ADHD is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children. Currently, treatment for ADHD symptoms involves behavioural and educational interventions for both children and families, as well as medication. Stimulant medications are most often prescribed. While treatment of ADHD with stimulants results in behavioural improvements in the short term, its use is associated with significant side effects, and is generally not considered a long-term solution.
More recently, our understanding of ADHD has highlighted brain function differences between children with ADHD and controls. Because of this, interventions which aim to change or ‘normalise’ brain function in people with ADHD have become more popular. Primary among these interventions is Neurofeedback Training (NFT). In NFT, brain activity is measured and feedback (generally visual and/or auditory in the form of a computer game) about brain function is provided to the child. This feedback, which is almost instantaneous, allows the child to identify when they have successfully changed their brain activity. Over time, children can retrain their brain function towards more ‘normalised’ activity, leading to a reduction in symptoms. Research has shown that NFT is effective in treating ADD/ADHD symptoms roughly 80% of the time.
The current study aims to assess how effective NFT is in the reduction of ADHD symptoms in a sample of children attending an NFT Clinic. Measures of brain and cognitive function will be taken before and after a NFT intervention, and results compared to monitor improvements in function resulting from the intervention.
