Can Digital Brain Training Programs Help Children with ADHD?

What you need to know

• Digital brain training programs delivered remotely at home can help improve ADHD symptoms and daily functioning
• Both neurofeedback and cognitive training approaches show similar benefits for attention and behavior
• Children with better brain activity patterns before training tend to show greater improvements

The Promise of Digital Training for ADHD

For many families affected by ADHD, finding effective treatments beyond medication can be challenging. While medications help many children, they don’t work for everyone and can have side effects. This has led researchers to explore alternative approaches, including digital brain training programs that can be done from home. But do these actually work? And what kind of training is most effective?

Understanding the Different Training Approaches

The study examined three types of digital training:

Neurofeedback training helps children learn to regulate their brain activity through real-time feedback. Think of it like a video game controlled by brain waves - when the brain produces optimal patterns of activity, the game rewards the player.

Cognitive training targets specific mental skills like attention and memory through structured practice exercises. It’s similar to “brain gym” - repeatedly practicing certain mental tasks to strengthen those abilities.

Combined training incorporates both approaches into one program.

What the Research Found

After three months of training, children in all three groups showed significant improvements in:

• Attention and focus
• Hyperactive and impulsive behaviors
• Mental skills like impulse control and working memory
• Daily life skills and school performance

Importantly, the researchers also measured changes in brain activity patterns. All groups showed increases in alpha brain waves, which are associated with improved attention and mental control. This provides objective evidence that the training created real changes in brain function.

Individual Differences Matter

An interesting discovery was that children who had higher levels of alpha brain waves before starting training tended to show greater improvements in their ADHD symptoms. This suggests that baseline brain activity patterns might help predict who will benefit most from digital training approaches.

What This Means for You

If you’re considering digital brain training for a child with ADHD:

• Both neurofeedback and cognitive training can be helpful - choose based on your child’s preferences and needs
• Consistency is key - aim for 3-5 training sessions per week
• Remote training from home is feasible and can be effective with proper support
• Talk to your healthcare provider about whether digital training might complement other treatments
• Consider having baseline brain activity measured if possible to help gauge potential benefits

Conclusions

• Digital brain training programs represent a promising non-medication option for children with ADHD
• Both neurofeedback and cognitive approaches can improve attention, behavior and brain function
• The ability to deliver these interventions remotely makes them accessible to more families