From Child Adolesc Psychiatric Clin N Am 14 (Jan. 2005)
Chapter by Kirtley E. Thornton, PhDa & Dennis P. Carmody
Reading Disability Treatment with Neurofeedback
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EEG Biofeedback for Reading Disability
Reading disabilities present major challenges to the educational system. About 15% of the student population has learning disabilities.
Research on Existing Interventions with Learning Disabilities
Despite the enormity of the problem, the interventions currently used for reading disabilities have largely have been unsuccessful in obtaining significant and meaningful results. In 1988, Lyon and Moats concluded that, “there is overwhelming clinical evidence indicating that current treatments are inadequate for…learning disabled students.’’
Research on Neurofeedback with Reading Disability
No outcome research published to date has addressed the efficacy of neurofeedback specifically for reading disability. Several studies of the effect of neurofeedback on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), however, have provided suggestive preliminary evidence that neurofeedback can result in improved cognitive function in general.
“A case study of a 13-year-old child with ADHD demonstrated a marked improvement in processing speed and processing speed variability, a 19-point IQ increase a 7.5 grade level increase in reading scores and significant behavioral improvements, as indicated by report of parents and patient. Follow-up at 17 months demonstrated that changes were maintained. With samples of learning disabled subjects and subjects with ADD and ADHD (total sample size n = 155), four independent researchers have demonstrated significant increases in IQ averaging 15 points (one SD) as a result of neurofeedback.”
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Learning Disabled Case Reports
A control group used in the previously reported research did not demonstrate any significant gains as a result of interventions between first and second testing.
Case Report 1
Involves a 9-year-old girl whose parents reported a history of learning problems. Neither academic records nor formal educational or neuropsycho-logical testing completed were examined to verify the presence of learning disability, however. She improved approximately 1069% in auditory memory (total memory score from 1.8–19.25) and 400% in reading memory (total score from 2.5–14) during the 40 sessions.
Case Report 2
Here is one example of a child with significant history of reading problems. The parents had spent approximately $25,000 in alternate standard treatment programs to improve his reading ability, which resulted in no significant gains.
After neurofeedback his auditory memory increased 589% by the end of the twenty-fifth session. He also improved on the standardized reading inventory after 40 sessions. His mother reported her impression of increased self-confidence, greater reading fluency, and ability to present information orally in school.
Case Report 3
Involves a 17-year-old subject with reading disability. After 20 sessions he increased his comprehension score (on the Burns Roe Reading Passages) from 45% to 90% (on alternate versions –eighth grade level) and from 20% to 70% (on tenth grade level). His performance on alternate versions of the Cognisys Story Recall Test had increased by 3 SD. On the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test reading comprehension subtest he attained a standard score of 99 for age and grade level.
Learning Disabilities Summary
“Our society has spent billions of dollars on efforts to try and improve the cognitive and behavioral dysfunction in students with learning disabilities.
The evidence accumulated indicates that few of these intervention efforts demonstrate efficacy. Research completed to date and clinical reports show greater improvements with neurofeedback…”
“…The application of neurofeedback with reading disability is relatively recent. What results there are suggest the possibility that neurofeedback specifically aimed at remediating reading disability would be effective. Clinical experience, as evidenced by the case examples and discussions with my colleagues, provides strong support for this.”
Neurofeedback specifically aimed at remediating reading disability is effective.
For more information on how Direct Neurofeedback & LENS Neurofeedback can help in your learning disabilities treatment plan, please contact The Dubin Clinic in Los Angeles, CA.