Parents are always looking for ways to help their children succeed, whether that means improving focus at school, managing emotions more effectively, or building confidence in everyday life. If you’ve been researching neurofeedback in Calgary, you’ve likely come across claims that it can help with everything from ADHD to anxiety and learning challenges. But with so much information available online, it can be difficult to know what is supported by research and what may be overstated.
At Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS), we believe every child deserves care that is guided by evidence, not trends. Neurofeedback can be a valuable intervention for some children, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Before considering any treatment, it is important to understand what neurofeedback is, who it may benefit, and how it fits into a child’s overall care plan.
In this guide, we’ll explain how neurofeedback works, explore its potential benefits and limitations, and discuss what parents should realistically expect before beginning treatment.
What Is Neurofeedback?
Neurofeedback, also known as EEG biofeedback, is a non-invasive technique that helps individuals learn to regulate their brain activity. During a session, small sensors are placed on the scalp to measure brainwaves. These sensors only record brain activity. They do not send electricity into the brain or cause discomfort.
The information collected is connected to a computer program that provides real-time feedback. For children, this often looks like watching a movie, playing a simple game, or completing interactive activities. When the brain produces the desired patterns of activity, the program rewards those patterns by allowing the game or video to continue.
The goal is to strengthen healthier brainwave activity over time through repetition and positive reinforcement. This approach is based on the brain’s ability to adapt and learn, a concept known as neuroplasticity (Ros et al., 2014).
While neurofeedback is sometimes referred to as “brain training,” it is important to remember that it is only one part of a child’s treatment journey. It does not replace psychological therapy, educational support, appropriate medication support, or a comprehensive psychological assessment.
How Does Neurofeedback Work?
Every brain produces electrical activity, commonly known as brainwaves. These brainwaves change depending on what we are doing, whether we are concentrating, relaxing, solving problems, or sleeping.
Researchers have found that certain patterns of brain activity may be associated with difficulties such as attention problems or emotional regulation. Neurofeedback aims to help the brain recognize and reinforce more efficient patterns of activity through repeated practice (Hammond, 2011).
A typical neurofeedback session lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. During this time, the child sits comfortably while the clinician monitors their brainwave activity. As the child watches a video or engages with a computer game, the software responds to changes in their brain activity. When the desired brainwave patterns are detected, the child receives immediate visual and auditory feedback. This can look like the screen fading or hearing sounds. Much like learning to ride a bicycle, the brain figures out how to “balance” what it is being asked to do and operate in a different way. This feedback happens every few seconds, so in the course of one training session, the brain is getting hundreds of opportunities for feedback and practicing shifting.
Over multiple sessions, this repeated feedback may help the brain become more efficient at regulating itself.
What Conditions Can Neurofeedback Help?
Neurofeedback has been studied for a variety of childhood concerns, although the strength of evidence differs depending on the condition.
One of the most researched areas is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Several studies have found that neurofeedback may improve attention, impulse control, and executive functioning for some children with ADHD (Cortese et al., 2021).
Researchers have also explored its use for:
- Anxiety
- Emotional regulation difficulties
- Sleep concerns
- Stress-related symptoms
- Executive functioning challenges
- Attention difficulties
Some families report improvements in focus, behaviour, sleep, and emotional control following neurofeedback. However, it is important to understand that not every child responds in the same way.
Neurofeedback is not the right treatment for everyone or every condition. It does not diagnose autism, ADHD, or other developmental conditions. These concerns require comprehensive psychological assessment to identify the underlying causes and determine the most appropriate interventions.
At RMPS, we encourage families to think holistically about treatment plans and options. Rarely is a treatment plan only one approach. More often a treatment plan will include a variety of different components which might include supports at school, strategies at home and in daily life, and other components like neurofeedback.
Benefits of Neurofeedback for Children
When neurofeedback is appropriate for a child’s needs, it may provide meaningful improvements in several areas of daily functioning. Although results vary, families often report positive changes that extend beyond the therapy room.
Improved Attention and Focus
For children who struggle to stay engaged during school or homework, neurofeedback may help strengthen sustained attention. Better focus can make classroom learning, reading, and completing assignments less frustrating.
Better Emotional Regulation
Some children find it easier to manage frustration, disappointment, or anxiety after participating in neurofeedback training. Improved self-regulation may help reduce emotional outbursts and make it easier to use coping strategies learned through counselling.
Reduced Impulsivity
Children who act before thinking may gradually develop better self-control. This can positively impact behaviour at home, relationships with peers, and participation in school activities.
Improved Sleep and Well-Being
Although research in this area is still growing, some families notice improvements in sleep quality and overall emotional well-being following neurofeedback (Marzbani et al., 2016).
Increased Confidence
As children experience success in managing attention, emotions, or behaviour, they often become more confident in their abilities. Increased confidence can have a positive impact on academic performance, friendships, and family relationships.
