Unlocking Focus: Using Neurofeedback to Re-Wire the ADHD Brain
Neurofeedback, a non-invasive brain training technique, is gaining attention as a promising therapy for individuals with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, known as ADHD.
ADHD affects up to one in ten children and over half a million adults in Australia, leading to challenges in attention, impulse control, and executive functioning. Diagnosis rates have been increasing, particularly among adults and women, as awareness and understanding of the condition improve.
While medication and behavioural therapies remain standard treatments, neurofeedback offers a complementary or alternative option that focuses on regulating brainwave activity. In fact, the American Academy of Paediatrics has listed neurofeedback as a Level 1 intervention for ADHD in children equal to medication or behavioural therapy.
What Is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback uses EEG technology to monitor brainwave patterns in real-time. During sessions, individuals engage in visual or auditory tasks, which provide feedback through sensors placed on the scalp that monitor brain activity.
The task can be as simple as watching TV on a laptop whilst the brain activity is monitored in real time. If focus or attention wanes or becomes overstimulated, the technology gently nudges the brain to work more efficiently by subtly lowering the volume or the screen contrast. The brain adapts and learns how to find its optimal zone, not revving too fast or too slow based the feedback it is getting.
ADHD Symptoms Neurofeedback Can Help
Research, such as the 2014 meta-analysis published in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, shows that neurofeedback may be especially beneficial for:
• Inattention: Helps improve sustained attention and reduce distractibility.
• Hyperactivity: Trains the brain to reduce overstimulation and restlessness.
• Impulsivity: Promotes better self-regulation and decision-making.
Timeframe for Improvement
Neurofeedback typically requires 30 to 40 sessions to effectively retrain the brain, however many notice improvements in focus and behaviour after 10 to 15 sessions.
Benefits may continue to build after sessions end, and importantly, the brain retains the ability to produce newly learned patterns. A meta-analysis found that improvements in ADHD symptoms persisted for 6 to 12 months after treatment completion, suggesting lasting clinical effects.
Unlike stimulant medications, which require ongoing use to maintain benefits, neurofeedback may offer enduring improvements by training the brain to self-regulate more effectively.
So, whilst neurofeedback is not a quick fix it is a lasting one and has shown efficacy in both children and adults with ADHD. Moreover, neurofeedback is considered safe, with minimal side effects, making it an appealing option for those seeking drug-free approaches.
