Neurofeedback: The Effective and Permanent Alternative to Medication for Adults and Children

For a long time, it was believed that only medications such as sedatives were the treatment for certain behavioral disorders, tensions and stress observed not just in children but also in adults. As a result of which a long span of time was spent on observing and learning about the various aspects of these changes. However, with the study on these aspects, certain other effective and non medication treatments such as consultancy, family consultancy etc. were also studied and researched by numerous scientists from across the whole world as one of the probable treatments. Amongst all these treatment techniques, one of the most well known treatment method is that of Neurofeedback.Also termed as the EEG Biofeedback, neurofeedback is a method used to treat ADHD both during childhood and adulthood. In the treatment, sensors are attached to the individual's brain to study the brain's response to certain stimulus in a measured span of real time. During this time, the individual is taught to understand their cognitive responses and to modify them which further translates into a change in the behavior of the individual. This treatment works in a very systematical manner where in the individual is informed on exactly how his/ her brain is working at the given moment and with the help of this acquired information, the subject (individual) learns how to change or control the brain waves. This treatment is one of the most important techniques used by NASA, Navy, and many numerous conglomerates so as to properly train their best men, scientists, pilots, and other executives. The treatment teaches the individuals to maintain their calm during the adverse and stressful conditions and remain focused on their aim. To achieve the best desired results, an individual might have to take up about a minimum of 20 to a maximum of 50 sessions.The treatment technique is different from the regular medicated methods where in the numerous pills and stimulants work as sedatives to decrease stress. These medications also have the probability of various possible side-effects depending on variant individuals. Neurofeedback, unlike the medicated techniques has no physical side-effects and also produces permanent changes in the individual's behavior and in his learning abilities. Other reports on neurofeedback also show positive results on the subjects increasing IQ and control over anxiety which by itself is a great achievement for many. Thus in many schools, colleges and also cooperatives, the help of adult consultants and family consultants from the various consultant services are taken. Neurofeedback, due to its great proven benefits is also used to treat ADHD through the measured brain activities of the individuals. For the ADHD patients, the neurofeedback treatment is specially designed so as to train the individual on how to increase the brainwave pattern that slowly helps in decreasing the frequency of cortical slowing and therefore in completely curing the patient from the ADHD symptoms. Thus, the neurofeedback treatment method is considered as the most effective and non-medicated treatment for not just children but also adults.