How Is Neurofeedback Applied To The Treatment Of ADHD?
Although psychological disorders represent a complication at any age, at an early age these types of problems are especially delicate. Indeed, boys and girls are in a period of development in which any poorly treated disorder can become a major problem once they reach adulthood.
In this sense, the advancement of technology allows for increasing application in the treatment of these problems, which greatly facilitates the solution to common childhood psychological disorders such as ADHD. For the treatment of this disorder, Neurofeedback, which we will talk about in this article, has proven to be very effective.
Next, we will briefly explain what this technique consists of; specifically, in the field of its application in the treatment of ADHD. First, however, it is necessary to clarify both concepts.
ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder arises during childhood and consists of a series of difficulties that make the child unable to concentrate sufficiently on the activities he or she is carrying out. This disorder also affects the child’s perseverance and prevents them from carrying out tasks with the regularity they need, which is why it has a special impact in the school environment.
ADHD is not only expressed on an intellectual level (lack of attention to homework or the teacher’s explanation, for example). Boys and girls who suffer from this disorder are unable to remain seated or still in a specific place. For all these reasons, it has been shown that, in addition to school failure, ADHD in childhood makes future adults more likely to develop addictions and other pathologies such as anxiety-related disorders.
As we have already mentioned, Neurofeedback is frequently applied in the treatment of ADHD. But what does it consist of?
Neurofeedback is included in a series of techniques called Biofeedback, which are based on the recording of the body’s activity. Thus, Neurofeedback allows the child’s brain activity to be collected, with the aim of recording brain activity in real time. Ultimately, this record will serve to correct some of the child’s mental tendencies and processes.
The application of Neurofeedback in boys and girls with ADHD
The idea when applying Neurofeedback to the treatment of ADHD is that, through the recording of brain activity and the analysis of its patterns, self-regulation can be accessed that will help the patient to correct their behavior. What are the advantages of applying this technique? Let’s see them:
1. Promotes autonomy
As we have already mentioned, Neurofeedback aims to enable the patient to self-regulate through knowledge of their own body. Thus, this technique is a kind of training through which the boy or girl learns to identify the patterns and, above all, the signals of his or her body. Over time and sessions, this learning becomes anchored in your memory so the patient automatically manages his reactions and thus learns to manage his impulses.
2. No side effects
As it is simply a recording of the patient’s brain activity and a correction of their behavioral patterns, Neurofeedback has no side effects, unlike other treatments such as the administration of psychotropic drugs. Not only that, but it has been proven that this type of Biofeedback technique is absolutely painless.
3. Takes into account the patient’s verbal limitations
Since ADHD is common in childhood, This technique must take into account the verbal limitations of these patients who not only may not know how to communicate adequately (at very early ages), but also do not master their abstract thinking and are likely, therefore, not to fully understand the process.
Neurofeedback is a highly decisive technique in this sense, since it is not based on oral language or reflective processes, but on understood training and learning. In other words, the boy or girl learns without realizing it. For the same reason, Neurofeedback is a highly dynamic technique that does not exhaust the patient intellectually, since it is practiced in real time.
4. It is a dynamic training process
Neurofeedback is not a practice that represents an intellectual challenge for the patient, but rather a training that involves practicing skills in real time; almost as if the person developed “mental agility” when facing the symptoms of the problem that is affecting them. This makes its usefulness very practical and can be applied to real contexts, instead of focusing on introspection and reflection.
