About Neurofeedback And When It Makes Sense

Parents of students with ADHD often look to a variety of therapies to help with these conditions. Learning about neurofeedback (or biofeedback, as it is also known) is one such step.

Neurofeedback, also known as EEG biofeedback, is a type of therapy that uses real-time displays of brain activity to teach self-regulation of brain function. It is based on the idea that we can train the brain to function more effectively, improving mental health and performance.

How it works:

1. Brainwave Monitoring: Sensors are placed on the scalp to measure brain activity (electroencephalogram or EEG).
2. Real-Time Feedback: The brain’s activity is displayed on a screen as visual or auditory cues. For example, a calm brain state might result in smoother video playback or soothing sounds.
3. Training: The individual learns to modify their brainwave patterns by doing things like focusing on an object and then observing how changes in that focus change the brain wave patterns  – that’s the “feedback” part of the therapy.
4. Repetition: With practice, the brain learns to reinforce healthier patterns.

Uses of Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback is applied in treating a variety of conditions, including:

• Mental health: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADHD.
• Neurological conditions: Epilepsy, migraines, traumatic brain injuries.
• Sleep disorders: Insomnia.
• Performance enhancement: Athletes, musicians, and professionals use it to optimize focus, creativity, and stress management.

Our interest in neurofeedback therapy is the application to learning, which mainly focuses on ADHD..

Neurofeedback for Learning – In Plain English

The idea behind neurofeedback is to give a child a sense of what concentration feels like. It uses brain waves that are able to move things on a computer screen when the student concentrates.  Seeing the screen change gives immediate feedback to the child, letting him know he is focusing correctly.

A home-based version of neurofeedback, called Play Attention, encourages a student to raise a plane and keep flying it simply by concentrating.  Another version of neurofeedback allows children to run videos using their powers of concentration.

This on-screen activity at the core of neurofeedback reinforces the act of concentration and focus. It’s not unlike how a tennis or golf ball looks when it is hit right. The arc of the ball and how it feels on the club or the racket helps the brain figure out how to play better.

The hope behind neurofeedback, as yet not substantiated in rigorous trials, is that focus is a skill that can be learned like golf or tennis.  The goal of neurofeedback is to train the brain to regulate itself and function better.

Neurofeedback Gains Not Lasting

Neurofeedback has been around for quite a long time now, over 30 years. However, due to inconsistent study results compared to more established treatments such as Fast ForWord, and concerns that the effects of the therapy wear off when it ends, there is not a lot written about neurofeedback choices, aside from the websites of the various centers that offer the therapy.

In research studies a common theme is that the gains often detected while neurofeedback is being used start to fade after the program stops.  In a fairly comprehensive study, the NIH concluded as follows:

[Neurofeedback’s] has been questioned in terms of conclusive scientific evidence of its effectiveness. Moreover, it is an expensive procedure which is not covered by many insurance companies. It is also time-consuming and its benefits are not long-lasting. Finally, it might take several months to see the desired improvements.

Neurofeedback works more like physical fitness exercises. It reminds the brain how to focus. Without those reminders, the inattentiveness will gradually return. In this way, neurofeedback acts more like a natural version of ADHD medication.

This is very different to Fast ForWord (by Gemm Learning) and other interventions, which work on more foundational aspects of learning – skills that are used all day every day and so any gains made will hold.

Fast ForWord vs. Neurofeedback

Fast ForWord is brain-based, but that’s about where the similarities end.

With years of research and testing, Fast ForWord has been shown to permanently improve the brain’s capacity by creating new pathways that bolster skills such as reading and listening comprehension. It interacts with the cognitive skills and neural connections that determine learning ability.

Neurofeedback is like keeping fit, and Fast ForWord is like riding a bicycle. If you work out regularly, you can stay fit. But as soon as you stop going to the gym, fitness starts to fade. 

Conversely, once you learn to ride the bike, you’ll never forget. You could go for months without riding, but once you get back on, your muscle memory takes over, and you ride with ease.  That’s Fast ForWord. Students continue to experience learning acceleration for years after program completion because the changes made during the program become part of the student.

Furthermore, Fast ForWord has a much wider scope than just improved focus. It addresses cognitive and language skills used in learning and has exercises focused specifically on reading.

Neurofeedback – Home or Center

There are two ways to gain access to a neurofeedback system: either by buying a system for your home or by finding a clinician in your area who owns one who will provide neurofeedback treatment as a service.

One advantage to seeking neurofeedback therapy through a treatment center rather than setting up a home system is that you will have access to a sophisticated system – the higher end hardware and software components of neurofeedback systems together will often cost several thousand dollars —  and you will have more comfort that your child is using the right protocols.

