Kids with ADHD Show Improvement After Brain Balance Program®
Research highlights non-medical treatment options for parents.
Brain Balance published new research highlighting a decrease in ADHD symptoms as reported by parents after completion of a three-month Brain Balance program. The study, published in the journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, indicated children with more severe ADHD symptoms at baseline are more likely to observe a decrease in symptoms over the course of the program. Additionally, age was also a predictor, showing younger participants were more likely to observe reliable change.
The study led by Dr. Rebecca Jackson, Vice President of Programs and Outcomes at Brain Balance, and Dr. Joshua T. Jordan, a PhD in Clinical Psychiatry, explored changes in children and adolescents with attentional issues during and after they engaged in a multimodal training program called Brain Balance.
Over the course of the 3-month program, participants on average experienced a decline in ADHD symptoms. Strikingly, the study showed the chances of a Brain Balance Program participant improving pre to post program was 81%.
The team analyzed the outcomes of 71 participants ages 4-18 with attentional concerns related to ADHD after working with Brain Balance coaches three times a week for a three-month period. The study used the Brown Attention-Deficit Disorder Scales, a tool widely used to measure a variety of executive function impairments and quantify the improvements. The scale consists of parent responses for participants’ symptoms and was administered both pre- and post-program.
This decline was considered to be a large effect size, or magnitude of difference, indicating a significant decrease in attentional problems.
“A key aspect of this study was using a validated measurement tool that parents, educators, and clinicians are familiar with. A large effect size in this standard tool is indicative of meaningful change,” Dr. Jackson said.
Brain Balance Parents Reported Positive Outcomes Post-Program
Non-pharmacological approaches, such as behavior training and target skill development, continue to be explored as alternative treatment options for this condition that can significantly burden a child’s academic progress, social interactions, and emotional well-being.
The Brain Balance program is an integrative training approach involving sensory engagement, motor skills, and cognitive exercises supported by nutritional guidance.
Over the course of this study, Brown scale scores (pre - and post-participation in the Brain Balance program) significantly predicted reliable, positive change. As reported by parents, 81% of participants demonstrated improvement, as measured by the Brown scale score.
On average participants experienced a decrease in ADHD symptoms with what is considered a very large effect size. The study also showed the most positive post-program outcomes in younger children, and children exhibiting more severe symptoms.
Growing Need for Non-Medical Treatment Options for Kids
This study adds to a growing body of research reporting reliable change in early intervention programs for children with ADHD. These results demonstrate how non-medical treatment programs can support positive changes that enhance the lives of kids and the various ways they engage with the world. While previous studies demonstrated change was possible, more research has been needed to expand knowledge in this area.
“ To see such large improvements in ADHD symptoms after completing a training program is significant. Parents need to know they have a variety of ways they can support their kids with attention concerns,” Dr. Jackson said.
If you believe your child could benefit from Brain Balance, contact us today to talk about your experiences and learn more about how Brain Balance can help you.
How Kids Can Experience ADHD
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that impacts key structures in the brain that play a role in attention, emotional control, decision making, memory, task-switching, and self-regulation.
This set of high-level brain abilities, or executive functions, support our ability to carry out the necessary behaviors and interactions of everyday life. Executive functions are controlled primarily by the prefrontal cortex which consists of brain networks that begin to develop during infancy and childhood, and continue to mature throughout adolescence.
Children and adolescents with ADHD often experience great difficulty in paying attention, poor impulse control, and restless behavior.
“Pay attention, hold still, stay in your seat.” These are words regularly spoken by teachers and parents around the world, all meant to keep kids on track. But not all kids have the same ability to manage their attention and actions. For some kids these seemingly simple tasks can be daunting and feel out of reach.
The ability to focus on a task without distraction is something neurotypical people can take for granted. Yet for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the ability to process specific information while blocking out other stimuli can be challenging, and even harder to maintain for a long period of time.
While commonly diagnosed in childhood, ADHD is a life-long condition that may require consistent treatment to manage.
If you believe your child could benefit from Brain Balance, an assessment could help show if there are areas for improvement. Contact us today to find a better way forward.
You can view the full study on the journal website: Humanities and Social Sciences Communications