Researchers reviewed 14 randomized studies of neurofeedback as a treatment for children with ADHD. Six had been published and eight were unpublished conference presentations. Most were run between 1994 and 2010 in children aged 5 to 15. The children studied were usually male, White, and had combined-type ADHD.
Most of the studies used one common form of neurofeedback (theta/beta training with a single electrode placed at the top of the head, called Cz). Where results could be measured, the treatment showed a medium effect on ADHD symptoms (d = 0.69). The authors note that effects of 0.2 to 0.4 count as small, 0.5 to 0.8 as medium, and above 0.8 as large.
Using the American Psychological Association's rules for judging treatments, the authors concluded that neurofeedback for children with ADHD can currently be considered "probably efficacious."
The review also found weaknesses in the studies. Participants, raters, and the people running the training were not properly blinded. Many studies had no sham or blinded control group, and none followed the children after treatment ended. Other conditions and other treatments were not well identified or controlled. Many effect sizes could not be worked out because the needed averages and spreads were missing.
Source: Lofthouse N, Arnold L, Hersch S, et al.. A Review of Neurofeedback Treatment for Pediatric ADHD. Journal of Attention Disorders (2011). doi:10.1177/1087054711427530