On the other hand, a full course of neurofeedback treatment administered by a clinician is not cheap.  A typical neurofeedback session can cost around a hundred dollars, and clinicians will often recommend several dozen sessions.

Aside from the cost considerations, seeking neurofeedback therapy through a treatment center will also give you the benefit of an experienced professional. A professional can make treatment recommendations, tailor treatment to your situation and help you figure out the logistics of fitting a neurofeedback therapy into your schedule.

If you opt for a home system, your purchase might still grant you access to a clinician or analyst who can help you use the system and make sense of your data via phone or email. One advantage of having a home system is unlimited access, so you can administer frequent neurofeedback treatment sessions without having to schedule appointments with a third party – and you may even save money in the long run if you plan to use the system intensively.

Some neurofeedback companies market their systems primarily to home users, while others discourage anyone other than licensed professionals from purchasing their systems and don’t provide customer support to other kinds of users. Finally, some have a two-pronged approach so you can choose to use their systems at home or through a treatment system depending on what works best for you.

Popular Neurofeedback Systems

When forming a neurofeedback treatment plan, the home or in-center choice may come down to what is available in your area.  Bear in mind that neurofeedback creates feedback loops and so can target different skills — practitioners tend to have particular areas of interest that may or may not coincide with your child’s needs.

For example, some systems emphasize concentration or different aspects of executive functioning. Others state helping with relaxation as a central goal, while still others seek to improve general brain functioning. Therefore, take note of which systems are more closely aligned with your desired outcomes.

Some of the most commonly used neurofeedback systems are:

1. Play Attention (home-based)

Play Attention is a home-based neurofeedback program that consists of a BodyWave biofeedback armband and software you install on your Mac or PC. Using Play Attention involves playing simple games while receiving feedback from the armband about how hard you’re concentrating.

The software and armband are available together for a little under $2,000. Buying the software also gives you access to an adviser who will review your data and offer guidance.

2. BrainMaster

BrainMaster offers a variety of qEEG-based neurofeedback hardware devices and software packages.

BrainMaster’s hardware devices typically cost several thousand dollars. Their software is available for Windows and ranges from neurofeedback game packages that cost a couple hundred dollars each to programs for analyzing EEG data that cost around a thousand dollars.

The cost associated with setting up a BrainMaster system is higher than that of systems like Play Attention, which are designed for home users. The most cost- and time-efficient way of getting started with BrainMaster neurofeedback is by signing up for a session at a local neurofeedback center that provides BrainMaster neurofeedback services.

For a list of BrainMaster centers in the United States, see BrainMaster’s list of affiliated clinicians.

3. BrainTrain

Like BrainMaster, BrainTrain makes an assortment of hardware devices and software packages targeted at professionals rather than home users. Their brain training software includes both games that are played entirely through EEG data and games that are played through other controllers but that incorporate EEG data.

As with BrainMaster, BrainTrain systems generally take several thousand dollars to set up, but pricing for treatment is at the discretion of practitioners.

4. NeurOptimal

NeurOptimal is a neurofeedback system that aims to improve focus, relaxation, and overall brain functioning.

For home use, NeurOptimal offers the NeurOptimal Personal Trainer Bundle, which for $5,500 includes a Windows 10 NeurOptimal system, necessary hardware and software for getting started with NeurOptimal, training materials, a year’s worth of access to a “Personal Trainer” and 300 sessions.

Alternatively, you can find a NeurOptimal Trainer in your area.

5. Cereset

Cereset (formerly known as Brain State) aims to help the brain relax and rebalance itself, improving overall brain functioning, including learning, memory, sleep, and stress resilience. It creates an “acoustic brain mirror” by providing feedback through sound – in this sense, it differs from neurofeedback systems that often use primarily visual feedback.

Brain State is only available through licensed clinicians.

Making The Right Choice For Your Child

As you can see, there is a diverse array of neurofeedback systems available. Each system tends to have its own unique angle – for example, Play Attention’s emphasis on concentration or Brain State’s use of acoustic feedback.

To learn more about a specific neurofeedback system, try searching for reviews online.

Note that the advertised learning sweet spot for neurofeedback is ADHD, while for Fast ForWord, it is auditory processing and reading skills. While neurofeedback treatments create feedback loops to shape new behaviors and routines, Fast ForWord trains the underlying cognitive skills.

Gemm Learning has been a trusted provider of Fast ForWord software in the U.S. and Canada since 2006. To see if Fast ForWord is right for your child, call us anytime at 1-877-914-4366.