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 age adult.

In this sense, the advancement of technology allows an increasing application in the treatment of these problems, which greatly facilitates solving common childhood psychological disorders such as ADHD. For the treatment of this disorder, Neurofeedback has proven to be very effective, which we will discuss in this article.

What is ADHD?

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 boy or girl unable to concentrate sufficiently on the activities that she is carrying out

. This disorder also affects the child's perseverance and prevents him from carrying out tasks with the regularity that they need, which is why it especially affects the school environment.

ADHD is not only expressed at an intellectual level (lack of attention in homework or in the teacher's explanation, for example). Boys and girls with this disorder are unable to sit or stay 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 disorders related to anxiety.

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What is Neurofeedback?

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 makes it possible to collect the child's brain activity, with the aim of recording the brain's 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, by recording the activity brain and the analysis of its patterns, it is possible to access a self-regulation that will help the patient to correct his conduct. What are the advantages of applying this technique? Let's see them:

1. Promotes autonomy

As we have already commented, Neurofeedback claims that, through knowledge of their own body, the patient can become self-regulated. Thus, this technique is a kind of training through which the boy or girl learns to identify what the patterns are and, above all, the signals of her body. Over time and sessions, this learning remains anchored in your memory, so the patient automatically manages her reactions and thus learns to manage her impulses.

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2. No side effects

As it is simply a record of the patient's brain activity and a correction of her behavior patterns, Neurofeedback has no side effects, unlike other treatments such as the administration of psychopharmaceuticals. Not only that, but this type of Biofeedback technique has been shown to be absolutely painless.

3. Takes into account the verbal limitations of the patient

As ADHD is common in childhood, this technique should take into account the verbal limitations of these patients, who not only may not know how to communicate properly (at a very early age), but also may not master their abstract thinking and therefore may not fully understand the process.

Neurofeedback is a highly resolving technique in this sense, since it is not based on oral language or reflective processes, but on training and understood 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 involves 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 him. This makes its usefulness very practical and can be applied to real contexts, instead of focusing on introspection and reflection.