Many of the methods used and promoted to help people with learning disabilities are intended to help a person compensate for, or work around, their learning difficulties. Instead, neurofeedback potentially improves learning skills by training the areas of the brain relevant to learning or execution skills such as math, reading, and auditory and visual processing. 

Neurofeedback is increasingly being used to address symptoms associated with learning disabilities because it is:

  • Effective
  • Non-invasive
  • Painless
  • Drugless
  • Enjoyable
  • Educational

Research studies show that several brain areas work together in the learning process.

These separate parts of the brain communicate with each other at extremely fast speeds.

If the timing of the communication is even slightly off, the ability to learn can be impaired. New research shows that “connectivity training” consistently improves learning difficulties.

Neurofeedback training may improve the coordination and communication between different brain areas. Improved timing in the brain has a significant impact on one’s ability to learn. To use an analogy, even with good timing, it is difficult to hit a baseball or volley a serve. Imagine how difficult it would be if your timing was entirely wrong.

This is what it’s like to try and learn when the timing of communication in the brain is off. Neurofeedback may targets the coordination and communication directly between areas of the brain to improve timing, and therefore learning.

Small sensors are placed on the person’s head and are connected to a specialized computer system. The computer measures brain waves and rewards the brain for making healthier patterns and producing better timing and connectivity. Often a qEEG brain map is used that shows malfunctioning areas of the brain and helps the clinician create a brain training plan. In essence, as the brain makes healthier patterns, and the computer rewards it.

With practice and training, the brain may learn to consistently make healthier patterns with better connectivity and timing. The result is an improved ability to learn, which is long-lasting once patterns are established and held.

Treatment length depends on the individual person, and a reduced follow-up training schedule may be needed to maintain consistent results.

Neurofeedback therapy is painless, and most children seem to enjoy and respond well to the treatment since, for them, it’s like playing a video game with their brain.

Content courtesy of www.aboutneurofeedback.com.

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