is a very cool adjunct to the implementation of appropriate parenting strategies for
ADHD kids. However, it should not be used in lieu of these strategies or as a sole treatment modality.
Alternative Treatment for Adult ADD and Teen ADD/ADHD
Until recently, medication (e.g., Ritalin) has been the only effective treatment for attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, a series of case and controlled group studies examining
the effects of electroencephalographic (EEG) biofeedback have reported improved attention and
behavioral control as well as gains on tests of intelligence and academic achievement. EEG bio-
feedback was determined to be an effective treatment of ADHD and has emerged as a non-
pharmacological way to approach this mental disorder. Testing confirms that EEG biofeedback
produces patient outcomes equivalent to those obtained with stimulant drugs.
Significant health concerns exist regarding the current treatment of ADHD by the use of stimulants.
Side effects, lack of compliance, and the fact that stimulant medications cannot be given late in the day
limit the benefits largely to school hours. Also, while stimulants improve behavior and attention, less
of an effect has been noted on academic and social performance. Thus, EEG biofeedback is a welcome
alternative to traditional treatments.
In electroencephalographic (EEG) training for ADHD, the trainer presents information to the child
about what is happening at that moment in his cortex. He is seeing his own brain waves misbehave,
and he tries to get them under control. Gradually, he is able to do so. When that happens, his sleep
may improve. His bedwetting may stop. His headaches, if any, may disappear. He may no longer
explode in temper tantrums. He may start reading better, and listening better, and his school
behavior may become less disruptive. His math grades may improve significantly. His handwriting
may improve. Speech may improve. Once the child's brain has learned to regulate itself better by the
use of EEG biofeedback, it continues to use that skill, just as other children's brains do naturally.
EEG biofeedback has been shown to be helpful with specific learning disabilities (LD) as well. Often
the same training protocol is appropriate for both ADHD and LD. In addition, EEG biofeedback is
sometimes used for relief from chronic pain, hypertension, or digestive problems.
EEG biofeedback is a painless, non-invasive technique that monitors the body's
unconscious and automatic functions such as blood pressure, or heart rate, and
"feeds back" the information to the ADHD child in a concrete form such as through
sounds or a graph on a computer screen. By seeing how different behaviors and
thoughts change the feedback, the child learns to regulate these functions on his
own to improve functioning.
EEG biofeedback uses an electroencephalograph (EEG), a device that detects and records the
electrical activity in the brain, called brainwaves. The EEG monitors and records the different
brainwaves of the child, who learns how to increase or reduce certain types of brainwaves.
Electroencephalographs of ADHD children show a brainwave pattern that is different from those of
children without ADHD. ADHD kids exhibit more theta waves (related to sleep or daydreaming) and
less beta waves (related to thinking activities). The goal of EEG biofeedback is to reverse the ratio of
theta waves and beta waves by increasing the awake and alert state of the ADHD child. Proponents of
this technique believe that bringing theta and beta brainwave closer to healthier patterns leads to a
reduction of ADHD symptoms.
EEG electrodes placed on the head detect the different types of brainwaves produced by the patient
and send the information to a data recorder. Every time the desired brainwave is identified, the
biofeedback apparatus sends a signal to the ADHD child - auditory or visual feedback - to encourage
the production of similar brainwaves. The auditory or visual feedbacks vary from simple sounds to
elaborate computer graphics made to resemble video games where generating the wanted brainwave
adds excitement to the action and brings some kind of rewards.
Electroencephalographic biofeedback trains the ADHD kid to alter his brain functioning so that he
daydreams less and pays attention more (through the use of special software and computer enhanced
techniques which allow him to monitor his progress in a video game format).
One of my adolescent clients who tried this couldn't sit still for his EEG biofeedback
sessions at first. After about the third session, he began to enjoy the biofeedback
method. By about his tenth session he was more attentive at home and less
oppositional. Within six-months his reading and math scores had progressed one
grade level. He continues to make grade-appropriate progress in school, but does
have occasional setbacks. He goes back periodically for booster EEG biofeedback
sessions.
EEG biofeedback is a very cool adjunct to the implementation of appropriate parenting strategies for
ADHD kids. However, it should not be used in lieu of these strategies or as a sole treatment modality.
NASA developed technology that trains the brain using videogames.
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