Ilene (not her real name), a fourth-grade student from Buckingham, struggled with focusing, reading, and writing. A school evaluation identified a learning disability affecting basic reading and writing skills, and showed that she was performing below grade level.
Her attention was also a concern. Her parents reported that she struggled to stay on task and had difficulty completing assignments. Because she was not achieving at grade level, they felt she needed additional support to begin making satisfactory academic progress.
Concerned about both her lack of academic progress and her attention difficulties, Ilene’s parents brought her in for an evaluation. As part of the assessment, she was given a Quantitative Electroencephalogram (qEEG).
A qEEG provides information about different brainwave frequencies and identifies communication problems between areas of the brain that can contribute to learning difficulties. In Ilene’s case, the qEEG identified patterns consistent with ADHD. It also revealed connectivity problems between regions of her brain that were interfering with learning. This information was used to develop and monitor a personalized neurofeedback treatment plan designed to help restore normal brain function.
Once areas of need have been identified, neurofeedback uses a reward-based system to reinforce healthy brainwave activity. Over time, the brain learns to produce these more desirable brainwave patterns on its own, allowing new behaviors and skills to develop naturally.
ADHD and many learning disabilities are associated with dysregulated brain activity. When brainwaves are not functioning optimally, attention, behavior, and learning skills can be affected. By reinforcing healthier brainwave patterns through neurofeedback, the brain can become better regulated, allowing improvements in attention, behavior, and learning to emerge naturally.
As Ilene continues her neurofeedback training, her attention, behavior, and academic skills are expected to improve, helping her achieve at grade level. These changes occur naturally and without the use of medication. Because neurofeedback trains the brain to maintain healthier patterns of activity, the improvements are generally considered long-lasting.