Neurofeedback vs. Meds

There are several ways in which the brain can be helped to regulate itself. Neurofeedback is a technologically based way of guiding the brain’s electronic activity into a desirable range and help the brain find this pattern over and over again. It’s advantages are that it looks to “calibrate” the underlying neurological problem and the brain does this more for itself over time, sort of like unlearning a bad habit. This does take time, however, and so neurofeedback is not an immediate or quick fix approach. Medication is another way in which the brain can be helped to regulate itself though many parents do communicate concerns about potential side effects. Furthermore, medication (like every other therapeutic approach including neurofeedback) does not have a 100% success rate for 100% of patients. Neurofeedback success/benefit rates range from 70-85% depending on the nature of the case. Behavioral therapy and cognitive therapy can also be helpful in certain cases as well. The good news is that patients, and their families, have a number of treatment options which is why it is essential that a sophisticated and scientifically based analysis of brain function be performed so that the “best fit” treatment is constructed.