Effectiveness of Neurofeedback Associated with Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy on Children with Attention Defect Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Abstract

Objectives: Neurofeedback is known as a modern therapy for hyperactive children, nevertheless it is not a complete therapy for these patients. The goal of this therapy is to create a complete therapy for ADHD children, so neurofeedback is used with cognitive rehabilitation therapy to make more integrated therapy. Method: this is an experimental study. 30 subjects were selected through random selection from women who referred to 5 clinics of Tehran city, and they were placed into 2 experimental groups and 1 control group. Groups are matched in age, sexuality and economic situation. One group just received neurofeedback into 10 sessions, another group received neurofeedback plus cognitive rehabilitation therapy at the same during, and control group received no therapy or they leaved the therapy at the first steps. Integrated visual and auditory test (IVA) was used as pretest and posttest, to measure two factors (attention and impulsivity) in ADHD children. Cognitive rehabilitation therapy protocol is based on work of Nejati (1391). Data evaluated by dependent T test and analysis of covariance. Results: according to findings, there is meaningful difference between all groups in attention and impulsivity factors. The group who received neurofeedback plus cognitive rehabilitation therapy showed more improvement in attention and impulsivity factors. Also there was a meaningful difference between neurofeedback group and control group in attention factor. Conclusion: neurofeedback is supposed as a facilitator therapy to improve attention factor in ADHD children, but not as a complete therapy, especially about performance factors. Also, it is better to use a complementary therapy such as cognitive rehabilitation therapy that focuses more on performance factors. It leads to more positive effects on impulsivity or even hyperactivity.