Neurofeedback Anyone?

[ZimmyB]

Has anyone had any experience with Neurofeedback therapy for ADHD? I am looking into this possibility, but want to survey the field here for any personal experiences,, etc.

[NinjaBunnyGirl]

I have not personally heard of anyone using it but I can see how it would be helpful, however I would strongly recommend talking to your doctor before starting any kind of treatment.

The idea behind it seems a bit old fashioned, but this kind of thing is actually pretty useful in psychological studies! My one example is how they can temporarily make people blind to study a concept related to blind individuals being able to move around objects but not being able to perceive them. Don't worry, unless the people doing the neurofeedback get confused between the literal front and back of your head you won't have any chance of going blind. From what I understand it's perfectly safe. Sorry, neurobiology student here, literally just learned about this in my intro psychology class.

[HelicopterM0m]

My son who is almost 14 started Neurofeedback last August. His doctor suggested it because adhd medications were not helping him. My son also had severe anxiety. I have notice a huge reduction in his anxiety. He rarely has anxiety and when he does it is minimal. He’s still hyper but can sit and focus for longer period of times. I would recommend trying it. It has been such a positive experience for him.

[HLMomof3boys in reply to HelicopterM0m]

Hello, I am also considering neurofeedback for my son who is 8. Would you mind sharing where you went? None of the doctors we see have any recommendations and it’s a bit weird to just find doctors on a google search. Also, how long did you son do it for and does he need to repeat the treatment or does it have a permanent effect? Any further insight you could share would be really helpful. Thank you!

[HelicopterM0m in reply to HLMomof3boys]

We live in California and his pediatrician referred us to a provider. Insurance will cover mental health visits. You may need to get approval. My insurance Anthem approved him for 1 years worth of treatments. My son has been going once a week since August of 2020. They say it takes a least 20 sessions. We went into this with an open mind and have been happy with the results.

[AnetPisc]

One of my kids did for ADHD, I did for anxiety/panic attacks/brain fog, and another kid for a medical reason and it was a last result before surgery. Because it is a therapy, it’s not quick and requires the patient to share observations as treatment progresses. Also not typically covered by insurance, but IMO should be considered an important part of treatment. My ADHD kid only noticed they were very relaxed after a session, but no real help so we discontinued and going a different route (more thorough diagnosis into other things). I did Nurofeedback before I knew I had ADHD, and was two years into a family crisis. We focused on overall anxiety and clarity, and it was incredibly helpful. The only reason I’m not doing it now for ADHD is cost (insurance doesn’t cover. I’m using organization tools, exercise & Rx.) However I do know that for me, it was a powerful tool, and would help overall - like Rx, lesson some struggles but without negative side effects. It’s critical that the provider is qualified, certified, gets ongoing education and is connected to the neurofeedback community for oversight and help if needed. My therapist gets clients from out of town who spent a lot of money over a year in treatment & no benefit. The therapy is adjusted as you progress, and consult with your other counselors for overall feedback. We’re near Kansas City, Amend Neurocounseling.