Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 1 in every 20 Australian children. It’s usually treated by a combination of medication, psychotherapy and education. Brain-based therapies are an important part of that.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder in Australia. A child may be diagnosed with ADHD if they show signs of inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity that are excessive for their age and which:
- Presented before the age of 12
- Have lasted 6 months or longer
- Affect their involvement or performance at school, home, childcare or other settings.
If your GP has concerns about your child after an initial assessment, they will refer you to a specialist who can diagnose ADHD, such as a psychiatrist, paediatrician or psychologist.
While ADHD can present many challenges in a world built for neurotypical people, it’s important to remember that it has its upsides too. ADHD is linked to creativity, energy, hyper-focus and drive. People with ADHD can be curious, imaginative, creative, innovative and brilliant at thinking outside the box. Those are excellent skills.
People with ADHD have become successful athletes (Michael Phelps, Simone Biles and Michael Jordan), actors (Zooey Deschanel, Ryan Gosling and Will Smith) and entrepreneurs (Bill Gates and Richard Branson).
What causes ADHD?
ADHD runs in families but no single gene seems to be responsible for it. Instead, several interacting genes result in changes in the brain’s structure, chemicals, connectivity (neural pathways) and function.
The Mellilo MethodTM, which we use at Neurofit, focuses on improving brain development and connectivity in children with ADHD.
Brain training for ADHD
The brain works best when both the left and right hemispheres (sides) are equally matched and communicate well together. The Mellilo MethodTM suggests that the right brain is
underdeveloped in children with ADHD, which means it can’t balance out the overexcited Right Brain.
It should be Overexcited Left Brain!
So, how do we go about brain training for ADHD?
Stimulating the right brain involves a program of activities that may include:
- Playing brain-based video games with specific movement patterns and colours
- Wearing blue glasses
- Putting essential oil on the right collar
- Eye exercise while applying laser stimulation
- Listening to sound through the left headphone only when playing video games
- Putting the left foot on a vibration plate.
As you can see, the ‘equipment’ involved is likely to be familiar to your child already – video games, headphones, lasers etc. And this is all non-invasive, meaning it’s not scary or offputting in any way. In fact, it’s quite a lot of fun.
Does it work?
At Neurofit Brain Centre, we’re strong believers in evidence-based practice.
Brain BalanceⓇ is a US program with strong similarities to Neurofit’s program in Australia. Research shows that the Brain Balance Program is an effective, non-drug option for reducing and improving emotional and developmental challenges associated with anxiety, ADHD or autism. After 5-6 months in the program, parents reported their children showed a:
- 40% improvement in behaviour and anxiety
- 50% improvement in emotional functioning, ability to retain academic information and social confidence
- 60% improvement in overall happiness.
How Neurofit Brain Centre can help
If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to explore brain-based treatment methods to improve neural pathways, please contact us today. We’d love to show you how brain activity can make an active difference.
Disclaimer
All information is general and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Neurofit Brain Centre can consult with you to confirm if a particular treatment approach is right for you.
