Running Head: A PARENT’S GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING NEUROFEEDBACK 1 A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Neurofeedback

For parents with children with Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD), neurofeedback represents an exciting new alternative to treatment with medication. Powerful psycho-stimulant drugs such as Ritalin have side-effects and do not work on changing the underlying causes of the condition. Neurofeedback therapy focuses on changing the underlying symptoms by re-training the brain. Neurofeedback technology has been scientifically proven to be an effective treatment for the underlying core symptoms of ADD/ADHD. This research paper explores the emerging field of neurofeedback and attempts to present evidence of the effectiveness of neurofeedback in simple terms that parents can understand. Neurofeedback provides immediate information to an individual on the state of their brain function. More simply, with certain limitations, the brain can be trained to produce a desired effect. Unhealthy brain wave patterns, such as those associated with ADD/ADHD, can be changed. And those changes are likely to be long term and possibly permanent. Neurofeedback should not be seen as a cure-all remedy. However, if applied properly, neurofeedback presents a safe and effective alternative treatment for ADD/ADHD.