Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback is a therapy backed by research to improve focus, self-regulation and sleep. It can be a sustainable treatment for ADHD, Performance or Sleep problems and is delivered in neurocare clinics worldwide following our leading personalised approach.
Straight to:
If you are caring for someone with ADHD or insomnia, or you are suffering from the condition yourself, we understand that finding an effective treatment can be difficult. At neurocare, we offer an innovative therapeutic programs targeted to offer long-term results, without the need for ADHD medication or their side-effects.
To help those with ADHD or insomnia, clinicians at neurocare use a type of neuromodulation therapy called neurofeedback. Neurofeedback is a brain-training technique that allows us to influence neural activity in your brain not only to relieve your symptoms but to address problems of inattention or hyperactivity at its core.
This treatment can also help improve performance-related problems for athletes and professionals. Before starting any treatment, our trained professionals start with a thorough assessment of your brain activity and help you with your sleep hygiene. Our goal is to create a targeted programme that gets your brain firing and rewiring faster, for sustained positive results.
How does Neurofeedback work?
Our brains are incredibly adaptable. Every day, we process and learn new information creating new neural pathways. This is known as neuroplasticity. Neurofeedback harnesses the brain’s natural ability to change, to retrain your brain. In Neurofeedback therapy for ADHD, your brain is rewarded for changing its activity to healthier patterns. If the brain can better self-regulate this can help you to focus when needed during the day, as well as fall asleep and stay asleep in at night.
Neurofeedback is suitable for a wide range of individuals:
- adults, adolescents, and children over 6 years old with inattention and impulsivity problems (ADHD) and/or sleep problems
- people suffering from sub-types of ADHD
- high-performance professionals and athletes wanting to improve sleep and cognitive performance
Who is Neurofeedback recommended to?
Neurofeedback for ADHD
Most studies on neurofeedback consider the effects of this brain training technique on children with ADHD. Our clinical experience and research show improved attention and better sleep. Once the new brain activity has been learned, the positive effects are sustained in the long term. No further sessions are needed. Neurofeedback for ADHD is suited to children from the age of 6 years through to adults.
Neurofeedback for Insomnia and Sleep
Neurocare’s expert teams can target neurofeedback therapy to help with sleep, to train overactive brain states to be able to better regulate. This in turn helps our ability to wind down, fall asleep and stay asleep.
Neurofeedback for Peak Performance
Because neurofeedback helps improve focus and sleep, this treatment is beneficial for clients looking to further improve their performance. The positive effects of neurofeedback have been documented in studies including tennis players, golfers, race car drivers, and other high-performance professionals.
Neurofeedback has no contra-indications. The treatment can be used safely for anyone, as long as its application is personalised and targeted correctly.
How Neurofeedback programs work and what to expect in your session
Personalised neurofeedback helps adults and children over 6 years old with sleeping difficulties, attention problems, and impulsive behaviour.
Neurofeedback is a short-term treatment programme with long-term effects. Between 30 and 40 sessions are usually needed for the brain to consolidate its learning. For the best effects, sessions need to be held regularly, at least two times per week. Once the new behavioural pattern has been learned, no further sessions are needed.
Neurofeedback is also suited to children and adults with ADHD and sleep disorders who have not responded to others treatments, such as medications.
Neurocare clinics worldwide adopt insights gained from its leading research team alongside cutting-edge diagnostic and therapy tools to offer a highly personalised and targeted program. Scientific studies have shown that the treatment is effective in three out of four individuals and this is backed by our clinical experience.
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Seek innovative and personalized treatment at a clinic near you
Advantages of Neurofeedback
Safe
Our neurofeedback therapy programs are based on a comprehensive brain assessment so that we are not making changes to the brain unnecessarily. These programs are facilitated by experienced health professionals who have received trained at neurocare’s leading global Academy.
Improves sleep
By training the brain to self-regulate out of overactive state, neurofeedback can naturally help improve our ability to fall asleep and stay asleep. When we improve sleep we can set a great foundation to help patients across a range of health conditions, not only ADHD and cognitive performance, but also Depression, Anxiety Disorders and a range of chronic health conditions.
Side-effect free
Neurofeedback is proven to be safe. Other than feeling a little tired after a session, there are no side effects to this brain training technique. Unlike certain sedative sleep medications which may induce fogginess or drowsiness during the day, neurofeedback therapy promotes natural sleep to recalibrate a healthy circadian rhythm.
Efficient
An average of 30 to 40 sessions is typically needed, with sessions held at least twice a week. Although this requires an intensive commitment over several weeks and months, after completing their neurofeedback programme, most patients enjoy long-lasting benefits.
Natural
The efficacy of neurofeedback relies on a gradual and natural learning process in the brain, like learning a musical instrument or a new sport. Once the new brain activity has been consolidated, the positive effects can be sustained. Think of it as a gym for your brain!
Backed by science
At neurocare we only apply protocols that have been rigorously tested by science. The technologies we use in our clinics are also supported by these studies. We start by conducting a comprehensive quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) and Actigraphy sleep assessment. This gives our psychologists and psychiatrists a deeper insight into your brain activity and helps us tailor your programme to you.
Frequently Asked Questions about Neurofeedback
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Neurofeedback has been studied for several decades and prominent researcher Dr Martijn Arns and his research team, work with neurocare clinicians worldwide to ensure we deliver best practice. A quick google search on Neurofeedback may find different results on the efficacy of Neurofeedback. It is important to note there are different protocols and approaches to Neurofeedback, not all of which are backed by sufficient research. The quality of Neurofeedback equipment can also vary. The following summary of Neurofeedback is reflective of the protocols adopted in neurocare clinics throughout the world.
In a study by Garcia-Pimenta and others in 2021, researchers confirmed the effectiveness of Neurofeedback when personalised with a Quantitative EEG assessment, but also demonstrated that results improve when this method is used in combination with parental interventions, psychotherapy, sleep hygiene maintenance as well as nutritional advice.
Van Doren and others in 2018, published a systematic review and meta-analysis which looks at data from more than 500 children with ADHD from 10 randomised controlled trials, comparing the effects of Neurofeedback with ‘active treatments’ (including medication and ‘non-active’ (no treatment) conditions. To critically interpret the data, researchers with different views on Neurofeedback contributed to this study. They concluded that Neurofeedback had long-lasting effects after an average of 6 months, with no ongoing therapy sessions needed after the initial program compared to the group which was still taking medication at follow-up, and at follow-up, the effects of neurofeedback were comparable to the effects of medication.
An earlier paper by Arns and colleagues in 2012 demonstrated the results of the ‘individualized’ neurofeedback approach – also called QEEG informed neurofeedback – which is employed within neuroCare Clinics worldwide. This manuscript also summarises how personalisation of neurofeedback treatment, both within this study and in an earlier study by an independent group, potentially doubles clinical treatment effects.
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Although the majority of research on Neurofeedback is conducted on children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD, evidence shows there are comparable effects in adult clients as well.
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If Neurofeedback is personalised and delivered following correct protocols, generally clients experience positive effects within the first 10 sessions of Neurofeedback, which may take 2 - 4 weeks. Neurofeedback is shown to be effective in three in four people. Our clinicians closely monitor your progress and results to improve the program in any way or to ensure you do not continue with the program if it is not working for you.
