Does Neurofeedback Work for ADHD?
If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, you may be familiar with the common challenges: difficulty focusing, restlessness, emotional reactivity, and a constant mental "buzz" that can feel impossible to switch off. While medication and behavioral strategies are often recommended, many people are also exploring alternative or complementary treatments like neurofeedback.
But what is neurofeedback, and does it really work for ADHD?
What Is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback is a brain-based therapy that helps train your brain to function more efficiently. It’s a form of biofeedback that uses real-time information about your brainwave activity, captured via EEG sensors on your scalp, to help your brain recognize and shift patterns that are out of balance.
Think of it as a workout for your nervous system. Instead of lifting weights, your brain is learning to regulate itself, leading to improved focus, emotional balance, and cognitive flexibility.
There are different types of neurofeedback. One of the gentlest is called LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System), which we offer at our practice. Unlike traditional neurofeedback that uses active brain training, LENS uses micro-signals to gently disrupt stuck patterns and encourage natural self-regulation
How ADHD Affects the Brain
ADHD isn't just a behavioral issue. It’s a brain regulation issue.
Research has shown that people with ADHD often exhibit patterns of under-arousal in certain brain regions associated with attention, organization, and executive function. This can lead to:
Difficulty sustaining focus
Poor impulse control
Trouble completing tasks
Emotional outbursts or reactivity
Restlessness and physical agitation
Because neurofeedback directly targets brain function, it offers a promising route to support individuals with ADHD from the inside out.
How Neurofeedback Can Help with ADHD
Neurofeedback helps by:
Improving attention regulation. By calming overly fast or slow brainwaves, neurofeedback helps stabilize the rhythms that support focus and concentration.
Enhancing emotional control. Clients often report fewer meltdowns or emotional spikes after several sessions.
Reducing hyperactivity. When the brain is better regulated, the body often follows.
Increasing self-awareness and calm. Neurofeedback can improve one’s ability to pause, reflect, and make more intentional choices.
Oftentimes, these changes can translate to better performance at school or work, improved relationships, and a stronger sense of self-confidence.
It’s important to note that, like any therapy, results vary. Some people see significant improvements within a few sessions, while others notice gradual progress over time.
Is Neurofeedback a Replacement for Medication?
Neurofeedback can be used with or without medication. Some clients want to avoid or reduce reliance on stimulants, while others find that combining neurofeedback with their current treatment plan offers the best results.
The benefit of neurofeedback is that it helps your brain learn how to regulate itself naturally. Any improvements come from your own brain’s ability to self-correct, not from ongoing external input.
Is Neurofeedback Right for You?
If you’re looking for a non-invasive, medication-free approach to ADHD, or a way to support your existing treatment plan, neurofeedback might be worth exploring.
At our therapy practice in Kelowna, we offer LENS Neurofeedback for teens and adults with ADHD. We also provide support in Vernon, Penticton, Peachland, and across the Greater Okanagan region. Book a free consultation to learn more about how neurofeedback can help you.
