Ivan Poturica BA, Director The ADD Centre Wpg

ADHD and learning disabilities are often inter-mixed with the same underlying cause: brain performance.  Learning difficulties and ADHD are the result of underperformance in areas of the brain involved in attention, concentration, reading and math.  Researchers are not finding a disorder or defect but as one researcher described it “an out of tune brain.”

Unfortunately, the most common treatment offered for attention; impulsivity and hyperactivity are psychoactive drugs that chemically alter the balance of brain neurotransmitters.  As the body metabolizes the drug the “beneficial” effects stop. The patient is left with no knowledge about how to pay attention. They will never achieve a “cure”.

Higher doses of these drugs can impair cognitive performance in children, leaving thembehind academically while their behaviour symptoms are momentarily managed.  Reviews of drug-company studies conclude that in the short term one could only expect temporary management of diagnostic symptoms.  However, one should expect side-effects such as an increase in appearance of tics, frequent problems with eating, sleeping and possible psychological effects on cognition. Do not expect significant improvement in reading skills, athletic or game skills, positive social skills or improvement in learning, achievement, behaviour or attention.  Over the long term there is no apparent improvement in academic achievement and no reduction in antisocial behaviour including arrest rate.

One of the latest long term side-effects is a possible link between treating ADHD with stimulants and obesity.  There are another 43 known side-effects ranging from mild to severe.  Long term studies of children being treated with current methods found after six years, “Nine out of 10 young children with moderate to severe ADHD continue to experience serious, often severe symptoms and impairment long after their original diagnoses and, in many cases, despite treatment.” (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2013)

Neurofeedback brain training makes visible this underperformance so the person can consciously intervene by changing their thinking to retune their brain’s activity.  Children that complete the Brain Training Program achieve grade point and IQ improvements with most no longer needing medication.  Brain Training teaches the skill of paying attention and concentration for a life-time.

With severe reading problems like dyslexia, brain training is done over areas of the brain responsible for reading/decoding and spelling then backed-up by one-on-one reading skills tutoring.  The ADD Centre K to 3 Reading Program combines the power of Brain Training and teaching reading skills to resolve reading problems more effectively, in less time with lasting benefits.

Train anytime or take advantage of our accelerated summer program, “Boot Camp for the Brain.”

We offer free consultation and demonstration of the program.  Federal and Provincial tax benefits may be available.  For further information contact the ADD Centre at 204-897-4493 or email addcentr@mts.net. Visit our Web Site “www.addcentre.mb.ca