Understanding the Limitations of Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback has shown promising results for some children, but it is important to have realistic expectations. No intervention works for every child, and neurofeedback is no exception.
While research supports its use for certain concerns, particularly ADHD, the evidence is still developing for other conditions such as anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, and learning difficulties. Researchers continue to study which children are most likely to benefit and which treatment protocols produce the best outcomes (Van Doren et al., 2019).
Parents should also be cautious of claims that neurofeedback can “cure” ADHD, autism, or learning disabilities. These conditions are complex and often require a combination of interventions, including psychological therapy, educational supports, parent coaching, and, in some cases, medication.
At RMPS, we encourage families to view neurofeedback as one possible tool within a broader treatment plan rather than a stand-alone solution.
What Parents Should Expect
Every child’s experience with neurofeedback is different, but there are a few things parents can generally expect before starting treatment.
Before Treatment
A child’s difficulties should first be understood through a comprehensive assessment. Symptoms such as poor attention, emotional outbursts, or academic struggles can have many different causes, including ADHD, anxiety, learning disorders, or other developmental conditions. Identifying the underlying cause helps ensure that treatment is appropriate.
During Treatment
Neurofeedback sessions are typically completed once or twice a week and usually last between 30 and 60 minutes. Children often watch a movie or play a computer-based activity while their brainwave activity is monitored.
After Treatment
Many families report improvements in attention, emotional regulation, or behaviour over time. However, ongoing support may still be needed depending on the child’s diagnosis and individual goals. Neurofeedback is most effective when it forms part of a comprehensive plan that addresses the child’s overall development.
Why qEEG and Baseline Assessment Come First
Baseline assessment using qEEG and other measures is useful in understanding a person’s current brainwave patterns and current behavioural symptoms. Gathering this data at the beginning helps to individualize the neurofeedback treatment plan. For example, two children with focus difficulties may have different patterns in their qEEG and may benefit from different neurofeedback treatment approaches.
One size does not fit all and having an individualized treatment plan that is based on qEEG data as well as data gathered from questionnaires helps to increase the likelihood that the treatment will result in positive outcomes. Additionally, RMPS also works with families to establish individualized goals prior to starting neurofeedback therapy so that outcomes are evaluated throughout the course of the therapy.
Why Families Choose RMPS
For more than 30 years, Rocky Mountain Psychological Services has supported children, adolescents, and families across Alberta through evidence-based psychological services.
Our team understands that no two children are alike. Rather than recommending the same approach for every family, we begin by understanding each child’s unique strengths, challenges, and goals through comprehensive interviews and data gathering.
When it comes to neurofeedback, families choose RMPS because it is one of a variety of services that RMPS offers – families like that they don’t have to establish a relationship with a new organization. Families have also come to trust that RMPS is continually seeking to improve services based on new research. And, in addition to holistic care, families choose RMPS for neurofeedback because outcomes are measured and reported. The baseline data is used to develop a treatment plan, the plan in monitored during treatment to ensure that progress is happening, and at the end of a treatment block, the assessments are completed again and compared.
Final Thoughts
Interest in neurofeedback continues to grow, and for good reason. Research suggests it may help some children improve attention, emotional regulation, and self-control, particularly when it is part of a broader treatment plan (Cortese et al., 2021). At the same time, neurofeedback is not a cure-all, and it should never replace a thorough psychological assessment or other evidence-based interventions when they are needed.
At RMPS, we believe the best outcomes begin with understanding the whole child. By identifying the underlying causes of a child’s challenges, families can make confident decisions about which supports are most likely to help their child thrive at home, in school, and in everyday life.
References
Arns, M., Heinrich, H., & Strehl, U. (2014). Evaluation of neurofeedback in ADHD: The long and winding road. Biological Psychology, 95, 108-115.
Cortese, S., Ferrin, M., Brandeis, D., Holtmann, M., Aggensteiner, P., Daley, D., et al. (2021). Neurofeedback for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Meta-analysis of clinical and neuropsychological outcomes. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
Hammond, D. C. (2011). What is neurofeedback? An update. Journal of Neurotherapy, 15(4), 305-336.
Marzbani, H., Marateb, H. R., & Mansourian, M. (2016). Neurofeedback: A comprehensive review on system design, methodology and clinical applications. Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 7(2), 143-158.
Ros, T., Baars, B. J., Lanius, R. A., & Vuilleumier, P. (2014). Tuning pathological brain oscillations with neurofeedback: A systems neuroscience framework. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, 1008.
Van Doren, J., Arns, M., Heinrich, H., Vollebregt, M. A., Strehl, U., & Loo, S. K. (2019). Sustained effects of neurofeedback in ADHD: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 28(3), 293-305.
